I want to erase my hard drive and re-install 10.9

I have already successfully installed the 10.9 update.
I do not have any installation disks. Was on 10.8 until update install this morning.
Computer is working fine. Want to erase to get system back to factory capacity (and sttings).
WHen I tried to select erase disk from the DIsk Utility - the erase option was dimmed. My brief research suggested the hard drive was formatted for Windows and had to have the install disk to overvcome.
So: I would like avise on how to erase the drive, restore to factory settings (i.e. particion, etc) and re-install either 10.9 or 10.8 (which wouled themn require an update to 10.9)
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
To be able to erase the OS X partition, you must have started in OS X Recovery by holding down Command and R keys while your Mac is starting > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718 Then, open Disk Utility and erase Macintosh HD. Finally, install OS X again, and OS X Recovery will install OS X Mavericks.
If your Mac is working properly, there's no need to make a clean install. In most cases, the OS X performance is similar after an upgrade and a clean install

Similar Messages

I want to erase my hard drive and reinstall lion server. Can someone help me out?

i have a mac mini running lion server. I want to erase all the date and start fresh. When i try to reinstall Lion it does not show anything about lion server but jut Lion. I want to make sure I do it properly. It is also asking me in which hard drive to install Lion but im unsure.
can someone help me out?

Check in the app store under purchases both lion and server should show up there to download again.
No need to erase both drives for a clean install just the drive you are using for the OSX. Though if you are truly starting a fresh then erase and reformat both.
As for Upgrades. Yosemite is the only upgrade now available through the app store as is Server 4.0 for Yosemite. I have not tested the latest server yet and can not comment on it's reliability.
Any server you set up should be thoroughly tested on a closed network before going live.
Hope this helps.
PJRS

Need To Clean Erase My Hard Drive And Re-Install OS and Factory Software

I have a question. I am needing to erase then reinstall the OS and software that came with this Sep 2008 Macbook Pro. I am selling it and want to wipe out all my personal and work related data files I have created, and do a thorough erase. Then, with the disks that came with it I want to re-install the OS and the factory installed software. Does anyone have a link to the steps from Apple on how to accomplish this, and any do's and don'ts to help keep me out of trouble? Am replacing it with a new 15" MBP for work.
Thanks much in advance.
Reed

This is the way I prepare old machines that came with OS X installed, which allows them to act just like one from the factory. First, boot with the Apple Hardware Test disk that came with the machine, run the extended tests, and make sure everything passes. Then, boot with the restore disk(s) that came with the machine (holding down the C key until you get a screen), erase and zero the HD. When that's finished, reformat it Mac OS Extended, install the OS 9 drivers (if the machine can boot into OS 9), and then restore the software.
See
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=31086 and
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301408 for restoring details.
When finished, click on the restart button, holding down the CMD+S keys. This puts the machine into single-user mode and gives you an Unix command line terminal screen. When the text stops scrolling, type in this command and click the return key:
*shutdown -h now*
This shuts down the computer; the next time it is turned on, the Setup Assistant will appear and the new user will get to personalize it. This also alleviates the necessity of presetting any display parameters, internet and e-mail settings, etc. As long as the monitor can hook up to the machine, the OS will select a usable resolution and the user can use the Display prefpane to suit their needs. They'll also have to run Software Update and bring everything up to the latest version.
Do note that you should also include all software disks and manuals that came with the machine. If there are 3rd-party apps, you need to include those disks and manuals, but only for those you want to transfer to the new owner—keeping those on your new machine and the old one, most likely violates the terms of usage.
James Sedgwick says: "I'm simple so that's why I try and keep it simple, just boot off your OS X CD, zero the drive, and shutdown. The new owner will use the bundled CD(s) to set it up the way they want it, easy peasey."
To reset Leopard to the Setup Assistant, see http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2007110800450816

I cant erase my hard drive and clean install OS X 10.6

When I try and do a clean install from the OS X disk I do not get the option to use disk utilities to erase the disk. Does anyone know why this is missing, could I have some sort of virus blocking it?

1 Why do you want to 'clean install' the OS? This isn't Windows, there's almost no reason to have to do a 'clean install' on a Mac.
2 Apple doesn't seem to think that anyone needs to do this; they have deleted the 'clean install' option.
3 if you really, really, REALLY must 'clean install', then reformat the volume using Disk Utility.

With Lion, How Can I Erase the Hard Drive and Reinstall The System Software?

I plan on buying a used iMac with a Core 2 Duo so that I can run Lion. Since Lion can only be purchased at the Mac App store what if I needed to erase my hard drive and re-install the system software. How can I do this without a DVD with the OS on it like I have for Snow Leapard. I suppose that I could boot from my Snow Leapard DVD and do the erase. Then, I supposed I would be able to download Lion again from the Mac App Store without paying for it again. But, how would you erase a hard drive and reinstall the system software when purchasing a new Mac with Lion already installed and no DVD at all with the OS on it?
-- Kaydell

When someone purchases any Apple computer with a DVD Drive, they should have recieved two DVDs... One contains the Operating System (up to Snow Leopard, Lion no longer ships on DVD) and the other contains the SYSTEM SOFTWARE (i.e. iLife and iWork). To install the software, they just insert the DVD with the SYSTEM SOFTWARE into any compatible Mac and run the installer. There is no need to erase the hard drive to install SYSTEM SOFTWARE. Maybe a friend can let you borrow the SYSTEM SOFTWARE DVD. The other option is to purchase the software via the App Store.
FYI... App Store purchases are linked to the PURCHASER'S APPLE ID. So if you buy a used Mac from a friend and that Mac already has Lion installed on it,that Lion purchase is linked to YOUR FRIEND'S APPLE ID, not yours. So if you want to download Lion again, you will have to enter your FRIEND'S APPLE ID AND PASSWORD. You can always have your friend re-download Lion and make you a DVD copy.

How can I wipe my hard drive and clean install Mountain Lion?

Hi I have a 21.5 inch mid 2011 iMac running Mountain Lion, I want to wipe my hard drive and clean install Mountain Lion. I dont want all my stuff back, just photos and music, the rest I'll reinstall my self. I also dont have a exteranl harddrive. only two USB's one 2 GB and the other 8 GB. How do I do this? And I dont want to pay for mountain lion again. Thanks!

I made my partition and am currently reinstalling mountain lion to put on my flash drive. I'm using Lion disk maker 2 thats compatible with mountain lion. I'm doing it right, correct?

I had to erase my hard drive and then reinstall everything back from my passport external hard drive. Now my iPhoto edit is not working. I get a blank screen when I want to edit. The photos show up in the library but I cannot edit them. Help?

I had to erase my hard drive and then reinstall everything back from my passport external hard drive. Now my iPhoto edit is not working. I get a blank screen when I want to edit. The photos show up in the library but I cannot edit them. Help?

There are several possible causes for the Black Screen issue
*1. Permissions in the Library* : Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to check and repair permissions.
*2. Minor Database corruption*: Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
*3. A Damaged Photo*: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and right click on it. From the resulting menu select 'Show File (or 'Show Original File' if that's available). Will the file open in Preview? If not then the file is damaged. Time to restore from your back up.
*4. A corrupted iPhoto Cache*: Trash the com.apple.iPhoto folder from HD/Users/Your Name/Library/ Caches...
*5. A corrupted preference file*: Trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder. (Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)
If none of these help:
As a Test:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
Import a few pics into this new, blank library. Is the Problem repeated there?
Regards
TD

I have a 15" MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Early 2008) running OSX Lion 10.7.5. I want to erase the Hard Drive, install Mountain Lion, and manually restore select applications and files. Is there a known procedure to do this? Any tips or feedback?

I have a 15" MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Early 2008) running OSX Lion 10.7.5.
I want to erase the Hard Drive, install Mountain Lion, and manually restore select applications and files.
Is there a known procedure to do this? Any tips or feedback?

1. Make a backup, open App Store and purchase Mountain Lion. When its download finishes, close the installer and open Lion Diskmaker to create a bootable USB drive with Mountain Lion.
2. Press Option key while your Mac is starting, select the external drive and open Disk Utility.
3. Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar and erase the drive.
4. Close the window and install Mountain Lion

I want to reinstall os X yosemite on my macbook Air but i erased the hard drive and i cant get the local recovery option; only internet recovery; is there any way to go back and get local recovery option?

i want to reinstall os X yosemite on my macbook Air but i erased the hard drive and i cant get the local recovery option; only internet recovery; is there any way to go back and get local recovery option?

Hi Bockworld1,
I'm afraid you did an error when erasing your hard-drive, this has automatically erased the "local recovery". In order to pass-by this, you must use a former Mac OS X installation DVD (such as Snow Leopard 10.6.3) and then when updated to 10.6.8 you may access the Mac App Store to recover the Yosemite Installer and proceed to a fresh "update" OR creating a Bootable USB Installation drive with DiskMaker in order to alway get a installation copy.
I also suggest you to create a USB Basic Operating System (you must select a local USB device to install Yosemite or whatever OS you want) with only the base operating system to launch your computer in case of Main Operating System issues.
Given the amounts of issues reported by users with 10.10.2, I command you to download 10.10.2 version to get a stable OS working.
Let me know how it is going.
Good Luck.

I erased my hard drive and now my Macbook pro won't boot

I bought a new macbook pro the other day, so I decided to erase the hard drive on my 2010 Macbook pro and reinstall my OS cleanly. I erased the hard drive and tried an internet recovery. It downloaded the recovery and would not boot. Tried resetting everything you could name of and it doesn't help. Can't get anywhere with command R, it just freezes. Safe mode won't boot. Command V, eventually ends with an error saying to return to old smc. I pulled the hard drive out and put it in another mac from about the same year and through internet recovery, actually loaded OS Lion back on it. I put it back in the problem mac, and it just freezes at the apple logo and spinning wheel. Can't understand why erasing the hard drive would effect any hardware, but maybe it messed with logic board somehow? I've now tried using the Recovery partition, since OS Lion was loaded on the drive, but it freezes there as well. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Are you sure it came with Lion?
Check out the support page for what build shipped with which OS.
PJRS

I had to erase my hard drive and now when I try to sync the I phone or Ipad it says I will loose my data on the iphone or ipad . how can I sync the phone or I pad without loosing my music ?

I had to erase my hard drive and reinstall ox snow leopard. when i try to sync my Iphone or Ipad it says that my device was synced with another computer and I will loose my songs on the Iphone or ipad and it will be replaced by the library that is on my computer now. The library is empty since I had to erase the hard drive. Can anyone help?

1) ensure iTunes is authorized for your iTunes store account(s)
2) connect your device and right-click or control-click it in the iTunes Source list, then choose transfer purchases from the shortcut menu that appears.
3) sync the device
iTunes will wipe the iPhone/iPad but, since you transferred your purchases in the previous step, your content will be in your library and you can re-populate the iPhone/iPad with it.
above works for purchases from the iTunes store. for everything else, check out this post by Zevoneer.
also, there are PhoneView and iRip.

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things. And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad. Here's the info on my IMac:
Model Name:          iMac
Model Identifier:          iMac6,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors:          1
Total Number Of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          4 MB
Memory:          3 GB
Bus Speed:          667 MHz
Boot ROM Version:          IM61.0093.B07
SMC Version (system):          1.10f2

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew
Why do you feel you need to do this? That is such a 'Windows thing' to do!
And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad
Very rarely, but nothing in life is guaranteed (except death and taxes)! If you purchased RAM from a reputable source like Crucial or OWC it will carry a lifetime warranty.

If I upgraded my MacBook Pro from Snow Leopard to Lion via the web and now wish to erase the hard drive and restore it to factory settings to sell. How do I accomplish this?

I upgraded the operating system on my MacBook Pro from Snow Leopard to Lion via the web. Now I need to erase the hard drive and restore it to factory settings, so that I can pass it on. How do I accomplish this? When I insert the Mac OS X install disk, the only option is to erase the free space. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you

You need to boot off the original Snow Leopard DVD's that came with the system.
Once you are running off of the DVD you will be able to do a clean install of SL
To boot off the DVD with the system up running Lion insert the DVD. Open Sytem Preferences->Startup Disk and select the DVD then restart the machine.
Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano

Hi, I want to format my hard drive and reinstall my PC. How can I transfer my Acrobat Standard licence ? Regards.

Hi,
I want to format my hard drive and reinstall my PC. How can I transfer my Acrobat Standard licence ?
Regards.

First you should deactivate any Adobe programs you have installed so that you free up the activation for when you want to reinstall. When you are ready to reinstall, do so using the installation files - transferring generally does not work.
Before you do anything you might want to check to make sure you have access to installation files for reinstalling the program(s).

How do i erase the hard drive and reinstall?

How do i erase the hard drive and reinstall everything? My computer is running slow and i thought with having a 2.4ghz processor and 4gb of ram would make speed not a factor but obviously i was wrong in that my comp is running slow. Not as slow as my pentium processor desktop but its too slow for my tastes. Im waiting to get an external hd so i can save my songs and pictures to before i do erase everything.

Go to finder and in Spotlight, type in erase and install. The second choice is "Reinstall OS X. Print that out and follow the directions.
Good Luck.
Adam

I want to erase my hard drive and re-install 10.9

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for