How to completely clean install Mavericks?

Title sums it up...I want to do a completely clean install of Mavericks, making it as if I just bought the laptop with Mavericks installed. I do not currently have access to a big enough USB so if there is a way to do this without one that would be preferable.

Mr. Gagné wrote:
I am still running Mountain Lion. So, I need to install Mavericks, then do a standard hard drive wipe/OS re-install?
If you're on Mountain Lion and you want to do a clean install, the Recovery Partition is available for you to boot into and run the OS X installer. There is no need to install Mavericks if all you want to do is clean install.

Similar Messages

I just clean installed maverick on my computer and I have nothing in my iTunes library, how can I get back all the music I have bought?

I just clean installed maverick on my computer and I have nothing in my iTunes library, how can I get back all the music I have bought?

From your backups. By doing a clean install you erased your startup volume. You may have installed OS X, but your personal software was erased. You can restore from backups if your have them. If not, then you've lost it all, permanently.

Clean Install mavericks? CC question

Hi,
I know how to clean install mavericks on my mac as that's very simple but:
I know I should deactivate Creative Cloud on this machine first, But it's not deactivated on my time machine backups so:
When I reinstall from my time machine backup all my files and apps this isn't going to work with Creative Cloud is it? as
the Time Machine backup will reinstall a fully activated version of Creative Cloud completely messing up my adobe account and
making Adobe think I've installed it fraudulently on a third Mac, (copy already installed on another as allowed in the licence agreement).
It will see this as a third copy I think.
I hope you can see what I mean from this explanation of what I think will happen if I try a clean install from my time machine backup.
What is the correct way on a Mac to do a clean install and reactivate Creative Cloud please without using up a licence.
It's so confusing the possibilities appear to be endless for mess-ups.
Thanks

Hi Kuldeep,
I'm sorry you got me confused for a second there, you started talking about un-installing when I hand't mentioned it and this confused me with my first replly to you. I don't think you read my question, I'm not talking at any time about uninstalling the apps I'm talking about deactivating, completely different with on my web connection about 6 hours difference in time.
What I don't know is what I asked above:
I already know about the licence agreement as I'd stated so why did you tell me like I hand't mentioned it?
Rather than I repeat myself could I ask you to read the first post before replying. I don't mean to be rude but you can't have read it to come back with your answer.
Thanks
Bill
I will repeat is a slightly different way just in case this helps anyone:
(On a computer that already has a registered copy of CC on it but needs re-formatting):
1: I can deactivate CC
2: I re-format and restore my computer from it's time machine backups
3: The copy of CC on my Time Machine backups is not de-activated is it? I don't know how this would work (this is the crux of the problem that I won't be able to fix afterwards).
4: If it is deactivated, can't see how, but everything is fine and I carry on and the problem is solved.
5: If it isn't deactivated Adobe think I've installed CC on a third computer without permission and get very upset and put my account on hold and stop me from earning money.

REALLY Clean Install Mavericks

I have a 13" Late 2012 MBP which I upgraded with a Crucial M500 SSD on which I clean installed Mavericks the day after its launch. The SSD was brand new then, so this was the first thing it was used for, straight out of the box.
Now, I have a "talent" of messing with system files and I may have done something wrong here and there, because OS X is not as smooth as it was supposed to be (for example, compared with 10.8.5 which I previously had on it). App crashes here and there, Safari being very slow or "forgetting" that I clicked on a link etc.
I have verified and repaired the startup disk (from Recovery Mode), same with the permissions, I scanned and repaired it with OnyX but still it doesn't perform as expected.
So I decided to reinstall Mavericks, from scratch. As I would really hate to "inherit" some of these bugs on the new install, I REALLY want to to start fresh. So I need a clean install, free of any doubts, just like if it were brand new again.
Are there any tips other than the normal clean install? By normal clean install I understand making a bootable USB with 10.9, booting from it, erasing the startup drive with Disk Utility and then installing from the USB. (I prefer the USB method, since it would take a while to download 10.9 from Apple, i.e. using Internet Recovery).
And by the way, do you recommend a specific method of doing a bootable 10.9 USB? I tend to use the way via Terminal, but I also heard of DiskMakerX as an alternative.
And last but not least...am I paranoid? Should I worry less and simply do a straight clean install, as this is *really* the *really* good way to go?

⌘R on Boot, Utilities->Disk Utility, Erase Disk, exit Disk Utility, Reistall OS X Mavericks.
(I prefer the USB method, since it would take a while to download 10.9 from Apple, i.e. using Internet Recovery).
edit: Or that...
And by the way, do you recommend a specific method of doing a bootable 10.9 USB? I tend to use the way via Terminal, but I also heard of DiskMakerX as an alternative.
See: http://www.macworld.com/article/2056561/how-to-make-a-bootable-mavericks-install -drive.html

Clean install Mavericks on partition

I have searched and read several discussions related to this, but am still uncertain about just what I can and cannot do. I consider myself an experienced, knowledgeable but casual Mac user.
I have 10.6.8 on my IMac late 2009, so am able to upgrade to Mavericks. I have held off ever since it was released because "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". But now that I have an iPad, I think I need to move up. But many upgrade horror stories have kept me from doing it. Comments appreciated on the following:
I have a 500GB hard drive that has 363GB free. There are 2 partitions. One is my working 10.6.8 @ 450GB. The other is a stripped-down copy of 10.6.8 @ 50GB that I intended to keep should I need to run something that requires Rosetta. Then I had the brainstorm, which I see has occurred to others: CLEAN INSTALL Mavericks on a new partition [I know how to use Disk Utility to do reduce the 450GB and define a third partition] and leave my working 10.6.8 as is [and delete the copy of 10.6.8 as it would be no longer necessary]. I think I know the answer that, yes, this can be done. And that, in fact, a clean install is preferable.
If I do the clean install, will Mavericks ask me if I want to transfer my data files, settings, mail, prefs, etc. from the working 10.6.8, and will I be able to point it to that system to find and transfer? Or will I be faced with manually finding and moving all that stuff?
What about the apps? Same story?
What about the PowerPC and Classic [yes, I still have some sitting there] apps? Will Mavericks ignore them rather than move them?
Several posts suggested using an external HD instead of a new partition for doing something like this. I don't understand why.
Many thanks in advance.

Clean install = YES! Installing Mavericks over your Snow Leopard environment will destroy it!
Classic apps - how are you running them now? The Classic Environment was eliminated when OS X Tiger 10.4 moved to Intel.
Here are some thoughts about running Classic apps on an Intel Mac, that I previously assembled:
With the newer Intel Macs, you have to run a Classic emulator such as SheepShaver, which requires you to extract the Mac ROMs from your older Classic Mac and then install Mac OS 9.
A related program is Chubby Bunny, which comes bundled with all of that included.
More information on SheepShaver:
http://www.emaculation.com/doku.php/sheepshaver_mac_os_x_setup
and
http://www.everymac.com/mac-answers/mac-os-9-classic-support-faq/run-macos-9-on- intel-macs.html
and more information about Chubby Bunny:
http://www.macwindows.com/OS9_on_Intel_Mac.html#092408b
and
http://hackthemac.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/chubby-bunny-old-virtual-machine.html
[click on image to enlarge]

Clean install Mavericks with Mail and Apps?

What is the most efficient method to do a full clean install of Mavericks (once it is released) and then migrate Apple Mail, Applications and Dropbox from my existing Mountain Lion setup on my late 2009 27" iMac?
Thanks
Henry

You probably won't need to do that. As with all previous versions of the MacOS, you will be able to simply install Mavericks over the top of the older OS. All of your applications, folders, documents, internet connection data, stored passwords, cookies, etc. will be left exactly as they were before. Mavericks itself will update any existing system files that need to be updated.
However (as is always advisable with any update of the OS) before attempting to install Mavericks you should first make a complete bootable clone (not a Time Machine backup) of your existing hard drive, to an external drive, and test the clone by booting from it.
That way after you've installed Mavericks, if anything bad happens, you still have a safety net.
Only at that point, if you really want to spend hours doing a completely clean install of Mavericks, re-installing all your applications etc., you can do so by wiping your internal hard drive and then installing from scratch - though I'm wondering why you would want to do that .
You will still have all your stuff on your bootable clone.
If things are really bad and you just hate Mavericks, you can simply start up using the clone and clone the whole external drive back to your internal hard drive - taking you back to exactly where you were before.

Trying to clean install Mavericks onto OSX 10.5.8

I am trying to clean insall an old 2008 MacBook Pro that has OSX 10.5.8 currently installed. I made a mavericks usb installer with another updated MacBook Pro. The clean install was sucessful with the other Mac, but that one was already running Mavericks before I clean installed. Just wondering if my thinkning is correct that I can back up the OSX 10.5.8 Mac using timemachine and then clean install mavericks after. Please just confirm that this can be done.

you need at least 10.6.8 to install Mavericks as an upgrade.
A clean install would be doable if you meet all the req.
To install Mavericks, you need one of these Macs:
iMac (Mid-2007 or later)
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later),
MacBook Pro (15-inch or 17-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or later)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
Xserve (Early 2009)
Your Mac also needs:
OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard v10.6.8 already installed
2 GB or more of memory
8 GB or more of available space

Sluggish and Slowness MacBookPro after clean install Mavericks

Hi,
My MacBook Pro 2012 become slow and sluggish after clean install Mavericks. I have to longgg waiting for applications to run ( even my old laptop can run Windows faster!! ). Compare I bought this MBP with Mountain Lion , this one is much slower with Mavericks. There are audible harddrive activity.
I already done with NVAM & SMC reset but still nothing change on performance.
Hope anybody here can help me since a quite a fews days i keep thinking to resolve this matter.
Hardware Information:
          MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
          MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2
          1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores
          4 GB RAM
Video Information:
          Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 1024 MB
System Software:
          OS X 10.9.1 (13B42) - Uptime: 0 days 2:58:42
Disk Information:
          APPLE HDD ST500LM012 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
                    EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
                    Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 499.25 GB (480.26 GB free)
                    Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
          MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8
USB Information:
          Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
          Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
          Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
                    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
          Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
          Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Kernel Extensions:
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
Launch Agents:
User Launch Agents:
User Login Items:
          None
Internet Plug-ins:
          Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
          QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Audio Plug-ins:
          BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
          AirPlay: Version: 1.9 - SDK 10.9
          AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0 - SDK 10.9
          iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
3rd Party Preference Panes:
          None
Bad Fonts:
          None
Old Applications:
          None
Time Machine:
          Auto backup: YES
          Volumes being backed up:
                    Macintosh HD: Disk size: 464.96 GB Disk used: 17.68 GB
          Destinations:
                    WD My Passport [Local] (Last used)
                    Total size: 465.41 GB
                    Total number of backups: 2
                    Oldest backup: 2014-01-31 14:48:18 +0000
                    Last backup: 2014-02-01 07:31:57 +0000
                    Size of backup disk: Adequate
                              Backup size 465.41 GB > (Disk used 17.68 GB X 3)
          Time Machine details may not be accurate.
          All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
Top Processes by CPU:
               3%          WindowServer
               1%          EtreCheck
               0%          imagent
Top Processes by Memory:
          127 MB          com.apple.IconServicesAgent
          70 MB          mds_stores
          37 MB          mds
          37 MB          WindowServer
          29 MB          Activity Monitor
Virtual Memory Information:
          2.23 GB          Free RAM
          941 MB          Active RAM
          222 MB          Inactive RAM
          644 MB          Wired RAM
          257 MB          Page-ins
          0 B          Page-outs

@mamatcyber @ Linc Davis
Same issue here I have done clean installs using Super Duper (Back-up All Fresh clean slate...)
and still Mavericks is getting slower and slower.....
Using Gimp it now takes 5 mins to export a .jpeg file 500k !
OSX 10.9.1
Processor 2.26ghz
Ram 2gb
250gb HD 196gbfree
Even just now I did a clean install and i'm seeing the spinning beach ball with Firefox, and it's slow to opening up volumes.
This is Ridiculous Apple!

Clean install Mavericks on new hard drive

Hello,
I have a Early 2009 Mac Pro that is currently running Mavericks (10.9.1). There are currently three hard drives in it:
2-1 TB Hitachi HDE721010SLA330 (1 as Boot drive & 1 as secondary storage, both from factory)
1-3 TB Seagate ST3000DM001-1CH16 (being used as a Time Machine Drive)
I want to replace the boot 1 TB drive with a second 3 TB Seagate ST3000DM001. I understand the process for clean installing Mavericks. I know that I'll have to reinstall all my apps and such. Will the cleanly installed Mavericks on the new drive be able to recognize the 2nd 1 TB storage drive as-is? Also, will Time Machine restore my iMovie projects back in place as they are now? And also, not exactly a huge issue if it would arise, but would my VirtualBox VMs be restored to where they are (I know I'll have to re-add them back into VB, that's not a big deal.
I just want to do this as "cleanly" as possible (even though though i know that probably won't be the case, never is with computers).
If I need to provide any more information I would be glad to. Thank you for any help in advance!

Make A Bootable OS X Mavericks USB Install Drive With DiskMaker X
Monday, December 23rd, 2013 | Author: OWC Jarrod and OWC Joseph
Last week, Apple released its Mavericks update with the 10.9.1 version of the operating system – which we hope fixes a few bugs that we saw in the first iteration released Oct. 22.
And if the latest update has you finally looking to upgrade your Mac to the new version of the operating system, it’s worth noting that like its predecessors – beginning with OS X 10.7 – Mavericks is only available for install via download from the Mac App Store.
This means those who previously relied on DVD installs will be unable to do so with this version. Luckily, DiskMaker X helps fill the void by allowing you to make a bootable OS X 10.9 Mavericks USB install drive.
What’s really great about this software is like OS X Mavericks, the DiskMaker X software won’t cost you a thing (however, donations are accepted). All you need is an 8 GB (minimum) USB thumb drive, a USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt drive or an SD-Card, the OS X 10.9 Mavericks Installer from the App Store, and the DiskMaker X application.
DiskMaker X is fairly straightforward and will guide you through the process of making your install drive. It should be noted that DiskMaker X erases the volume or the drive you chose, according to the options you chose. So don’t forget to backup your data first!
http://blog.macsales.com/21911-make-a-bootable-os-x-mavericks-usb-install-drive- with-diskmaker-x?APC=XLR8YourMac13

Clean install Mavericks & restore 2 users from backup?

I have an 24" iMac from Early 2008 that has been through numerous OSX upgrades and is currently at the latest 10.9.3. For the past year or more it has been experiencing random freezing and white, blue, other "screen of death". I've run Apple hardware diagnostics and nothing wrong has been reported.
After 6 years of daily use, all the upgrades, etc. I'm thinking perhaps I should just wipe it clean, reinstall Mavericks and see if that takes care of the issues. I have an external 1TB drive that is used by Time Machine. The computer has 2 users, mine and my wife's and both have Time Machine enabled.
What are the necessary steps to clean install Mavericks and restore the 2 users and data from the backup?
Thanks!
-Paul

Arthur,
Thank you for your response and for listing the steps you used. Here is the EtreCheck report for you to review:
EtreCheck version: 1.9.11 (43) - report generated May 25, 2014 at 7:36:02 PM EDT
Hardware Information:
          iMac (24-inch, Early 2008)
          iMac - model: iMac8,1
          1 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
          6 GB RAM
Video Information:
          ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro - VRAM: 256 MB
System Software:
          OS X 10.9.3 (13D65) - Uptime: 3 days 5:54:3
Disk Information:
          WDC WD3200AAJS-40VWA1 disk0 : (320.07 GB)
                    EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
                    Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 319.21 GB (132.66 GB free)
                    Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
USB Information:
          Seagate FreeAgent 1 TB
                    EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
                    Time Machine Backups (disk1s2) /Volumes/Time Machine Backups: 999.86 GB (506.27 GB free)
          Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
                    Logitech USB Receiver
                    Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
          Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
          Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
                    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
          Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Gatekeeper:
          Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions:
          [kext loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.1 - SDK 10.8) Support
          [kext loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6) Support
          [not loaded] com.sony.driver.prs (1.0.0d1) Support
Startup Items:
          HP IO: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP IO
Launch Daemons:
          [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
          [not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist Support
Launch Agents:
          [running] com.hp.devicemonitor.plist Support
          [loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist Support
          [loaded] com.hp.messagecenter.launcher.plist Support
          [running] com.hp.productresearch.plist Support
          [running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist Support
          [running] com.sony.ReaderLibrary.ReaderLibraryLauncher.plist Support
          [not loaded] com.sony.ReaderLibrary.RunReaderLibrary.plist Support
          [not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist Support
          [not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist Support
User Launch Agents:
          [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support
          [failed] com.apple.MobileMeSyncClientAgent.plist
          [loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist Support
          [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support
          [running] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist Support
User Login Items:
          GrowlHelperApp
          SpeechSynthesisServer
          Dropbox
Internet Plug-ins:
          Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
          Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.3.6.5 Support
          AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support
          FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 13.0.0.214 - SDK 10.6 Support
          Silverlight: Version: 4.0.50917.0 Support
          PDF Browser Plugin: Version: 2.4.4 - SDK 10.6 Support
          Flash Player: Version: 13.0.0.214 - SDK 10.6 Support
          QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
          iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
          AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support
          CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: Version: Version 1.1.9 - SDK 10.5 Support
          GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.0.4.0 Release - SDK 10.6 Support
Safari Extensions:
          1Password: Version: 3.9.20
Audio Plug-ins:
          BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
          AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9
          AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9
          iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
iTunes Plug-ins:
          Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9
User Internet Plug-ins:
          WebEx64: Version: 1.0 Support
          WebEx: Version: 1.0 Support
          BrowserPlus_2.9.8: Version: 2.9.8 Support
          ATTConnectEventEntry: Version: 1.0.3 - SDK 10.8
          CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 Support
3rd Party Preference Panes:
          BrowserPlus Support
          Flash Player Support
          Flip4Mac WMV Support
          Growl Support
          Logitech Control Center Support
Time Machine:
          Skip System Files: NO
          Auto backup: YES
          Volumes being backed up:
                    Macintosh HD: Disk size: 297.29 GB Disk used: 173.74 GB
          Destinations:
                    Time Machine Backups [Local] (Last used)
                    Total size: 931.19 GB
                    Total number of backups: 257
                    Oldest backup: 2009-08-27 00:50:25 +0000
                    Last backup: 2014-05-25 23:35:40 +0000
                    Size of backup disk: Excellent
                              Backup size 931.19 GB > (Disk size 297.29 GB X 3)
          Time Machine details may not be accurate.
          All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
Top Processes by CPU:
               2%          WindowServer
               0%          aosnotifyd
Top Processes by Memory:
          233 MB          mds_stores
          184 MB          Safari
          147 MB          Finder
          129 MB          com.apple.IconServicesAgent
          117 MB          softwareupdated
Virtual Memory Information:
          1.70 GB          Free RAM
          2.80 GB          Active RAM
          884 MB          Inactive RAM
          651 MB          Wired RAM
          1.28 GB          Page-ins
          0 B          Page-outs

HT201475 how to do clean install of yosemite

how to do clean install of yosemite

Do a backup before doing anything.
If you want to make a clean install of Yosemite boot into the Recovery Volume (command - R) on a restart, use Disk Utility to Verify/Repair the disk and run Repair Permissions. Then erase the hard drive using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format using the Options button. Reinstall Yosemite. Restart normally and test. Use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant to import what you want.
Clean Install
I would download the installer and you can make a bootable USB stick to install using this free program. You can then install from there.
Bootable USB Flash Drive – Diskmaker X

How do you clean install CS6 on a new PC Win7 64bit system?

How do you clean install CS6 on a new PC Win7 64bit system?
I think I've upgraded all th way from Version 7.

There is no problem. If no previous, activated software is detected on the system, the upgrade installer will simply revert to its secondary mode and request to input the old serial in a second step for verification. Unless you do some exotic crossgrade/ sidegrade stuff, this should work with no problems whatsoever.
Mylenium

How to clean-install Mavericks to a fusion drive?

Because I cannot find a complete answer here or anywhere else, I seek information about reinstalling Mavericks on a 1TB fusion drive on my late 2013 iMac. I see discussions about reinstalling, backing up data, Boot Camp issues, rebuilding a fusion drive, making a fusion drive from scratch, and the like; but I do not find the level of detail I am seeking about starting over with a fusion drive. I upgraded to Mavericks from Mtn Lion and now see hints that I needed to do something special to take advantage of the properties of this drive.
That said, here are my questions:
(1) When I "Command-R" reboot to Recovery and get to the Disk Utility, I see a separate 1TB HD as an extended partition as well as a 125GB drive that is root (/), which I presume is the SSD. To accomplish the clean installation, do I format BOTH? Or will formatting only the 1TB HD suffice? Does formatting only the 1TB HD also take care of formatting the SSD? Maybe it's not advisable to format the SSD ...?
(2) Does the downloaded Mavericks installer loaded onto a USB stick using DiskMakerX have the capability to do this clean install properly? or is it necessary, in order to take advantage of the fusion drive properties (SSD+HD), to download Mavericks Installer after wiping the HD so that support for the fusion drive is maintained?
(3) Because I am curious, where does OS X (I mean the OS, not data) reside after the installation is done? on the SSD? on the HD? I ask this because I have read that "the OS remains on the SSD," but, seemingly in conflict, that the SSD is for quick access to frequently used programs and data. Both could be correct.
Sorry for the length of this. And thanks.

The screenshot of DU within the booted Mavericks, not Recovery.
/dev/disk0
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *121.3 GB   disk0
   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1
   2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         121.0 GB   disk0s2
   3:                 Apple_Boot Boot OS X               134.2 MB   disk0s3
/dev/disk1
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *1.0 TB     disk1
   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk1s1
   2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         999.3 GB   disk1s2
   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk1s3
/dev/disk2
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD           *1.1 TB     disk2
/dev/disk3
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *500.1 GB   disk3
   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk3s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS LaCie                   499.1 GB   disk3s2
   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             784.2 MB   disk3s3
And you know what this is, per your request. It shows the OS on the SSD portion, the Recovery partition on the HD, etc. It's a little confusing because the disk reference numbers do not agree with those in the screenshot below, but that probably is because the shot below results from booting from a USB stick.
Now to your comments/answers/thoughts:
(1) Issue of number of drives. This is a fuzzy iPhone screenshot of DU after booting from a USB Mavericks installation stick:
Looks like I cannot format the SSD directly, if that is what disk5 really is. Below I mention another possibility for getting it formatted (third paragraph from the end).
(2) Which source for new installation of Mavericks
I agree that it's probably best not to use the USB stick I have but to use the Recovery method to download a fresh copy. I'm not sure about the reliability of the USB vs downloading, either, but there is some evidence out there (somewhere -- I've seen it but I don't recall where) suggesting it.
(3) Where OS X is installed -- fusion drive portion or HD portion of the Macintosh HD:
From the information given with "disk5" in the screen shot just above, it does appear that after a USB boot, DU sees items separately, including the main storage (Macintosh HD), the Recovery partition (disk4-used also for creating the USB stick installer), and OS (disk5). Some of this layout may hold true with a "Command-R" boot from the Recovery partition, and I know I've looked at it but for the moment cannot recall the information.
Further, it appears the OS is on the SSD. It also appears it cannot be formatted UNLESS such formatting occurs when the target for the formatting process is "Macintosh HD." I am inclined to believe now that when I make this clean reinstallation, the new copy of OS X will be put on the SSD portion, as you state. I am aware that the moving of data back and forth from SSD to HD is outside user control.
Lowluster, thank you for answering my questions in such an organized fashion (that I can follow!). I feel confident now about proceeding even though not all questions are answered definitively.
Allan, I'm glad to know about fusing separately an SSD with an HD. It will be useful should I run into another user's desire to create a fusion drive. Thank you again.
David

How to clean install Maverick

How to clean install maveraick back from Yosemite.

If you reinstall Mavericks, yes; unless you previously downloaded it from your Apple ID, you won't be able to install it.
If you reinstall the computer's original OS, no.
(125481)

How to properly clean install: erase, partition hard drive, and install tiger then SL

Hello,
     I am a noob at this, so if responders would be kind enough to be detailed / specific with any instructions it would be most helpful! I own a dinosaur apparently (even though I don't think so): the white (not unibody) Intel macbook2,1 (late 2006) 1.83 GHz with currently 1GB of RAM, but I have 2x2GB RAM sitting next to me ready for install. However, first I would like to do a clean uninstall of my computer (running OS X 10.6.8 SL). I also would like to properly partition my hard drive while I'm at it.
     About 6 months ago I had serious crashing issues, along with kernel panics, hangs, applications randomly appearing & disappearing, system settings and options doing the same, fans running high (probably due to the low RAM available), and basically overall screwiness. So, after trying pretty much every option I could find on this community...and many others... (e.g. clean cache, clean old logs, already did a clean uninstall and install of SL, and much much more) I have reached my wits end. I would say that to date I've wasted a good solid 2 months with this.
     The clean install worked for MAYBE a month or so, but then it started acting up again with the fans (even without high pages in/out, CPU or memory usage) and excessive heat, along with the apps freezing and quitting (mind you it would be only two things open such as 1 word document and then firefox-- with flash disabeled). SOOOOOO long story short, I have purchased new RAM and I would like to try this once again, but to ensure I don't screw it up this time I would like some directions as to how to do the uninstall, partition, then reinstall. (currently to date I ensured all updates are completed---even though they are no longer released for SL, and I just did a full backup).
     Also, I need to first install Tiger (my original OS) as when I went to do a hardware test the other day this was not an option (and upon further research it is due to me not using Tiger as a first install and then using my mac box set for SL). I didn't use my original OS first because....one issue encountered when I had tried to install Tiger was that my Disc 2 (the applications one) took around 1.5 hrs to complete, but when I reached the last step of glory where I expected it to say COMPLETE it instead said that there was some sort of issue with the disc..........of course).
     Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1: If near a Apple Store or Authorized Repair, take it to then for a free evaluation, it might have other hardware problems now that it would be a waste of effort even continuing.
2: The RAM needs to be
Maximum Memory
3.0 GB (Actual) 2.0 GB (Apple)
Memory Slots
2 - 200-pin PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM
Basically what this means is you can put in a 2GB module and a 1GB module for 3GB total.
I wouldn't proceed with installing RAM just yet, not until you get a stable OS X version on the machine, you might have a hard drive needing to be replaced as well which you can do while inserting new RAM.
3: This User Tip can assist in installing 10.6 Snow Leopard, partition format etc.
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
Software Update fully immediately after setup.
There is no need to install Tiger, he 10.6 disk contains the full 10.6 version, you can either install the iLife from Tiger disks or use Pacifist from Charlesoft to extract them and place on your new install, then Software update to get them current.
4: If not successful then the drive also likely needs to be replaced, if so choose a 7,200 RPM SATA I w/1.5Gb/s connection.
Install/upgrade RAM or storage drive in Mac's
Repeat #3
If your getting beeping noises or "you need to restart" issues, it's likely one or more of the RAM modules is bad. Have it exchanged or swapped.
I advise good quality RAM the first time, if you buy cheap stuff it's just going back.
Don't go any further than 10.6.8 with that old machine, the performance will be terrible.

How to completely clean install Mavericks?

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