Whatever OS X you are currently on, system junk and outdated cache files are a potential source for software conflicts. Step 1: Clean system junk on your current Mac OS X We’ve got the steps outlined below, so let’s get to it. And finally, after doing a backup, you can clean install OS X of your choice from USB. Once it’s all cleaned up, the next you should do is backup your newly cleaned Mac. First, you should clean up your Mac from the old baggage - system files that have piled up over time. To clean install Mac OS from USB, there are three things you should do. So if you’re looking to give your Mac a fresh start with just a classic Mac OS X and nothing else, to clean install Mac OS from USB is the best option for you. There are so many things you can do with past OS X - like Lion, Mavericks or Yosemite - each one of these operates flawlessly. Those who still rely on older Mac OS X operating systems, know these still are going strong.
But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.įeatures described in this article refer to the MacPaw site version of CleanMyMac X.
From here, you can expect your Mac to reboot one or more times, but the process is generally pretty hands off.So here's a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article. Just double-click this icon, and the process will begin. When your Mac finishes downloading all of the software necessary for installing El Capitan on your computer, it’ll place an installer icon somewhere on your desktop.
Depending on how fast your internet connection is, downloaded the several gigabytes can take anywhere from just a few minutes to a few hours.Ĭlose all of your windows and look for “Install OS X El Capitan” on your desktop.
Make sure you’re downloading the official OS, and not paying for some sketchy help book: the OS X update will always be free (so if you see a dollar amount, stay away).Ĭlick the download button to start the process, then go get something to drink. If you do have the App Store, open it and search for El Capitan in the search box. In that case, run your computer’s ‘Software Update.’ This will install the last version of Snow Leopard, which is OS X 10.6.8 – importantly, it comes with App Store pre-installed (and then you’ll be able to follow these directions again). If you don’t see ‘App Store,’ it probably means that you’re running Mac OS X 10.6.7 or earlier. Next, look for the Mac App Store on your computer.Ĭlick on the Apple icon in the upper left-hand corner of your screen, and select App Store from the list. We’ve got your back with a guide on how to use Time Machine to back up and restore your Mac. Never tried to back up your computer before? Don’t worry. You can launch it from Spotlight (hit ⌘ + Space) by typing Time Machine into the search box and hitting enter. The point is that while these events are rare, it’s easy to avoid the heartaches and headaches they cause by virtue of being prepared.įortunately, Apple builds a dead simple tool into OS X for backing up your Mac. Upgrading your computer’s operating system can leave it vulnerable: sometimes an important system file gets corrupted, or a pre-installed app interferes with something that the El Capitan installer needs to do. We say it three times because it’s an important step that way too many people skip. If you need even more room, take a peek at our guide on freeing up hard drive space on your Mac. If you find yourself running low on disk space, be sure to empty your Trash – it’s easy to leave several gigabytes of files in there, never truly deleted. You can check to see what version of OS X you’re running, along with how much memory you have, by going to the Apple icon in the upper left-hand corner of your screen, clicking it, and selecting ‘About This Mac.’ You’ll also want to make sure you have at least 2GB of RAM and a minimum of 8 – 10GB of free space on your hard drive. There are some reports of users modifying a system file that tells the OS whether it’s on supported hardware, and getting machines like the powerful 2008 Xserve servers up and running : but it’s not for the faint of heart, since you run the risk of losing the ability to boot any time your software gets updated. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer).
Luckily, Apple posts a handy list of the models you can expect to be compatible with the new OS: Some older Macs will also be upgradeable, but you’ll need to check in order to make sure. That means that if your Mac runs OS X 10.10 “Yosemite”, 10.9 “Mavericks”, or 10.8 “Mountain Lion,” it’ll run El Capitan. This is the window that pops up when you click on ‘About This Mac.’