Formatting a hard drive along with the install of a new OS is the best option. The vast majority of operating system installations provide a "format" option as part of the installation process.

(Note: This guide is adapted from one I found buried in Google's cache, so I thought Ars might appreciate a more accessible, updated version.)<br><br><b>Introduction</b><br><br>We all know that OS X ...

Like Lion (OS X 10.7) before it, Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8) doesn’t ship on a disc—it’s available only as an installer app downloadable from the Mac App Store ...

Apple has released Mac OS X Lion in the Mac App Store for $30. Separately, Apple will also begin offering Lion on a USB thumb drive in Apple stores come August. Right now, you can grab Lion from the ...

You can install macOS on a regular PC to create a custom computer called a Hackintosh. To set up a Hackintosh, you need a Mac, a USB drive, and specific tools like ...

There are a few reasons why you might want to install an old version of macOS or Mac OS X. Perhaps you are relying on software you have discovered doesn’t work properly with the newest version of ...

A bootable Mac OS X thumb drive comes in handy when you need to troubleshoot OS issues for yourself, your family, or your friends. It’s also extremely useful for keeping your basic setup consistent ...

I recently switched my OS drive to a new, larger SSD so that I would stop running out of space every time a Windows 11 update came around. I had to weigh up the benefits of doing a fresh install or ...

If you receive an error message indicating that your Mac's firmware is out-of-date, and hence cannot accept installation of Mac OS X from a CD/DVD -- specifically ...