Yosemite Clean Install Problems

Question

Hi,
I have recently tried to do a clean install of the Yosemite OS but the install was unsuccessful and I have had nothing but trouble since. If you have any ideas on how to fix my problem, I'd be very grateful. Perhaps you have or have had the same problem and have some other ideas on how to fix it.
(Note: Recently I have not used TimeMachine as it kept on corrupting my external HD, so I have backed my files up manually on another volume but no previous OS backup to revert to)
This is what I've done:
Attempt 1: Bootable USB
I created a bootable USB of Yosemite (via Terminal etc.). I was able to install Yosemite and it restarted. On restart, it continued to install the other system files, but suddenly stopped as it "could not extract files from BaseSystemBinaries.pkg". I restarted the Mac and it continued to install the other system files, but after a while it came up with a message saying "couldn't attach disk image". Then I tried once again and it came up with some other error message. I went into Disk Utility, erased the disk and the Macintosh HD partition and attempted to re-install Yosemite from the USB after another restart. Despite having erased the disk, the installation went straight back to installing the excess files (I guess once you get to that point, it remembers and you can't get out of it until the process completes). Unfortunately, once again, error messages came up. (Note: USB was formatted for Mac Os X Journalled thingo)
Attempt 2: Internet
I removed the USB and it said I could install the extra files from the net. I entered my WIFI code, AppleID password etc and the download started. Unfortunately I do not have 293 hours to wait until the download completes, and after waiting two hours and noticing the download had another 394 hours to go, I decided this was not going to work.
Attempt 3: Downgrade
I hunted around in my old CDs and DVDs and found a bootable DVD of Mac OS Lion. It installed completely and I was so over the moon! I Then thought - ah, perhaps I can upgrade from Mac OS Lion to Yosemite. I copied the Yosemite Installer from the USB on to my Mac and started the install. All went well until the computer restarted and proceeded to install the excess files - once again, I had problems as the "BaseSystemBinaries.pkg" couldn't be opened.
Attempt 4: Confused
I figured that I would easily be able to downgrade again considering it worked last time. I did exactly the same things - erased the disk in Disk Utility etc, but for some reason, the install failed and each time I tried to restart, the Mac returned to the same place (a bar "installing Mac OS Lion) and failed shortly after.
Thoughts
1) How do I get the Mac to forget or erase the previous install attempt so I can attempt another fresh install. It remembers which stage of install the installer is at be it for Yosemite or Lion. It keeps returning to the same stage and fails. Even after erasing the disk and partition, and resetting the PRAM.
2) Could my Yosemite Installer be corrupt? How on earth could it become corrupt after installing from the internet? What if I had not attempted a clean install, upgraded. I'd be in the same position and if I hadn't backed up, lost absolutely everything...

Answer 1

SINCE MY FIRST POST,  I follow the same instructions from: http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/18/clean-install-os-x-yosemite/
I HAVE NOW SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED YOSEMITE.  Looks good. Everything in place, including all my menubar items. My most used app, Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 works (Amen) and all it's 9 or 10 plug-ins there and work. So I'm feeling a-okay about it right now.
Topic1. What happen to me;
Topic 2. What I'd suggest
Screen Shot 2014-10-23 at 8.49.21 AM.jpg
TOPIC 1. HERE'S WHAT HAPPEN TO ME (Thus far):  I did NOT use a USB drive for my clean install (as osxdaily mainly suggested).
I used an external drive I had available (250GB).
At the last minute I recalled another item I read while browsing: INSTALL YOSEMITE ON AN EXTERNAL DRIVE (rather than just a USB flash drive) . - So that's what I did; installing it on the drive I  had prepared for the clean install. --
There was a problem came up> The installation seemed to hang up in the way several others have mentioned (a big X and a stalled blue progress bar).
I turned the computer off after a few hours. (another suggestion I read). Turned it back on.
Much to my surprise, my computer booted from this external drive and there was Yosemite  -- I'm also able to access my apps and data from my built-in iMac hard drive. Some work. Some important ones give me an error message...so I need to check all that out.
I didn't plan this, never done it before but I'm pleased. I can get to see and use Yosemite (I like it's look, features, etc. so far), can access and test what apps work and what may give me a problem and, real cool, I can simply go back to booting up from my internal hard drive and all my Mavericks stuff is there.
TOPIC 2. WHAT I'D SUGGEST (for clean install) -- which I think is a good idea and part of this OP): Follow the osxdaily steps again (they worked for me).  DON'T LATER RESTORE YOUR DATA ET. AL. FROM TIME MACHINE. -- Instead when Yosemite is going through it's first set-up it asks various questions and give you options to select or not - In this initial Yosemite start-up, select the option that indicates it will MIGRATE YOUR DATA FROM ANOTHER MAC OR FROM TIME MACHINE.
Thus> Don't try to Restore your info and apps from Time Machine later -- SELECT MIGRATING YOUR DATA FROM TIME MACHINE (or Mac or one of those options) during Yosemite's initial first start-up.
Also, Big Tip, not only do the expected preparations prior to attempted installation (upgrading your OS and major apps to their latest version, running Onyx or Cocktail or something like that, and backing up Everything in some way -- but when installing DISCONNECT all unneeded USB devices and especially USB hubs -- just keeping what you need for your keyboard and mouse; this can prevent a lot of problems, I believe (maybe caused by device drivers?)
CONCLUSION: If you get that hang up in the way several others have mentioned (a big X and a stalled blue progress bar).Turn off computer after a few hours and turn on again.
I think this method will work: as mentioned> MIGRATE DATA DURING YOSEMITE'S FIRST RUN. -- After I test out a few more apps I'm going next to install Yosemite on my main, internal iMac hard drive: it's over 600GB of data on it.
I hope this helps yourself (and others).
Let us know how it goes. Good luck.
P.S. -  Yosemite is oh-so clean...a nice 'fresh start' compared to my iMac with a year's worth of this and that all over the place. Contrary to the bad rumors and trolls I think Yosemite is a 'mild' upgrade, meaning it doesn't NOT threaten existing apps and data. -- It's real problems are with the NEW things it introduces, like Handshake and Continuity, Apple Pay, etc. -- Between start and finish it was close to 24 hours.