Need clean install on MacBookPro MC375LL/A

I have OS X Mavericks on this MacBook Pro and need to do a clean install before selling it to buy another Mac. It is currently running Mavericks 9.1 and I would prefer to wind up with the OS X 10.8.5 if possible with the clean install. However, my
primary need is to effect the clean install. What steps do I need to take to accomplish this. I'm a long way from well versed
in computerese and would appreciate some assistance. Thanks very much for any help.

Before you sell or give away your computer, in addition to the steps mentioned in this support article, take these steps:
Run Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test. The buyer will do this (or he should), and you don't want to be surprised by the results.
Reset the PRAM and the SMC, which might contain personal information.
If you set a firmware password, remove it by running Firmware Password Utility in Recovery mode.
If you activated FileVault in OS X 10.7 or later, turn it off.
If you use Boot Camp, the partition must be deleted
If you created any other data partitions on the internal drive, remove them in Disk Utility.
Erase the data partition(s) with the option to zero out data. An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.
You can't legally or practically transfer any software downloaded from the Mac App Store to the new owner of the machine, even if it was free. That includes OS X, so if you upgraded to OS X 10.7 or later, you must reinstall the original OS, either from the installation media, if applicable, or by booting into Internet Recovery (option-command-R at the startup chime.) If you installed from discs or a read-only USB key, deliver those to the new owner.
The new owner will have to repurchase the software, if need be, under his or her Apple ID. If you ever updated the bundled iLife applications (Garage Band, iMovie, and iPhoto) through the App Store, you can't transfer them either.
Remove the machine from your list of registered products. If it's still covered by an AppleCare Protection Plan, transfer the coverage to the new owner by following the instructions in the AppleCare Terms and Conditions (under the heading "Transfer of Plan.")

Similar Messages

My OS X 10.9 corrupted and i cleaned everything and installed ubuntu linux. I need clean install OSX again and i cant able to reach OS utility now. Please advise

My OS X 10.9 corrupted and i cleaned everything and installed ubuntu linux. I need clean install OSX again and i cant able to reach OS utility now. Please advise

You cannot use a Windows machine.
No idea if this will work because you have/had Ubuntu installed - hit Command + Option + R keys while restarting/booting up. Once in the Utilities, make sure the drive is formatted correctly and erase it, then reinstall the OS.

Win 8.1: Reset vs Install on partitioned drive (XP- upgrade 8- upgrade 8.1) now need clean install

This is a little complicated.
I have a Thinkpad T-60 (4GB) and a T-61p (8GB)
Both machines have SATA drives partitioned in 3 (System, Images, Data)
Originally, both had XP (the T-61p was RAM upgraded to 8 GB before upgrade (remember the $50 early-bird special?)
I upgraded the T60 without problem (as I recall).
I had to get the 64-bit physical upgrade as you could only download the version you already had (32-bit; remember that disaster?) for the T-61p.
Figuring I had 4 GB on the T-60, I used 64 bit as well, ending up with only 3 GB active. I take it this was a waste and should have just used the 32-bit, right?
I clean installed (as I recall) 8.1 using a generic 8 key (right?) and then an 8.1 key (right?, or is that an 8 key that will still activate 8.1?)
So here it is 3 years later +/- and both 8.1 installs are pretty trashed so...
I downloaded both the 8.1 32-bit and 64-bit .iso's
I have my serial #'s
I tried a Reset on my Server last night (whole disk, no partitions) - it worked, and gave me an option to wipe all disks, or just the C: system disk (which I did, others intact). It is fine, all settings gone, no trash.
Now the question is what will happen with my partitioned drives. I want a clean install on the C: partition, and D: and E: left alone.
Will Reset trash all the partitions and load the entire disk? (NOT what I want) .. or ..
Should I use the Install option? (which I assume will go through the partition manager) and allow me to clean install on C: only.
Lastly, if I have read correctly, there is no point in putting 64-bit on the T-60 (4 GB) as all you end up is 3 GB active anyway, so I should go back to 32-bit and avoid the 64-bit headaches?
Thanks!!!

Hello qudrcps,
About the ThinkPad T-60 can’t only recognize 3GB ram, please take a look the follow thread.
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-prior-T-series-ThinkPad/T60P-Windows-7-64-bit-only-using-3-GB-of-RAM/td-p/377623
Intel Chipsets 945GM and 945PM do not support more than 3GB system memory (RAM), even when a 64-bit operating system is installed.
Please contact the manufacturer to confirm if the laptop support 4GB ram.
Please note: Since the website is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.
Please explain a bit about other requirements.
What do you mean about the physical disks 0,1? Do you have several disks?
About reset the Windows 8.1, please refer to the following article.
How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-HK/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc
How to perform a clean installation of Windows
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-HK/windows-8/clean-install
Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN
Fangzhou CHEN
TechNet Community Support

GUID Partition Scheme - Need clean install: can I restore files from TM?

So, here's my problem. I have an Intel PowerMac (first series after the G5) and when I try to install SL I get the following error message: "Can't Install Snow Leopard Since Disk Does Not Use GUID Partition Scheme". I guess it's something related to the fact thet I previously upgraded from an old iMac with a PPC processor (Apple partition vs. GUID partition).
Anyway, accoding to my understanding, the only solution for me is to do a clean install by wiping the HD and re-partitioning it.
Now, my question is: can I use my current TM backup to later restore apps/prefs onto the new SL system? I believe that TM now has an Apple partition scheme that reflects the one I have on Leopard 10.5. Is that right? Will I encounter any problem because of the different partition type of TM?

"Anyway, accoding to my understanding, the only solution for me is to do a clean install by wiping the HD and re-partitioning it."
Right, except that your drive will automatically be erased when you set up the GUID partitiion.
"Now, my question is: can I use my current TM backup to later restore apps/prefs onto the new SL system? I believe that TM now has an Apple partition scheme that reflects the one I have on Leopard 10.5. Is that right? Will I encounter any problem because of the different partition type of TM?"
Your TM backup should work. But, there are not many guarantees in life. You could tranfer you TM backup temporarily to your internal and then make a bootable clone of your internal on your external. Afterwards, you could transfer the TM backup back. Then, you'd have two sources from which you could restore items.
Message was edited by: donv (The Ghost)

I need to do a clean install of maverick on my 2010 mbp what disk do i use and how do i move certain files from an external hard drive

I want to do a clean install of maverick on my 2010 mbp. I need to know what disk to use and also how i take certain files off my external hard drive and put on my computer. When I was having problems with my airport they did a clean install and they pulled files of my time machine.   however they forgot to put the partition back in for a windows side. Originally I had Parellels on my computer. After my external hard drive got corrupted i called apple and they fixed the problem but didn't have me set up the time machine except for the external hard drive. Now my only back up is from the external not from the laptop.    I am not sure how to do any of this. I am not computer savvy...PLEASE I NEED HELP>

First, you need to make a backup of your MBP onto your external drive. I suggest you start by cloning your MBP drive to the external drive:
Clone Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion using Restore Option of Disk Utility
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
         button.
     2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
     3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
     4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
         to the Destination entry field.
     5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
         the Source entry field.
     6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
This clone is fully bootable and also contains a clone of your Recovery HD.
Second, you need to do a clean install of OS X onto your MBP as follows:
Install or Reinstall Mavericks or Mountain Lion from Scratch
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
OS X Mavericks- Erase and reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Erase and reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Erase and reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.
This should accomplish your goals. You will have a clean install of OS X on your MBP and a bootable clone of your old system and all your files on the external drive.

If I do a clean install on my MacBook Pro will I be able to re-install apps (FCP, Aperture, MS Office etc.) from a Time Machine backup, or will I need the original install DVDs with authorization codes?

I have two questions...
1) If I do a clean install on my MacBook Pro will I be able to re-install apps (FCP, Aperture, MS Office etc.) from a Time Machine backup, or will I need the original install DVDs with authorization codes? (because I don't have them)
2) Has anyone ever seen anything like this before on their computers?
The Apple Genius' were stumped by my laptop issues and said they'd never seen anything like it before and recommended I did a clean install. Below you can see my trash bin, and if you look at the "Empty" button it reads "N201" and then there's the "N39" to the left of it. You can also see these numbers over by the folder area--"SD5, SD6, SD7." But that's not all...
When I right click on items I see the numbers again. Instead of "Open with" I get "N152" and there's an "N35" and "LB1" towards the bottom.
I have no idea what's going on so I'm just going to do a clean install on my machine but I don't want to lose my apps. I don't have the original install DVDs for them anymore. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!

You don't lose them. You can always redownload them from the app store after you log back in with your Apple ID.
"Buy, download, and even redownload.
You can install apps on every Mac you use and even download them again. This is especially convenient when you buy a new Mac and want to load it with apps you already own."

I need to do a clean install with Lion. How do I do this. I can't find any doc. to tell me the procedure.

I need to do a clean install with Lion. How do I do this. I can't find any doc. to tell me the procedure.

Follow the instructions at the link I posted
have a lot of old stuff transferred from Mac to Mac to Mac that is slowing down everything
If that included Power PC apps, read here > Lion upgrade questions and answers: Apple Support Communities

Windows XP Clean Install – What I discovered and the help I need

Windows XP Clean Install – What I discovered and the help I need
I previously had a problem with my Laptop dying randomly you can read about it in the thread entitled Computer dies Randomly (Battery also dead) click to view
Before I realised the solutions, I thought that maybe my Laptop had become infected with a Virus and decided it would be prudent to do a clean install of the Windows XP operating system.
Everything went perfectly and thought a clean install was a good opportunity to download the “XP Service Pack 3” SP3 and did so, it seemed very quiet though and that’s when I realised I had no sound…
I downloaded all of the sound drivers I could find on the Lenovo site for 3000 N100 (I knew from previous experience that the “SOUNDMAX” driver is the only one that actually works with this 3000 N100) in order to install this you have to install the Realtek HD audio driver, but in order to install that you have to install some other Driver/Soft that only works with SP1 or SP2 if you try to install it with SP3 it will say that you don’t need the file as your Service pack is newer than the file you want to install, this is understandable as SP3 is not final as of yet (but it’s good to know).
My next problem was that my extra RAM was not detected, this was fixed by updating the BIOS, after installing all of the System updates, PC Doctor, everything I could find for 3000 N100 I decided to rest, I pushed the Lenovo care button and it did not work, I found a hot key driver and installed it but still the Lenovo care button does not work, previously when I pushed this button it would bring up the Lenovo menu but now it’s just a dead button, Does anyone know how to get this button working again?
I am pretty sure that everything else is working fine now, just that button not working is very annoying, is there a set routing of installs you must do to get everything working, i.e. bios 1st audio 2nd system update 3rd etc...
Please help, I hope I have helped you...
Message Edited by DrunkenNinja on 05-07-2008 03:38 AM
Message Edited by DrunkenNinja on 05-07-2008 03:38 AM
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Ok first everything works now... except the Lenovo Care button, I just posted the other stuff cause it might help other members, I have searched the forum for an anwser to this problem but there was only one anwser (suggesting to uninstall the driver restart and re-install it) and it did not result in a working Lenovo Care button...
I don't beleive the Lenovo keyboad drivers are in any way related to the Service pack 3 as they do not use the Service pack files, to back this up I also had the same problem when Service Pack 2 was installed...
The Lenovo Care button works fine on Boot up screen to access the rescue and recovery software (So the mechanics of the button are fine) but once Windows XP loads it is just a dead button, I remember it used to open up the Lenovo Care Start bar, I got it working once in the past but I can't remember what I did, I thought someone here might know the anwser...

I need to do a "clean install" How do I retain my passwords, etc?

I intend to purchase a new hard drive and do a clean install of OSX 10.4, but I shudder to think that I won't be able to restore all of my passwords, iChat stuff, e-mails address books, etc.
Is there a method? I have used 'carbon copy cloner" in the past to duplicate my current system on a new drive, but now I need to start from scratch, as I was informed that some of my system problems are due to updating from earlier OSX versions....
Any advice?

So much for that.... here is the synposis:
I am a professional mixer. I have a private high end mix room in Manhattan.
I use Apple Logic pro running on a G5 dual 2Ghz tower as my main transport and have several racks which contain all of my outboard signal processing (nearly 60 channels of outboard compression EQ and other processors).
I rely on the MOTU PCI-424 and 2 HD192 and one 1296 interfaces as my patchbay for this gear. Insert latency is compensated by a plugin I invented called "latency fixer" which was implemented by the UK based 'OS collective" and is available as freeware.
I have a separate, internal 10,000rpm hard drive which stores only the audio tracks for the current mix project. I also have a UAD-1 card which I use very sparingly, usually only one active plugin. I always use the largest possible Core Audio buffer setting (1024samples) and the Uad-1 driver apparently doubles that figure.
Recently I added a Duende to the system. Initially I had very dubious luck getting audio through this device without dropouts and random temporal anomolies, i.e. If I inserted the Duende on a few of the drum tracks, these tracks would randomly shift in time by several hundred milliseconds. Not good. I became aware that OS X had serious problems with random latency when using aggregate audio drivers, and upon further investigation learned that there was an identical problem when using a firewire based audio interface. According to reports online, Apple ignored this issue for more than 2 years, but when Apogee released it's "Ensemble" firewire interface, the iShit hit the iFan, so to speak. They quickly addressed this problem by rewriting the kernel level firewire driver.
This new driver was sent to me and I installed it on my 10.4.5 OS. This fixed the random latency issue in my aggregate interface driver, and seemed to improve the performance of the Duende as well. Recently I have again been experiencing the random time shifts when using the Duende.
It's a professional embarrassment in my system. I find myself spending 4 hours on a mix and 6 hours troubleshooting the system in order to print the mix without spurious noises.
I was advised by apple that a clean install of OSX would improve the situation. I did a clean install of OS 10.4.8 and the problems with the Duende are actually worse than they were under 10.4.5.
I would appreciate any thoughtful advice about how to remedy this problem.

Spinning ball problems--need to do a clean install--have questions

Hi
background:
I have a G4 (quicksilver) since July 2002, it came with OS9.2 and OS10.1.3. I've upgraded a few times since and currently have 10.3.9. I mainly work in OS9.2 due to most of my programs being used are only in 9 and the PC network I'm hooked up to likes it better. I boot up in 9.2 -- 80%of the time.
I'm not sure when the problem started in OSX since I'm not working there alot but I started to get the spinning ball in installer, software update and some preferences. So I reloaded (archive/install) from 10.3.5 upgrade disk but couldn't further upgrade to 10.3.9 due to that spinning ball-- still there even after I reloaded 10.3.5.
I've run Disk Utility from the 10.3.5 upgrade disk (repaired disk, repaired permissions) and then I again reloaded (archive install) 10.3.5 and then upgraded to 10.3.9 and this time it worked because I went immediately to the 10.3.9 to install.
BUT I still have the spinning balls in almost everything. Almost seems worse now. I can't even use Disk Utility from the utility folder on my mac without getting the spinning ball.
OS9.2 is fine and I would like to leave it that way.
But it's looking like I need to do a clean install--which means I'll have to reload OS9.2 -- correct?
My question is for a clean install do I need to go back to the original disks that came with my Mac (OS10.1.3) or can I do a clean install with the 10.3.5 upgrade disks. And if I do a clean install from 10.3.5 can I still install OS9.2?
Also what are those Software Restore disks for? They came with the original set of CDs, are they used in the clean install?
Thanks for any help you can give
Power Mac G4 (quicksilver) Mac OS X (10.3.9)
G4 quicksilver Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Keith:
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
You really should start a new topic, as threadjacking is frowned upon in these Forums.
The spinning ball or the beachball effect is a result of the computer spinning its wheels, so to speak, as it does not have sufficient computing power to deal with the task at hand. This can be caused by many things.
I am almost certain that it has nothing to do with the latest Panther update. I did them all with no problem.
Is there a way to deal with it?
1. Sufficient RAM
2. Sufficient available HDD capacity.
3. Regular maintenance.
4. Repairing Disk Permisssions before and after any installations.
In terms of RAM you should aim to max out your RAM if you can. I don't have much information on your computer specs so I can't give any more specific information about that.
You should have 10 to 15 percent of your internal HDD as free space. This gives your computer room for virtual memory to be most efficient.
Here is an article on maintenace that has good advice and links to resources: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=607640&#607640
In addition to repairing permissions, another simple procedure is to reset the PRAM. You should boot from your install disk and run Repair Disk from Disk Utility on the install disk. I run monthly diagnostics and repairs with Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior. In addition running regular CRON cleaning with a utility like MacJanitor, Cocktail, Macaroni or Onyx (all linked in the article above) keeps your machine running smoothly and minimizes the potential for major problems.
I think I have given you enough to chew on for now. Post back if you have further questions.
Good luck.
cornelius

I need help doing a clean install.( keyboard shortcuts?).Macbook will not read any of the disks/ turns off

I installed a new 'used' Logic board, im my macbook 13.3 and it turned right on!..( i was out of warrenty)
Apple logo and spiing wheel, then turns off..
After reading several forums, I went into self mode, did the 2 checks within in and got an error which pointed to the OS software being currupted..
so I have inserted the Os disk, the disk-repair disk and a disk warrior disk, but none of them are being read. I hear the Macbook starting to read the disk then the disks are ejected and the systen turns off.
Is there a way i can do a clean install on the HD? shortcut keyboard shortcuts?
or force the disks to be read as the first boot device like of that in a PC's bios settup?
I have no data on the computer that I wish to save btw.. just want a fresh install..
thanks for any help in advance.

Unfortunately the necessary software to reinstall your OS is not located on the hard drive. If your MacBook will not accept the disks you have you are going to need a hardware repair, probably the optical drive.
If you have access to another MacBook you may be able to install the OS on an external hard drive and use that to boot your MacBook. You may then be able to get any data off of your hard drive.
Best of luck.

Advice Needed - Should I just do a Clean Install?

I've got an older 17" iMac FP that I handed down to the kids (6 and 9). The mainly use Garageband and Pages. Since this was my original machine (before getting my new 20" iMac G5) I decided to leave my account on there, just for a backup. Lately they've been getting lots of "Program quit unexpectedly" on lots of apps, including Garageband, iTunes, TextEdit, and Marble Blast Gold. Things have gotten worse since the 10.4.7 upgrade. I just ran a "fix permissions" and "Verify Disk" all looked good. The machine is in good shape, lots of RAM and about 15G of disc space available.
So, what's my question... I've been thinking of just starting over; doing a clean install. This machine was originally upgraded from 10.2.8 directly to 10.4.x. I just think that maybe starting from a clean disk would help things out.
Some questions. What is the best way to backup the kids accounts? I have a FW drive connected to it, so I can back up stuff to it. I really don't want a "clone" just a decent backup. Also, is it a good idea to delete my and my wife's user accounts (I hear a disk image of each account is created). I could copy those over to the FW just as insurance. I've been moved over to the new G5 for about 3 months now, so I'm pretty sure I got everything over. But you know what happens, as soon as I wipe the old system I will discover I am missing something form the old machine.
What do you all suggest I do? I realize that even after wiping the drive I will probably end up with 10.4.7 after all is said and done. I just think that a clean system may be a good start.
Thanks,
Alfredo

Hi, Alfredo.
1. You wrote: " Lately they've been getting lots of "Program quit unexpectedly" on lots of apps..."See my "Multiple applications quit unexpectedly or fail to launch" FAQ for advice on troubleshooting this issue.
2. I trust you've enabled Parental Controls, Simple Finder, etc. to keep the children from discarding system-related files? I presume they do not know the Admin password on that computer and their accounts are not set up as Admin, yes?
3. You wrote: "What is the best way to backup the kids accounts? I have a FW drive connected to it, so I can back up stuff to it. I really don't want a "clone" just a decent backup."The advantage of duplicating (cloning) is that if you decide to reinstall Tiger from scratch, you can restore their accounts simply using the Migration Assistant from the clone on the FireWire drive after you've set up the an Admin account for yourself to manage their Mac. It's a little-known fact that you can use the Migration Assistant to migrate from an a duplicate of the startup disk of an "old" Mac on a FireWire drive vs. Target Disk mode.
That would also settle the question of saving a backup of your account and your wife's account on that computer for the time being. At some point you could startup from that clone, then use the instructions in "Mac OS X 10.4 Help: Deleting a user account" to delete those accounts from the clone and move the disk images for such to another drive on your new Mac. Note that if one of the accounts you are deleting from such is the only Admin account, you may want to first create another Admin account on the clone and use it to delete-and-preserve your account and that of your wife as you need to use an Admin account to remove accounts.
For advice on the backup and recovery solution I employ, see my "Backup and Recovery" FAQ.
4. If you're going to perform a full, fresh reinstall of Tiger on your children's computer, I also recommend — after cloning the drive and assuring you have good, bootable clone — to first "zero" the drive to remove any bad sectors that may have developed. See "Disk Utility 10.5 Help: Securely erasing disks." Select at least the "Zero Out Data" security option.
5. FYI: If your children access the Internet, see my "Internet Safety for Children" FAQ for my advice on protecting your children on the Internet. This FAQ lists some Mac-based solutions, tips I have suggested in prior posts, and a list of links for additional information.
Note that some of the information above is from the "Moving to a New Mac" and "Zeroing Volumes" chapters of my book, Troubleshooting Mac® OS X, Tiger Edition.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Do you have to down load from the internet using apple's recover partition, every time you need to do a clean install? or can you make a copy of Mt Lion onto a USB stick and install off that?

Do you have to down load Mountain Lion from the internet every time you need to do a clean install? or can you make a copy of Mt Lion onto a USB stick and install off that?
Thanks

Yes you can make a USB stick of Lion or Mt Lion. Use Lion Disk Maker after you download OS X from the internet.
For Lion you have to point the download to an external drive and watch when it completes and reboots the system to start the install disconnect the external. If you bought Mt Lion from the Mac App Store then you can download it from there and just cancel the install when it comes up on the desktop.
If you are downloading from the Recovery HD or from the Online Internet Recovery system, slightly different then the built in Recovery HD, then again you need to point it to an external drive and discoonect that drive when the system reboots to start the real install.
Then use Lion disk maker to create either a DVD disc or USB thumb of the install files.

I am trying to do a clean install of Snow Leopard on an Intel Macbook Pro. (Need to partition for Boot Camp) I have done it in the past so I know it works but whenever I select the install disk as the boot device it gets stuck on the Apple logo/pinwheel.

Prety much what the question says. HELP!

stephenfromlynchburg wrote:
No the mac had come with Leopard. Then I bought the snow leopard DVD and did a clean install of snow leopard.
If you just stuck the disk into the Leopard Mac and run the upgrader, you didn't do a "fresh install" you basically upgraded from 10.5 to 10.6 leaving all the programs and files intact.
The white Snow Leopard disk was the right one for that machine as it had Leopard (10.5) on it previously.
So you already have Snow Leopard installed, if you want to erase the entire drive (along with all your programs, files and OS X) and want to install Snow Leopard again, you hold the c or option/alt key down and boot the machine off the disk. Then use Disk Utiltiy to erase the entire drive, then quit and install Snow Leopard.
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
Once Snow Leopard is installed you log in and use Apple Menu > Software Update until clear to get to 10.6.8 and fix security issues.
Now I can't get it to do the install again.
To install Windows into BootCamp, you read and run the BootCamp Assistant located in the Applications > Utiltiies folder
It's important to change the drive format from FAT32 to NTFS before installing Windows using the Windows disk.
Windows is rather complicated to install, if you boot to a blinking line with "press any key to continue" you need to press and hold the power button down and reboot holding the Option/Alt key down to get back into OS X.
https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
If your Windows programs are not going to be as CPU/GPU demanding, you may rather prefer to use a virtual machine instead
Windows in BootCamp or Virtual Machine?

Need to do a clean install, important questions

Hi all,
For several months my two-year-old MacBook has been having a serious typing issue that I have not been able to resolve. When I am typing, quite frequently, the typing will move to the middle of the text box (or Word document) and start writing over or deleting what I've already wrote. I've searched online, other people have suffered this problem, but there is no definitive solution. I will not go further into this, but if you know what might fix the problem please let me know.
Anyway...
Per the suggestion of a friend, I plan on doing a clean install to Snow Leopard. Since this sounds like a software issue, I am hoping this will resolve my typing problem. I have never done a clean install before and need to purchase an external hard drive. Everything must go seamlessly, as I am a college student and have very important docs and applications that must safely be transferred back. This is what I'm looking at:
- 40 GB of media files in iTunes
- 10 GB of photos in iPhoto
- 0.5 GB of text documents
~ 30 GB of applications (Office, Adobe Suite, etc.)
My friend told me I will need the install discs for Office and Adobe Suite in addition to to the serial numbers. I live far away from home now, and am not even sure if the install disc for Office is still in my hometown. Adobe Suite came preloaded on my MacBook when I purchased it from Apple with a student discount (there were never any install discs). It is very crucial that I am able to transfer the Adobe Suite.
Will I be able to transfer all these documents/applications to an external drive? If so, could you provide me a tutorial on how to go about this process.
I greatly appreciate all help.

You are very welcome.
"I just learned that external hard drives are either Windows or Mac compatible. You said I needed one that works with Firewire 800, but what about USB 2.0? I'm not even sure if this MacBook is Firewire 400 or 800."
Almost all drives will work on either. What matters is how the drives are formatted. If you were to buy a drive, things might be a tiny bit easier if it came formatted the way you want. If the firewire port is oblong, then it is 400. If it is pretty square, then it is 800. 800 is better than USB 2.0 which probably is better than 400. You can get USB 2.0 that are bootable, but I don't know that all of them are. You can be almost certain that a firewire 800 or 400 will be bootable. You need one that will bootable, of course.
"What exactly is the migration process? You said it will prompt me to migrate (transfer to external hard drive?) after I've put in the Snow Leopard install disc? I assumed I would be manually transferring the files and applications to the external hard drive before putting in Snow Leopard. So you are saying I will be able to transfer my applications such as Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office without needing the original discs or even entering in the serial numbers?"
Yes, to the last sentence. It wouldn't work to transfer things to the drive before installing the OS. At the end of an erase and install of SL, you will be prompted to migrate, or restore, your users, settings, apps, and data. I would migrate the apps and data, but not the users and settings. You would elect to migrate from your Leopard installation (i.e., from an earlier system).
"Thanks again for the reply. I will go ahead with buying an external hard drive as soon as the first question is cleared up."
A good thing to do is to see what is carried at the Apple Stores. One brand I like is LaCie, but they can be more expensive than some. The manager at "my" store is willing to do price matching on drives they carry. Another brand (not Apple oriented) that I like is Buffalo. Newegg.com and Frys tend to have good prices on these. You can get a 1 TB 7200 RPM Buffalo for < $140.
Message was edited by: donv (The Ghost)

Need clean install on MacBookPro MC375LL/A

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