How do I do a "clean" install of OS X without formatting?

Discussion in 'macOS' started by ethana, Aug 19, 2010.

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  1. ethana, Aug 19, 2010

    ethana macrumors 6502a

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    Seattle, WA
    #1
    How do I do a "clean" install of OS X without formatting? I have a ton of data but don't have an external drive to store it all on.

    How do I do a clean install of the OS without formatting my drive?

    Can I make a second partition, store my files on it, erase my first partition and install OS X, boot the newly installed OS, copy over my files from the second partition, and then merge the second partition back in to the first one?

    Thanks,

    Ethan
     
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  2. vevierta, Aug 19, 2010

    vevierta macrumors newbie

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    Aug 22, 2009
    #2
    As long as you have enough space for the partitions, it sounds like that would work.
     
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  3. celticpride678, Aug 19, 2010

    celticpride678 Guest

    celticpride678

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    Boston, MA
    #3
    I'm pretty sure that's how a clean install works. You have to format your hard drive. How you back up your data is your choice.
     
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  4. ouimetnick, Aug 20, 2010

    ouimetnick macrumors 68020

    ouimetnick

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    #4
    The only way to do a clean install is to format the hard drive. Its called a clean install because you wipe the hard drive clean and install the OS again.
     
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