Question about Lion clean install

[jamesryanbell]

1) I downloaded Lion from the App Store and installed it on my Macbook Pro.

2) I DID NOT save the disk image (is it still there somewhere? if so, what's the file name?).

Someone gave me an offer I couldn't refuse for the computer, and I need to leave Lion on it, but remove all of my personal files and info.

How do I get a clean install of Lion on my computer? I've already backed up the whole drive to Time Machine, and just for safety's sake, I manually put all of my important files on a separate external hard drive as well.

I tried to search, but all of the results skipped steps that I need. It was basically just "I downloaded it and made a disk image". I don't know where to find the Lion .dmg file, AND I obviously wasn't able to do that before I installed it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sunnyj]

download lion from a computer that has SL installed. you can't download lion if you have it installed.

 

[jamesryanbell]

download lion from a computer that has SL installed. you can't download lion if you have it installed.

I don't have access to a computer that has Snow Leopard. I upgraded everything immediately. Does the .dmg file still exist somewhere in a temp directory or something, by chance?

 

[sunnyj]

I don't have access to a computer that has Snow Leopard. I upgraded everything immediately. Does the .dmg file still exist somewhere in a temp directory or something, by chance?

nope

 

[runebinder]

Is it not possible to boot off the recovery partition, run disk utility and format your OS X partition then install Lion?

 

[jamesryanbell]

Is it not possible to boot off the recovery partition, run disk utility and format your OS X partition then install Lion?

Well, this is the problem with that (I think). I'd like to re-install it WITHOUT attributing the copy to me personally (where I have to enter my iTunes acct, etc). I want it install Lion on the HD, and then when it boots, it would ask the user's name, etc for the new owner.

Is that asking too much?

Should I just reinstall Snow Leopard cleanly to do that?

 

[jamesryanbell]

nope

So what's the work-around? There's got to be something else I can do. I'm just trying to prep the computer for a new owner.

 

[podsorcerer09]

download lion from a computer that has SL installed. you can't download lion if you have it installed.

Actually if you go into the App store and into the Purchases tab you should see Lion. If you hold option while you click install you should get the installer to start downloading again, that's what Apple posted on their site. After that you would have to format the drive from the installer and then reinstall. Obviously to do that you'd have to burn the image to the disk using the method described in other threads to do that.

I'm not sure what happens when you do a clean install of Lion. I did all the user set up on Snow Leopard on my new MacBook Pro and then installed Lion before I did anything else. Someone else may have some information though, regarding user accounts and not having any of your info on there.

 

[sunnyj]

Actually if you go into the App store and into the Purchases tab you should see Lion. If you hold option while you click install you should get the installer to start downloading again, that's what Apple posted on their site. After that you would have to format the drive from the installer and then reinstall. Obviously to do that you'd have to burn the image to the disk using the method described in other threads to do that.

I'm not sure what happens when you do a clean install of Lion. I did all the user set up on Snow Leopard on my new MacBook Pro and then installed Lion before I did anything else. Someone else may have some information though, regarding user accounts and not having any of your info on there.

i tried that but it didn't work when lion just came out

 

[stillmatic]

So what's the work-around? There's got to be something else I can do. I'm just trying to prep the computer for a new owner.

Using the Recovery Drive will Apple ID, but installing from a CD will not. Here's what you'll need to do.

Use Disk Utility to burn the Lion .dmg file (InstallESD.dmg) to a blank DVD.

Restart the computer and hold down the 'C' key on your keyboard.

Install Lion.

 

[netnothing]

Actually if you go into the App store and into the Purchases tab you should see Lion. If you hold option while you click install you should get the installer to start downloading again, that's what Apple posted on their site. After that you would have to format the drive from the installer and then reinstall. Obviously to do that you'd have to burn the image to the disk using the method described in other threads to do that.

I'm not sure what happens when you do a clean install of Lion. I did all the user set up on Snow Leopard on my new MacBook Pro and then installed Lion before I did anything else. Someone else may have some information though, regarding user accounts and not having any of your info on there.

Yeah, this method isn't working for me anymore. Think Apple disabled it?

Using the Recovery Drive will Apple ID, but installing from a CD will not. Here's what you'll need to do.

Use Disk Utility to burn the Lion .dmg file (InstallESD.dmg) to a blank DVD.

Restart the computer and hold down the 'C' key on your keyboard.

Install Lion.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THE InstallESD.dmg FILE!!!

Why would he be asking if he had the file?


-Kevin

 

[jamesryanbell]

Yeah, this method isn't working for me anymore. Think Apple disabled it?





HE DOESN'T HAVE THE InstallESD.dmg FILE!!!

Why would he be asking if he had the file?


-Kevin

LOL, I was about to post the same thing.

How do I get a copy of the file? I've purchased it from the App Store, but I've already installed it.

 

[stillmatic]

My fault, lol. Not sure how I missed that little tidbit.

Look, if you just need the file and you already purchased Lion, just download it from Torrents or FilesTube.com. Not a big deal, not like you're pirating it.

 

[jamesryanbell]

My fault, lol. Not sure how I missed that little tidbit.

Look, if you just need the file and you already purchased Lion, just download it from Torrents or FilesTube.com. Not a big deal, not like you're pirating it.

Ok I'll try that. haha

 

[Sesso]

Ok I'll try that. haha

Or use the disk that came with the mac and then install lion from the app store later on. Then sign out of your apple account.

 

[Mikey86uk]

Is it Legal to do a clean install with Lion?

Just asking, as it seems to be a long winded way of doing a clean install!

 

[jamesryanbell]

Or use the disk that came with the mac and then install lion from the app store later on. Then sign out of your apple account.

Came with Leopard. You can't go from Leopard straight to Lion.

 

[sxiang1992]

How about you just access to disk utility and clean out your disk. Then use online recovery to install Lion?

 

[jamesryanbell]

How about you just access to disk utility and clean out your disk. Then use online recovery to install Lion?

That's what I ended up doing after all, but it's asking me to log in with my Apple ID to set up the computer...so I don't know if it'll assign all of my personal information to the computer if I do that. I DON'T want it to do that since the computer is going to belong to someone else within a few days. So I'm just letting it sit on the set up screen.

Anyone know if it assigns attributes of your iTunes account to the computer if you use it to set up the computer? Seems like it would, but the only thing that makes me question it is the fact that it still gives you the option to enter your name, address, etc.

Thanks in advance for any help.