Re-install OS X on Retina MacBook Pro

[mike4realz]

It does not come with a disc and was curious on how you would you re-install the operating system?

 

[jav6454]

There is a restore partition in all Retina Macs and in the Air. You have to use that.

 

[Krevnik]

There is a restore partition in all Retina Macs and in the Air. You have to use that.

Or if you somehow managed to nuke that restore partition, you can do a network boot against Apple's servers to start a reinstall.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

 

[Asuriyan]

Command + R at grey boot splash and follow the wizard.

It does require you to download the install files.

 

[mike4realz]

oh ok...thx...but what if u have a slow connection or no internet access? can u somehow create a bootable usb?

 

[Krevnik]

oh ok...thx...but what if u have a slow connection or no internet access? can u somehow create a bootable usb?

You can, but I am not sure which tools create a USB drive with a full OS installer on it. When 10.7 came out, the recovery partition, network boot, and USB recovery partitions all downloaded the OS over the internet. I don't know if Apple is letting folks produce full installers on USB with 10.8. Their documentation would tell you though.

 

[Vegasryn]

oh ok...thx...but what if u have a slow connection or no internet access? can u somehow create a bootable usb?

You can take it to apple store and they'll allow you to connect to their network to install it.

 

[rpg51]

How can I check to see if I nuked that reinstall partition? I was messing with my macbook recently after a crash and I had to reinstall and I think in the process of deleting things I may have nuked it. Where is it? What is it named?

 

[Krevnik]

How can I check to see if I nuked that reinstall partition? I was messing with my macbook recently after a crash and I had to reinstall and I think in the process of deleting things I may have nuked it. Where is it? What is it named?

You only ever see it if you hold 'option' down while the machine boots (showing the drive selector to select what to boot).

 

[OnlyGerman]

Command+r on startup

 

[Modernape]

Or go to system information (option click 'about this mac'), then select Serial-ATA, the 650MB Recovery HD is listed at the bottom.

 

[a-m-k]

Or go to system information (option click 'about this mac'), then select Serial-ATA, the 650MB Recovery HD is listed at the bottom.

Thank you for this tip. It sounds a great deal easier than the original method.