Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Humanerror

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 19, 2015
14
2
Hello. My MBP recently has been very slow and getting the spinning wheel. I also feel like maybe there might be some virus or spyware on it even though people say Apple cannot get such things.

Is it possible to completely wipe the MBP and start over fresh? How can I do this? And is there any new virus software for apple these days that should be ran on the system?
 
I don't think your macbook have viruses. Does your macbook have a HDD?

You can resset SMC and PRAM or you can reinstall the OS :)
 
I don't have any data so I don't care if anything is lost. I just want to wipe it. I also have Yosemite and wanted to upgrade to the latest OSX.
 
I don't have any data so I don't care if anything is lost. I just want to wipe it. I also have Yosemite and wanted to upgrade to the latest OSX.
Download a copy of Sierra, create the USB stick, erase with DU and then reload. If you only load it from the HD or SSD, it will not delete your old data.
 
Ok thank you will try that now.
[doublepost=1478827479][/doublepost]So i downloaded the MacOS sierra, put in my usb stick, went to application and tried to drag a copy of sierra into the usb and it says "The item "install macos Sierra" cant be copied because it is too large for the volumes format.

I have 99GB available on my usb stick.
 
Ok thank you will try that now.
[doublepost=1478827479][/doublepost]So i downloaded the MacOS sierra, put in my usb stick, went to application and tried to drag a copy of sierra into the usb and it says "The item "install macos Sierra" cant be copied because it is too large for the volumes format.

I have 99GB available on my usb stick.
There's no dragging involved. Only a terminal command.

btw, your stick should be empty because it will reformat it.

Load a bootable version of OS X on a USB stick first,

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201372

Then backup your data!!!

Then use the USB stick to reload the OS by erasing the drive with Disk Utility and then installing a fresh copy of OS X
 
Alright, will empty the stick first. But this is where I am getting stuck

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

When I type that in, should they all be spaced apart in the command? This is what the example tells me to write in.
 
Yeah. I'm not familiar with those particular flags, but the "--" items are flags, not part of your arguments. The "\" characters are there to indicate that the space is part of a name, not a break in the argument.
 
Alright, will empty the stick first. But this is where I am getting stuck

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

When I type that in, should they all be spaced apart in the command? This is what the example tells me to write in.

1. Make sure you've put
Code:
Install macOS Sierra.app
inside your Applications folder
2. Replace
Code:
MyVolume
from that long-ass command to your actual volume name (You can check your volume name by running
Code:
ls /Volumes/
alone)

3. If you are not comfortable working with Terminal, or doesn't understand how to format your drive, I suggest bringing your laptop to the Apple Store.
 
I just figured it out! "Copying installer files to disk..." :)
[doublepost=1478833131][/doublepost]Disk utility is not allowing me to erase the drive. When I click on erase tab, the erase option is not highlighted and willl not let me click on it. What should I do?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacInTO
I just figured it out! "Copying installer files to disk..." :)
[doublepost=1478833131][/doublepost]Disk utility is not allowing me to erase the drive. When I click on erase tab, the erase option is not highlighted and willl not let me click on it. What should I do?

I suppose you could just partition the entire drive. I really suggest you to lookup a tutorial on google or youtube, asking information piece by piece is not really promising when you are doing delicate work like reinstalling the operating system.
 
Disk utility is not allowing me to erase the drive. When I click on erase tab, the erase option is not highlighted and willl not let me click on it. What should I do?
Did you restart and hold the option key down? If you do that, you will see the USB and the HD. Then select the USB as the startup drive.

It would make sense that you can't erase the drive you currently booted from.
 
I don't have any data so I don't care if anything is lost. I just want to wipe it. I also have Yosemite and wanted to upgrade to the latest OSX.
This is getting overly complicated because you are trying to make this Sierra USB key. Just skip that and reinstall Yosemite then you can update to Sierra after.

Just hold command-r at startup and you will see the recovery utility. Then start Disk Utility and erase Macintosh HD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Then quit Disk Utility and click reinstall OS X up at the top. You will be asked for the AppleID you used to download Yosemite previously. Then Yosemite will download and install.

Once it restarts and you make your new account, go to the App Store and download Sierra and let it install the update for you. No need to mess around with a USB key.
 
Humanerror -

You have "erred" again in your original post, by not telling us WHICH MacBook you have and what kind of drive is in it...
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.