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User profile for user: vvplem
vvplem Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Clean install Mojave on MacBook Air from another Mac

Hi everyone,


I had a major crash of my MacBook Air on 10.13.6 and after reinstalling there is some corruption (I had no save previous to the crash... I know... and probably reinstalled some small issues).


So I would like perform a clean install of Mojave instead of High Sierra and then reinstall my app and import only the files I need the old way. I have another Mac on Mojave now and a thunderbolt cable to link them if I can do the install from one Mac to the other ; in target mode maybe ? Or any other way ?


Many thanks for your help.


Vania

MacBook Air

Posted on Nov 30, 2019 4:25 AM

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
146,402 points

Posted on Nov 30, 2019 3:24 PM

If that's what you want to do, boot macOS Recovery, erase the MBA's internal storage, reinstall its originally installed operating system, upgrade it to Mojave, and finally populate its content from the other Mac using Target Disk Mode and an appropriate cable.


Start with How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery and follow the relevant links are within it:


  1. Erase the startup disk
  2. Reinstall the operating system (the original one; Mojave or earlier)
  3. Upgrade it to macOS Mojave
  4. Transfer the older one's User content (using Migration Assistant as shown in its screenshots)


I don't know why the bootable USB installer isn't working for you.


To answer your question though, you can't easily use TDM to transfer an entire system (macOS and all) to another Mac. It might be possible using Disk Utility's Restore function but I never attempted to do that. If you have the luxury of time to experiment, it might be educational, and might even work.

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
146,402 points

Nov 30, 2019 3:24 PM in response to vvplem

If that's what you want to do, boot macOS Recovery, erase the MBA's internal storage, reinstall its originally installed operating system, upgrade it to Mojave, and finally populate its content from the other Mac using Target Disk Mode and an appropriate cable.


Start with How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery and follow the relevant links are within it:


  1. Erase the startup disk
  2. Reinstall the operating system (the original one; Mojave or earlier)
  3. Upgrade it to macOS Mojave
  4. Transfer the older one's User content (using Migration Assistant as shown in its screenshots)


I don't know why the bootable USB installer isn't working for you.


To answer your question though, you can't easily use TDM to transfer an entire system (macOS and all) to another Mac. It might be possible using Disk Utility's Restore function but I never attempted to do that. If you have the luxury of time to experiment, it might be educational, and might even work.

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Clean install Mojave on MacBook Air from another Mac

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