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What is the best way to deploy a mac OS

  • February 28, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 30 views
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I need to re image a mac as it is not behaving right. I want to start with the latest OS which at the moment is sierra. How do I format the HD of the mac and re install with sierra to make it like a new OS (like opening a new box)

Thanks
Mike

    4 replies

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    • jhalvorson
    • Honored Contributor
    • February 28, 2017

    This is one way to get back to a factory fresh load of the OS:

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
    Option-Command-R to allow erasing the entire hard drive and all partitions

    It might not work if your business network is complex or NAT'ed - it will fail during the chunksum verification.
    It will not include any of the Apple app store apps - iMovie, Garageband, Keynote, Pages, Numbers.
    It's a slow process, takes between 40 minutes to several hours.

    You will get the version of the OS that the computer shipped with. So if you do it with a 2016 MacBook Pro, you'll get Sierra. But if you try with a older Mac you'll get something prior to Sierra.

    Another option is to create a OS installer on a USB drive - http://lifehacker.com/how-to-make-a-bootable-macos-sierra-usb-flash-drive-1786853248

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    • Sandy
    • Esteemed Contributor
    • February 28, 2017

    I have very few models, and I still have a netboot server and a few image configurations.
    When a computer needs to be wiped and restored, this is fast and easy.
    For new out of box, I wipe and image student cart computers and just enroll staff computers (no wipe).
    Student carts are imaged using a prestage, which names them with Asset # included, removes the recovery partition, binds to AD and sets firmware password.

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    • mikez
    • New Contributor
    • February 28, 2017

    +1 for the OS installer on a USB drive

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    • TJ_Edgerly
    • Contributor
    • February 28, 2017

    My personal choice has been two options (assuming this is a "one off" and I have physical access to the computer):

    1. AutoDMG to create a "NeverBooted" image. Connect the computer via target disk mode and use disk utility to wipe drive /restore OS. (Fastest option for me).

    2. Create a Bootable USB drive (a few tools):

    -DiskMakerX
    -Install Disk Creator

    *note: you can also use a netboot server if you need to wipe/restore more...but based on just wanting to do this on a single computer....1 or 2 would be my personal preference.

    Also, as previous poster noted, these will not put back the iLife/iWork suite.

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