How to do a Clean Install of OS X Yosemite from USB

This video will show you how to do a clean install of OS X Yosemite from USB.

Hi All
I have had a few people from the 123myIT YouTube channel ask me how to Fix GPT Error: Windows cannot be installed to this disk.

If you have followed the video linked above and still having some problems getting Windows installed on your Mac because of the GPT partition it is probably best to do a clean install of OS X Yosemite and this video will help you achieve this.

You will need to Create a bootable OS X Yosemite installer USB drive, this drive will install OS X Yosemite on to your Mac.

Clean Install of OS X Yosemite

Make sure you back up your Mac with Time Machine, because the OS X install will remove any data you have on the Mac hard drive. Once you have everything backed up use the newly created USB drive to do Clean Install of OS X Yosemite.

Boot into the USB driver and format the Mac hard drive with Disk Utility. At this stage all of your data with be removed from the Mac hard drive and you can then proceed with the install. Doing a clean install of OS X Yosemite will take around 30 mins to 45 mins depending on the speed of your Mac hardware. Your Mac will also restart a few time during this stage. Just let it do its thing. Once the Mac OS X Yosemite has been installed you will need to setup the Mac as if it is a new Mac. So you will need to choose a user name a password, choose time zone and location.

If you want to know more about the OS X Yosemite you can find more info on the official Apple web page here.

16 thoughts on “How to do a Clean Install of OS X Yosemite from USB

  1. Thanks for all information. i rebuilt my macbook pro via your giving info’s.

    i hope one day, you come to a better place than now at internet area. Again thanks a lot.

  2. Have you done a dual boot with Mavs + Yosemite on an internal partition on a Mac? I am running Mavs on 2013 Air and want to dual boot Yosemite. Apple support says do not do it but I have read many articles on successful dual booting via a USB stick and a partitioned internal drive. I already have a bootable USB a have a 40 GB partition set up. It seems straight forward but then I asked Apple Support about doing this in the Recovery mode and they said it should not be done at all. I do not believe them.
    Thanks
    Harvey

  3. Hello đŸ™‚

    A while back, through your amazing tutorial and thank you for all you do, I did a clean install of Windows 8.1 on my 13″ Macbook Pro Retina late 2102. I have never had any issues and love it. Thanks again. However, the time has come that I thought would never happen this soon and I am selling my Macbook. It now is running Windows 10×64, but I would like to reinstall OS X. The problem is, I can’t find out how to do this without already having a version of OS X already installed on a portion. Is there a way, WITHOUT having to go to a physical Apple store OR already be using OS X to do a new clean install of OS X Yosemite? Thanks.

    • Hi beardicorn
      Thanks for your feedback.
      Two ways.
      You can install from an USB, or if you are connected to the internet you can hold down command R and it will download and reinstall from the internet.
      Let me know how you get on.
      cheers
      Matt

  4. Hi.
    I upgraded my mbp(mid2014) from yosemite to el capitan, but I exist very problem since el capitan.
    I want to go back to yosemite, but yosemite installer not available at mac app store. Do you help me

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