OS X Lion Clean Install Problems

[chillihound]

Hi,
I am really hoping someone can help me out.
Following the various guides I have created a bootable version of Lion on my 8GB Thumbdrive without issue.

The problem come when trying to install lion, I boot holding the option key, select my lion usb drive, then os x starts to load and i'm met with an error diaglog stating the following:

There was a problem installing "Mac OS X"

Try reinstalling.

I have recreated the bootable usb several times but nothing seems to work.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

2011 Quad Core i7 Macbook Pro, 4gb Ram

 

[baggss]

Sounds to me like it's an issue with the Thumb Drive. Why do you need a "clean Instal" anyways?

 

[chillihound]

Possibly a problem with thumb drive however there are 2 things worth noting:

1st the DVD fails in the exact same way.

2nd the DVD works on my wifes late 2010 Macbook Pro indicating that the issue is with my 2011 Macbook Pro.

As for why, just want to know that if ever required I can reinstall my system without having to instsll snow leopard, update snow leopard, download Lion, install Lion.

Not saying it's necessary but i'd like it to work.

 

[chillihound]

Got it working by erasing PRAM

Clean install on the way.

 

[Benson86]

Got it working by erasing PRAM

Clean install on the way.

Thank you! I have been having the exact same problem on my 2010 Macbook Air and this fixed it. Been working on it for hours and was beginning to pull my hair out!

I cant stand upgrades, I always do fresh installs. I paid for the app, I feel like apple should have given us an easier way to do a clean install, it wouldn't have been hard.

 

[brainblink]

Installing for me was fine. It was downloading which was my main problem!

 

[officialcoopy]

I'm still having this issue with both DND and portable hard drive when trying to do a clean install of Lion.

I've reset the PRAM and still getting an error. Can anyone help?

 

[chscag]

I have to agree with member baggss about the clean install. Why even do it? This isn't Windows folks. Lion is the easiest and fastest upgrade install that I have ever experienced and I go way back to the DOS 3.0 days.

 

[PatM]

I have to agree with member baggss about the clean install. Why even do it? This isn't Windows folks. Lion is the easiest and fastest upgrade install that I have ever experienced and I go way back to the DOS 3.0 days.

I agree. I did the upgrade install and it WAS a breeze.
And zero headache and hassle.

Safari is Wayyyyyyyy faster than the old. I stopped using FF and am using Safari as my main browser. I am impressed that I can use All Mac now rather than other software. I think the longterm computing experience will be much more satisfying and secure!!

Regards,

Pat

 

[officialcoopy]

I'm still having this issue with both DND and portable hard drive when trying to do a clean install of Lion.

I've reset the PRAM and still getting an error. Can anyone help?

got it to work. I ended up doing a recover (command + r) and installing directly from the App Store. Took a bit of time, but worked great.

 

[TattooedMac]

Sounds to me like it's an issue with the Thumb Drive. Why do you need a "clean Instal" anyways?

I have to agree with member baggss about the clean install. Why even do it? This isn't Windows folks. Lion is the easiest and fastest upgrade install that I have ever experienced and I go way back to the DOS 3.0 days.

Yes it isnt windows.
It doesnt really matter as to why the OP wants to do a clean install. We can give suggestions why it isnt needed, but like me the OP wants a clean system on a new OS install. I cant see the problem with that. . . .
I thought the real problem was the OP couldnt get it to work (seems they have now) not WHY they want to do it .

Cheers

 

[chillihound]

If for example one suffers a hard drive failure etc then the ability for me it seems to do a clean install make life easier rather than installing snow leopard then lion.

Just wanted to have the option and now I have.

 

[lilmill]

Here's instructions for burning install to DVD, This is how I did my three macs
How to create an OS X Lion installation disc | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews

 

[chscag]

If for example one suffers a hard drive failure etc then the ability for me it seems to do a clean install make life easier rather than installing snow leopard then lion.

Just wanted to have the option and now I have.

That's fine and certainly understandable. But what I'm getting at is that if you don't "have" to do a clean install (hard drive crash) you shouldn't be doing it. Too many folks have a Windows mind set and think that a clean install is best - when in fact it's not.

 

[RadioSaigon]

I too wanted -and did- a clean install. Mine was quite straight-forward and I now have a bootable image of Lion on an external HDD partition.

My desire may be rooted in the old Windows paradigm, but also flavoured with more than a little hard-nosed pragmatism. Since this is my 1st Mac, I have experimented with several different software offerings for various tasks. Some have not survived more than an hour, others have lasted longer until superseded by others better suited to my needs, or more capable. The clean install has allowed me to free-up whatever disk space the legacy detritus of those failed experiments has left behind. Additionally, choosing the clean install option allowed the creation of the bootable image on an easily portable external, freeing me of any concerns re internet access availability, download speeds or anything else, should I need to recover my installation at a time inconvenient in the future. How many threads have you seen from people OS without their installation disks in need of a reinstall???

Like TattooedMac, I have no problem with the OP's query at all. I don't care how easy the installation is via the App Store over SL -if internet access is difficult or slow, that's a moot point. Whatever the reasons or motivation for requiring a clean install, the short answer is, it is achievable, quite easy if a little time-consuming and in my personal opinion, sensible.

 

[treyweez11]

Just to be clear, you guys are installing Lion freshly without Snow Leopard? Booting up from a USB/CD right? So you dont need Snow Leopard at all huh? funny.

 

[RadioSaigon]

My process, after making a bootable image on an external HDD was to erase my boot-disk and start the installation from there. Fair to say SL was still installed at the start of that process.

 

[treyweez11]

My process, after making a bootable image on an external HDD was to erase my boot-disk and start the installation from there. Fair to say SL was still installed at the start of that process.

Ok so you erased the Hard Drive then installed Lion like you could do SL?

 

[RadioSaigon]

Yep..

 

[TattooedMac]

Downloaded today while at work. Bought 8Gb Flash Drive installing the .dmg on it now, 7 minutes remaining.
First ill install via the App Store and and get the archive and install going. Make a bootable backup with SuperDuper on a clean ExtHDD. Make sure its all kosher and everything is running right, then boot from the flash and install clean. Ill have the Ext with 2 partitions and ill start a TimeMachine Backup on the other partition. Best of both worlds.
Yes its a bit long winded and i dont use this machine on a daily basis to earn money so when i do get on it i like to play around.

I get a kick out of doing it this way

Cheers