If necessary, install Mac OS X. Boot into Mac OS X. If necessary, using OS X's Disk Utility, adjust the sizes of your partitions, making room for Linux. Note that resizing partitions is inherently dangerous, so back up your data before beginning! You may also want to create a FAT or unjournaled HFS+ ('Mac OS Extended') shared-data partition. The history of macOS, Apple's current Mac operating system originally named Mac OS X until 2012 and then OS X until 2016, began with the company's project to replace its 'classic' Mac OS. That system, up to and including its final release Mac OS 9, was a direct descendant of the operating system Apple had used in its Macintosh computers since. Free up storage on your Mac macOS can save space by storing your content in the cloud. This isn't a backup, but it includes new tools to make it easier to find and remove large or unwanted files before you make a backup.

To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:


On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Windows logo key instead of Command.

Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness , keyboard brightness , Mission Control, and more. If these functions aren't available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.

A Mac tutorial for beginners and PC users showing how to switch from Windows to macOS. This tutorial covers all of the basics of using macOS including the f. To that end, it’s hardly going out on a limb to suggest that Mac OS X wound up being a key driver in Apple’s comeback story. At the turn of the 1990s, Apple could confidently say it had the best.

Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts

  • Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
  • Command-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
  • Command-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
  • Command-Z: Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.
  • Command-A: Select All items.
  • Command-F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
  • Command-G: Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G.
  • Command-H: Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H.
  • Command-M: Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.
  • Command-O: Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
  • Command-P: Print the current document.
  • Command-S: Save the current document.
  • Command-T: Open a new tab.
  • Command-W: Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W.
  • Option-Command-Esc: Force quit an app.
  • Command–Space bar: Show or hide the Spotlight search field. To perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window, press Command–Option–Space bar. (If you use multiple input sources to type in different languages, these shortcuts change input sources instead of showing Spotlight. Learn how to change a conflicting keyboard shortcut.)
  • Control–Command–Space bar: Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.
  • Control-Command-F: Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.
  • Space bar: Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
  • Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
  • Shift-Command-5: In macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording. Or use Shift-Command-3 or Shift-Command-4 for screenshots. Learn more about screenshots.
  • Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder in the Finder.
  • Command-Comma (,): Open preferences for the front app.

Sleep, log out, and shut down shortcuts

You might need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. This helps you to avoid using them unintentionally.

  • Power button: Press to turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep. Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to put your Mac to sleep.* Continue holding to force your Mac to turn off.
  • Option–Command–Power button* or Option–Command–Media Eject : Put your Mac to sleep.
  • Control–Shift–Power button* or Control–Shift–Media Eject : Put your displays to sleep.
  • Control–Power button* or Control–Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.
  • Control–Command–Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.
  • Control–Command–Media Eject : Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
  • Control–Option–Command–Power button* or Control–Option–Command–Media Eject : Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
  • Control-Command-Q: Immediately lock your screen.
  • Shift-Command-Q: Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option-Shift-Command-Q.

* Does not apply to the Touch ID sensor.

Finder and system shortcuts

  • Command-D: Duplicate the selected files.
  • Command-E: Eject the selected disk or volume.
  • Command-F: Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
  • Command-I: Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
  • Command-R: (1) When an alias is selected in the Finder: show the original file for the selected alias. (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. (3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again.
  • Shift-Command-C: Open the Computer window.
  • Shift-Command-D: Open the desktop folder.
  • Shift-Command-F: Open the Recents window, showing all of the files you viewed or changed recently.
  • Shift-Command-G: Open a Go to Folder window.
  • Shift-Command-H: Open the Home folder of the current macOS user account.
  • Shift-Command-I: Open iCloud Drive.
  • Shift-Command-K: Open the Network window.
  • Option-Command-L: Open the Downloads folder.
  • Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder.
  • Shift-Command-O: Open the Documents folder.
  • Shift-Command-P: Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows.
  • Shift-Command-R: Open the AirDrop window.
  • Shift-Command-T: Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows.
  • Control-Shift-Command-T: Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or later)
  • Shift-Command-U: Open the Utilities folder.
  • Option-Command-D: Show or hide the Dock.
  • Control-Command-T: Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later).
  • Option-Command-P: Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.
  • Option-Command-S: Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows.
  • Command–Slash (/): Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows.
  • Command-J: Show View Options.
  • Command-K: Open the Connect to Server window.
  • Control-Command-A: Make an alias of the selected item.
  • Command-N: Open a new Finder window.
  • Option-Command-N: Create a new Smart Folder.
  • Command-T: Show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
  • Option-Command-T: Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
  • Option-Command-V: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.
  • Command-Y: Use Quick Look to preview the selected files.
  • Option-Command-Y: View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files.
  • Command-1: View the items in the Finder window as icons.
  • Command-2: View the items in a Finder window as a list.
  • Command-3: View the items in a Finder window in columns.
  • Command-4: View the items in a Finder window in a gallery.
  • Command–Left Bracket ([): Go to the previous folder.
  • Command–Right Bracket (]): Go to the next folder.
  • Command–Up Arrow: Open the folder that contains the current folder.
  • Command–Control–Up Arrow: Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window.
  • Command–Down Arrow: Open the selected item.
  • Right Arrow: Open the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
  • Left Arrow: Close the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
  • Command-Delete: Move the selected item to the Trash.
  • Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Trash.
  • Option-Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog.
  • Command–Brightness Down: Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
  • Option–Brightness Up: Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.
  • Control–Brightness Up or Control–Brightness Down: Change the brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.
  • Option–Shift–Brightness Up or Option–Shift–Brightness Down: Adjust the display brightness in smaller steps. Add the Control key to this shortcut to make the adjustment on your external display, if supported by your display.
  • Option–Mission Control: Open Mission Control preferences.
  • Command–Mission Control: Show the desktop.
  • Control–Down Arrow: Show all windows of the front app.
  • Option–Volume Up: Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.
  • Option–Shift–Volume Up or Option–Shift–Volume Down: Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps.
  • Option–Keyboard Brightness Up: Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key.
  • Option–Shift–Keyboard Brightness Up or Option–Shift–Keyboard Brightness Down: Adjust the keyboard brightness in smaller steps.
  • Option key while double-clicking: Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window.
  • Command key while double-clicking: Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
  • Command key while dragging to another volume: Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.
  • Option key while dragging: Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
  • Option-Command while dragging: Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
  • Option-click a disclosure triangle: Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
  • Command-click a window title: See the folders that contain the current folder.
  • Learn how to use Command or Shift to select multiple items in the Finder.
  • Click the Go menu in the Finder menu bar to see shortcuts for opening many commonly used folders, such as Applications, Documents, Downloads, Utilities, and iCloud Drive.

Document shortcuts

Win big casino slot machines. The behavior of these shortcuts may vary with the app you're using.

  • Command-B: Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.
  • Command-I: Italicize the selected text, or turn italics on or off.
  • Command-K: Add a web link.
  • Command-U: Underline the selected text, or turn underlining on or off.
  • Command-T: Show or hide the Fonts window.
  • Command-D: Select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialog or Save dialog.
  • Control-Command-D: Show or hide the definition of the selected word.
  • Shift-Command-Colon (:): Display the Spelling and Grammar window.
  • Command-Semicolon (;): Find misspelled words in the document.
  • Option-Delete: Delete the word to the left of the insertion point.
  • Control-H: Delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Or use Delete.
  • Control-D: Delete the character to the right of the insertion point. Or use Fn-Delete.
  • Fn-Delete: Forward delete on keyboards that don't have a Forward Delete key. Or use Control-D.
  • Control-K: Delete the text between the insertion point and the end of the line or paragraph.
  • Fn–Up Arrow: Page Up: Scroll up one page.
  • Fn–Down Arrow: Page Down: Scroll down one page.
  • Fn–Left Arrow: Home: Scroll to the beginning of a document.
  • Fn–Right Arrow: End: Scroll to the end of a document.
  • Command–Up Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the document.
  • Command–Down Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the document.
  • Command–Left Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line.
  • Command–Right Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the current line.
  • Option–Left Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
  • Option–Right Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the next word.
  • Shift–Command–Up Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document.
  • Shift–Command–Down Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document.
  • Shift–Command–Left Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line.
  • Shift–Command–Right Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current line.
  • Shift–Up Arrow: Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above.
  • Shift–Down Arrow: Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below.
  • Shift–Left Arrow: Extend text selection one character to the left.
  • Shift–Right Arrow: Extend text selection one character to the right.
  • Option–Shift–Up Arrow: Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again.
  • Option–Shift–Down Arrow: Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again.
  • Option–Shift–Left Arrow: Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again.
  • Option–Shift–Right Arrow: Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again.
  • Control-A: Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
  • Control-E: Move to the end of a line or paragraph.
  • Control-F: Move one character forward.
  • Control-B: Move one character backward.
  • Control-L: Center the cursor or selection in the visible area.
  • Control-P: Move up one line.
  • Control-N: Move down one line.
  • Control-O: Insert a new line after the insertion point.
  • Control-T: Swap the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of the insertion point.
  • Command–Left Curly Bracket ({): Left align.
  • Command–Right Curly Bracket (}): Right align.
  • Shift–Command–Vertical bar ( ): Center align.
  • Option-Command-F: Go to the search field.
  • Option-Command-T: Show or hide a toolbar in the app.
  • Option-Command-C: Copy Style: Copy the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard.
  • Option-Command-V: Paste Style: Apply the copied style to the selected item.
  • Option-Shift-Command-V: Paste and Match Style: Apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content.
  • Option-Command-I: Show or hide the inspector window.
  • Shift-Command-P: Page setup: Display a window for selecting document settings.
  • Shift-Command-S: Display the Save As dialog, or duplicate the current document.
  • Shift–Command–Minus sign (-): Decrease the size of the selected item.
  • Shift–Command–Plus sign (+): Increase the size of the selected item. Command–Equal sign (=) performs the same function.
  • Shift–Command–Question mark (?): Open the Help menu.

Other shortcuts

For more shortcuts, check the shortcut abbreviations shown in the menus of your apps. Every app can have its own shortcuts, and shortcuts that work in one app might not work in another.

  • Apple Music shortcuts: Choose Help > Keyboard shortcuts from the menu bar in the Music app.
  • Other shortcuts: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Shortcuts.

Learn more

  • Create your own shortcuts and resolve conflicts between shortcuts
  • Change the behavior of the function keys or modifier keys
2 2 likes 77,013 views Last modified Jun 30, 2013 12:43 PM

Hello and Welcome to my User Tip



This is a bit more advanced topic to give those new to Mac/computers the information they need in regards to formatting, partitioning, installing, backing up, cloning OS X and Windows 7 in BootCamp.


Make sure to read this User Tip in it's entirely before doing anything, and/or ask questions on the forum as I might have missed something and it's a rather new User Tip.


Plan your actions ahead of time, discuss with others, get a clear plan and get confirmation before proceeding, data loss is possible and almost a certainty with instructions on this User Tip.


Also it's good to always have a Internet connection/browser on something to get help and review essential information + Tips.



If your here because of a slow machine, or problem and you think a 'back to factory' or a erase and install will fix it, it sure may just do that, but explore your repair options first as it might not require such drastic measures.



Also read for basic information also how computers work + Why is my computer slow?



If your here because of a data privacy issue, you can delete the offending files and 'scrub' them off the hard drive, or scrub free space or even delete the entire account (not OS X or programs in Applications folder), then scrub the drive.




If your here thinking a erase/fresh install will cure your slow computer performance on a hard drive, it certainly can do that, but you should consider this instead as it might not be required to have to hand install everything (unless the data is corrupted and you have no clean backup)




If your attempting to do this to restore your OS X back to 10.6 from 10.7/10.8, then you need to read this first to prepare your files:




If your here to turn over ownership, your in the right place, read on also followed by visiting for more details:




If you don't have your data backed up on other medium and need to perform data recovery efforts first:




If your here to experiment and learn how to go about things, then I suggest using a external drive with no essential data on it as a test subject.



If your here because Disk Utility says 'can't repair this volume' or you want to do a erase + fresh install of OS X, or your partitions are messed up, or there is a problem in the GUID, EFI or Recovery HD partitions you can't control, or your getting spinning beach balls and you've exhausted all other forms of remedy, then your in the right place.




What you will need if on 10.6:

  • 10.6 Snow Leopard - clean scratches boot disk required. Use a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol and a clean soft cloth to polish.
  • 10.6 has 2 types of disks: 10.6.0-10.6.8 colored machine specific only, w/free iLife suite (can't be used with another model).
  • 10.6.3 Retail Disk for installed at factory 10.4-10.6.2 Intel processor Mac's. Macs that came new with 10.6.3-10.6.8 can't use.
  • Get the free MacTracker for details about your Mac, essential for picking the right 10.6 boot disk version/RAM amount.
  • Need a 10.6 disk? Call Apple via phone (only) to order these disks. Machine specific has free iLife, not on 10.6.3 white disks.


What you will need if on 10.7-10.8:


  • 10.7 Lion, 10.8 Mountain Lion requires AppleID and password if installed via AppStore and/or to restore iLife.
  • Warning! You need a strong, fast, reliable Internet download capability to reinstall OS X. 5Gb per second plus!
  • 10.7-10.8 installed a 'Recovery HD' partition on the boot drive that acts like a boot disk. Use no 10.4-10.6 boot disks.
  • 10.7-10.8 recent Mac's have Internet Recovery, is downloaded from Apple's servers for whole drive repair/format
  • 10.7-10.8 upgraded Mac's with no Internet Recovery can use This Method their own or matching OS X version machine.



Wireless keyboards may not work with at boot key commands.


Use a wired USB one and PC keyboards may work. Windows key is the Apple command key, alt/option is the same, etc.




Some backup of data rules before you begin:



#1 Rule. Whenever affecting changes to the drive, make sure you have backups of all the data of all the partitions of the entire drive being affected and disconnect all other non-relevant drives (especially TimeMachine) to avoid mistakes and background automatic updates.


#2 Rule. Maintain two backups of your data on separate hardware at all times.


#3 Rule. Have at least one of those backups off site to protect against theft, fire, hackers, malware, estranged persons etc.


#4 Rule. Have your most valuable data burned to cd/dvd's archived/dated periodically offsite in case of slow creep issues and malware. Burned non-rewriteable cd/dvd's are naturally malware proof as they can't be changed later unlike other rewriteable media.





What's going on behind the scenes on your boot drive


This is the standard configuration of most Mac's boot drives and the order of the partitions on the drive.


GUID (hidden)*

EFI - firmware partition (hidden)*

Macintosh HD (visible)

BootCamp - Windows (if enabled, visible)

Recovery HD ('OS X base install', if on OS X 10.7+, hidden)*


*The GUID, EFI and Recovery HD partitions in most cases requires a complete drive reformat and/or OS X install to rebuild




GUID Partition Table


A boot drive with Mac OS X requires a GUID partition table, this is a small hidden section at the top of the drive that tells the hardware it's running on what partitions, where they are and what are on the drive. Erase this or it gets corrupted and like burning a treasure map, the locations to where the partitions are on the drive are lost, thus the data on those partitions are lost. (Well if it's not encrypted, software like Data Rescue on another bootable drive might be able to bypass the GUID and read the drive)


The way to rebuild this for most common users is to boot the machine via another bootable medium, or via a program residing completely in Random Access Memory (RAM) or by hooking the drive to another computer, because the entire drive needs to be reformatted and the partitions recreated along with a new GUID Partition Table (GPT)


By the way a partition is a section on the drive that is another volume, it can be formatted differently from the others, contain a bootable OS or just data.



EFI Firmware Partition


A boot drive with OS X requires a EFI Partition (also hidden) which stores data to be loaded or ran before the operating system you have chosen boots. This is what allows the at boot key commands, to allow basic operation of the machine if it's in Windows or OS X. If you start a Mac in verbose mode, you will see that the EFI is loading before OS X begins to boot up. Programs can be installed in EFI, it takes two reboots to activate them and is very difficult for many users to remove. So it's important to trust the source of your downloaded programs from the Internet sources. As since EFI is separate from OS X, has complete access to the hardware and Internet, there is no telling what's going on in there. Loading spyware in here is a rather trivial task for spooks and rather hard for common users to detect or remove.


To rebuild this requires a complete drive reformat from another bootable medium.



However if a firmware update fails to install, or at boot key commands (wired keyboard) fail to work, then it is possible to download the same firmware again from Apple's site on another Mac, burn a cd and install it.


https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2213




Macintosh HD Partition


This is right out in the open, next on the list order and usually named 'Macintosh HD' unless someone changed it. It contains OS X, programs and user accounts data. It can be erased from another bootable medium or volume with Disk Utility on it and a ability to install OS X back on.


You can also clone this partitions data (and it also does the Recovery HD partition for you) to another drive with software like Carbon Copy Cloner.


If your having problems with your machine, OS X can be reinstalled by itself without affecting most programs or your user account/files, also new user account can be created and the old one deleted and recreated with the hassle of a erase and fresh install . Step by Step to fix your Mac




BootCamp Partition


When installing Windows 7 in BootCamp, the Bootcamp software takes the bottom of the OS X Partition and works it's way up until it hits OS X data, then it stops and that's the limit of the partition your allowed to create.


You can clone this partitions data with software like WincClone 3 (runs in OS X) to another drive for backup purposes.


Changes to this partition should be undertaken by the BootCamp software, however Disk Utility can also be used as well as other software like WinClone 3.


When BootCamp software creates this BOOTCAMP partition, it's formatted MSDOS (aka FAT32) for later changing by the Windows installer to NTFS which Windows requires to be installed in. Apple Mac's can only read NTFS, can't format or write it.


I've used the BootCamp software to create the second partition for other purposes, then headed to Disk Utility to change the name of the partition and it's format, so that's a possibility for beginners if they are not well versed in creating additional partitions on their boot drive using Disk Utility.


If you can't create a partition big enough, you need to remove some OS X data to a storage drive and follow this procedure to shift the remaining data up further on the drive to make room for your BootCamp partition.




Windows is copy protected, if you reinstall or reverse clone and there is a hardware change (like you changed the internal drive to a larger one) then it's going to require jumping through their hoops to re-register it or it dies after 30 days or so.




Recovery HD Partition (OS X base install)
If a rabbit crosses your path.


If you have OS X 10.7+, Apple installed this Recovery HD partition which one can hold command r down on a wired/built in keyboard and load this program into memory. It has Disk Utility, Safari, OS X Install and Terminal program. It's a troubleshooting environment to repair, reinstall, erase and install OS X. Plus do other things like reset the password, get online for assistance etc. It can only affect changes on the BootCamp and Macintosh HD partitions.


If for some reason this is deleted or not functional, newer Mac's have Internet Recovery where the same thing is loaded from Apple's servers by holding command option r keys down at boot time. A globe appears and it loads up. This is able to effect changes on the entire drive, including erasing the entire drive of all partitions and when OS X is reinstalled, it will recreate the required partitions and their information, provided the boot drive is still has a GUID and OS X Extended Journaled format.



If you have a older machine with no Internet Recovery and your Recovery HD partition is missing, you need to clone the OS X and Windows partitions each to their own separate blank drives and disconnect. Hold c or option/alt and boot off the 10.6 disk, use Disk Utility under the Utilities menu on the Installer page to erase the entire drive (with Security Option > Zero all data), make sure it has a GUID and OS X Extended Journaled (under Partitions) and quit then install 10.6. Reboot and Software update to 10.6.8, then reinstall 10.7+ from the AppStore using your AppleID and password. This will recreate your Recovery HD partition again, then you go and recreate the BootCamp partition (if you have it) and hold the option/alt key down to boot off the clone drive. Use CCC to reverse clone OS X, then run Winclone to reverse clone BoootCamp.


It is possible to clone the data of the Recovery HD partition and even create bootable USB thumb drives of it.




Wound Up Mac Os Download

Disk Utility


This is Apple's program for erasing, formatting and partitioning drives and partitions.


#1 Rule, unless your going to completely erase the entire drive, do NOT use Disk Utility version on a older OS X (like a 10.6 boot disk) to affect repairs or changes to a drive with a later version of OS X on it. It's because the older Disk Utility doesn't know what it's looking at and newer OS X versions create changes to the GUID Partition Table (like Recovery HD) and EFI.


#2 Rule to repair/erase/format a drive or partition in Disk Utility requires being booted and/or running Disk Utility from some other medium that isn't on the same drive or partition being affected. Internet Recovery loads completely into Random Access Memory, so it's no on the drive being affected.


#3 Rule, don't use other drive format utilities as Apple does certain things with Disk Utility to make it all work.




Where you can find/use Disk Utility


Disk Utility in the OS X > Applications > Utilities folder is good for verifying the booted drive (but may make mistakes*), creating and changing other partitions on the same boot drive (but on not the Macintosh HD) and affecting changes on external drives.


*Some have used 'Verify' on their booted drives to discover problems, to be directed to boot from the Recovery HD/boot disk to Repair the drive, only to find nothing was fixed or required fixing. Affecting partition changes on the boot drive while booted from one of the partitions is risky, again have backups of the data before proceeding.


https://hererfiles353.weebly.com/cosmic-gun-mac-os.html.

Disk Utility in 10.7+ Recovery HD - via the hold command r (wired or built in keyboard) upon booting (powering on) the computer. Can affect changes to the Macintosh and BootCamp Partitions, but not the entire drive.


Disk Utility in the 10.7+ Internet Recovery - via hold command option r (wired or built in keyboard + Internet connection, preferably a Ethernet cable to the router or modem power/off/on to reset) upon booting up (powering on) the computer on newer Mac's with 10.7+. Loads from the Internet into temporary Random Access Memory, turn off the power/reboot and it's gone. Can affect changes to the entire drive, including GUID, EFI and all other partitions.


Disk Utility on the 10.6 install disks - hold c or option/alt during boot up from this disk, Disk Utility is under the Utilities menu on the installer page after you select a language. Use with 10.6 and earlier formatted drives to repair or affect changes. Do not use to repair or affect changes on 10.7+ drives only to totally erase the entire drive.


Since OS X 10.5 is no longer being supported, I advise 10.5 user to consider upgrading your Intel processor Mac to 10.6 via the white Snow Leopard retail disks during this repair process. If you upgrade and its slow/problematic or you need to erase and install to fix a issue, see below for the link. Do not use the 10.5 Disk Utility other than for completely erasing a 10.5/10.6 machine even if it will hold c or option/alt key to boot from it I doubt it, the firmware may have been changed in 10.6 sometime to discourage booting.




How to use Disk Utility

Here is a picture from a 10.6 version of Disk Utility, those on 10.7+ may be slightly different in appearance but work basically the same.


What's selected on the left is then changeable by the actions on the right side. Indented names are visible partitions on the drive above.


Depending upon what your booted from, depends what options on the right are enabled.




For instance I'm booted from my Macintosh HD partition and therefore cannot Repair that partition (grayed out)


If I booted from my Macintosh HD 2 partition (using option/alt for Startup Manager) then I could Repair my Macintosh HD partition.


If I wanted to erase or format my entire drive (selecting the drive makers name and size at the top) I cant do that because I'm booted from one of the partitions on the drive, so I would have to boot from another medium completely, like a program in RAM (Internet Recovery) or another boot drive/disk.



Note: If you keep First Aid: Repairing Permissions and it keeps fixing things, that's ok, Apple has just changed something in OS X.


Note: If Repairing the drive says it can't repair it, then there is a serious issue and the data needs to be backed up or recovered, then the partition or drive erased (hard drives use Security Erase > Zero, or one selection from the left on 10.7+ to map off bad sectors) and OS X reinstalled (if the Macintosh HD partition) or restored from a clean TimeMachine or clone backup.




Note: If you can't see your drive on the left, that's a pretty serious issue, especially if there are no backups of the users files.




If erasing a SSD, be noted that Disk Utility offers no secure erase function as SSD's have limited writes and to allow a secure erase would be abused and wear out the SSD prematurely. I have outlined a possible solution to overwriting deleted data on SSD's, however it's no sure proof method.





How to install OS X 10.6

Ok you all wiped clean and you want to install OS X 10.6.


If your hold c or option/alt key booted from a 10.6 install disk, make sure your entire drive is selected on the left, click Partition: Options: GUID and the partition format for OS X is OS X Extended Journaled, if not make it so. Quit and select the volume on the 10.6 installer and install it.


If you have a BotoCamp or other partitions on the drive, you can chose to erase only the Macintosh HD partition and install OS X there, instead of the entire drive.


When you boot up new, your greeted to the Welcome video and all that fresh setup business, you can use TimeMachine there to restore or migrate from a clone drive of 10.6 or earlier only.

Wound Up Mac Os Catalina


Wound Up Costing Crossword Clue


If you need 10.6 disks, call Apple with your Apple Menu> About this Mac > More Information > model number like 'MacBook Pro 1,3'.


Wound Up Mac OS

Mac's that came originally from the factory with 10.6.3 or later cannot use the 10.6 white Snow Leopard retail disks, these require machine specific disks only available used (must be the same exact model Mac) /or via calling Apple via phone.




How to install OS X 10.7+


Ok you either erased the entire drive, it's blank, or you erased just the Macintosh HD partition. Now all you have to do is quit Disk Utility and install OS X using your AppleID and password right from Recovery HD or Internet Recovery your already booted into.


You will need a fast and reliable Internet connection as OS X is now downloaded, not on the computer or drive.



Resume lab 1 2 – pages templates download.


How to restore your free iLife, 10.6-10.7+




More about drives, partitioning and formatting