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How to Perform a Clean Installation of macOS 10.14 Mojave

archvile said:
Does this method enable encryption by default? (Assuming it formats as APFS)? If not, does FileVault still have to be enabled separately? I thought APFS was encrypted by default, or is that only in newer 2016+ machines?
Click to expand...

No it does not. You would want to complete the Mojave install, then once it is up and running enable FileVault.

Aquaporin said:
What’s the best way to do a clean install and preserve your applications and media? Copy over from an external HD or restore with Time Machine after clean install?
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You don't want to "restore" from Time Machine as that will put back everything you just erases and defeat the purpose of the clean install. What you want to do is after the clean install, manually move any apps and data back from either an external clone drive or a Time Machine backup.

Also be aware many apps will require reinstallation and simple drag and drop won't work.
 
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wesley96 said:
Saying iMacs can’t use APFS is a misnomer. The culprit is the Fusion Drive, not any particular style of Mac. There are plenty of non-Fusion Drive iMacs out there. My 2017 iMac is running on APFS, too, and no, it does not use a Fusion Drive.
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From your screenshot it looks like you have a 256GB SSD drive in your iMac already. Which would explain why you have APFS working.
 
OT, but has anyone here confirmed that Mojave can format a Time Capsule hard drive with APFS and use it for backups (the disk space on the TC drive can be used for other purposes, too)?
 
JosephAW said:
I'm hoping that Mojave will be the Snow Leopard of macOS. High Sierra was a dud and Sierra was fair so I'll stay on El Capitan until something more stable and compatible comes along.
Mojave will probably be my last macOS after they migrate from x86 to AxFuzion MBPs.
Click to expand...
I had more issues (from an enterprise perspective) on El Cap than I did on High Sierra. Since HS 10.13.4 it's been smooth sailing.
 
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Why complicate things that much. It is just as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Download macOS instaler.
2. Boot from disk like pendrive containing the macOS instaler.
3. Install on desired disk.
 
Theres an easier command line:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Mojave --nointeraction --downloadassets

this will also download any necessary firmware or components needed for specific models. just replace the /Volumes/Mojave with /Volumes/YourDiskName

and you should not get the SetFile prompt
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Marx55 said:
Why complicate things that much. It is just as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Download macOS instaler.
2. Boot from disk like pendrive containing the macOS instaler.
3. Install on desired disk.
Click to expand...

so for step 2, at what point / how does that USB drive become a bootable installer?
 
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ZMacintosh said:
Theres an easier command line:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Mojave --nointeraction --downloadassets

this will also download any necessary firmware or components needed for specific models. just replace the /Volumes/Mojave with /Volumes/YourDiskName

and you should not get the SetFile prompt
[doublepost=1536339237][/doublepost]

so for step 2, at what point / how does that USB drive become a bootable installer?
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Just download macOS installer on any Mac and use it to install macOS on any disk like the pendrive. It will become a bootable disk.
 
Marx55 said:
Just download macOS installer on any Mac and use it to install macOS on any disk like the pendrive. It will become a bootable disk.
Click to expand...

I dont think we're talking about the same thing. While if you download and install macOS Mojave onto an external drive, sure you create a bootable instance of the OS with user space, etc; however what this guide is demonstrating is creating installation media. Thats the difference, where you can use this bootable USB installer to erase and install on any Mac, not upgrade.
 
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Can you not download it from the App store and when given options, install it as a clean install? I'm pretty sure I've done that in the past.
 
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Marx55 said:
Why complicate things that much. It is just as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Download macOS instaler.
2. Boot from disk like pendrive containing the macOS instaler.
3. Install on desired disk.
Click to expand...

I'm sceptical it would work that way.
 
I'd like to know if this method is valid for those macs with a T2 chip on it. Because having a T2 chip maybe prevents to install manually or downgrade a Mac. Maybe that's not the case with T2, but I suspect that will be the case with future Macs.
 
Populus said:
I'd like to know if this method is valid for those macs with a T2 chip on it. Because having a T2 chip maybe prevents to install manually or downgrade a Mac. Maybe that's not the case with T2, but I suspect that will be the case with future Macs.
Click to expand...

Sort of, if the Mac with T2 has an admin account with securetoken, you can start into recovery and use the admin details to change the secure boot settings, from there you can boot from external media to erase and install. However if there is no securetoken or admin account or you don’t know the admin details, internet recovery is the only option. Ie similar to iOS recovery
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Ruggy said:
Can you not download it from the App store and when given options, install it as a clean install? I'm pretty sure I've done that in the past.
Click to expand...

Not quite, this is to provide a way to create installer media for an erase and install, the other methods for erase and install is internet recovery. Downloading form the App Store provides an upgrade
 
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ZMacintosh said:
I dont think we're talking about the same thing. While if you download and install macOS Mojave onto an external drive, sure you create a bootable instance of the OS with user space, etc; however what this guide is demonstrating is creating installation media. Thats the difference, where you can use this bootable USB installer to erase and install on any Mac, not upgrade.
Click to expand...

I have been doing it for decades now. You just boot from the pendrive and then update or format and clean install into any other disk.
 
superduperultra said:
I've come to realize clean installs are just pedantic, a rudiment of the Windows era.

Goes in the same bin as memory cleaners, defragmentation etc.

Unless you have a serious problem, just upgrade.
Click to expand...
Except defragmentation is a thing for “conventional” HDD because of the spinning structure.
 
Marx55 said:
I have been doing it for decades now. You just boot from the pendrive and then update or format and clean install into any other disk.
Click to expand...
Mind providing a bit more detailed steps? Guys here are confused with your way.
 
That's a lot of work to wipe out all your data. Seems like the writer is showing off his knowledge more than helping the readers with something useful.
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Aquaporin said:
What’s the best way to do a clean install and preserve your applications and media? Copy over from an external HD or restore with Time Machine after clean install?
Click to expand...

This is all about a clean install. Preserving your data will vary for each application and may require some good skills.

Frankly, very few people (if any) have a practical use for this page.
 
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