Clean Install of Mavericks?

When you do a clean install of Mavericks from a USB key. Do you have to partition and format the drive? Or is this done as a part of the install? On second thought I have only one partition on this drive so just a format would be needed.

Thanks

If the drive is already formatted from a previous OS X install...then it does not need to be reformatted.

- Nick

The format would delete any previous installation of OS X though if you want to do a clean install - otherwise OS X will automatically do an upgrade install.

Personally, I always use the Partition tab rather than the Format tab when doing a clean install and have it repartition/format at the same time. Just change the drop down from Current to 1 partition.

I want a clean install with new partitions. Recovery and the main partition. I think the install is going to create the Recovery partition.

V6Pony said:

I want a clean install with new partitions. Recovery and the main partition. I think the install is going to create the Recovery partition.

Click to expand...

Yes...the install creates the recovery partition. Assuming the HD didn't already have a recovery partition from an earlier OS install (10.7 or 10.8).

- Nick

Boot from the USB, go into Utilities > Disk Utility > Erase and format then back to the Installer and run Mavericks and update to OS X.9.1. Recovery is done automatically and no need for a partition.