Mac OS X Installation Basics SATA Drive

Instructions for installing an internal drive as a bootable or a storage drive in MacOS X.
 

If the SATA drive will simply be a storage drive, please see the 3rd section of this article - Installing a SATA Drive as a Storage Unit.

Boot Drive - 10.11
Boot Drive - 10.6 to 10.10
Storage Drive - 10.11
Storage Drive - 10.6 to 10.10


Installing a SATA Drive as a Boot drive 10.11

Note: Reformatting the drive will erase all data on the drive, so you should copy any data you
 want off the drive prior to formatting.

  1. Physically install the drive into the Mac.

  2. Insert the Mac OS X install CD or USB drive.

  3. Power on the computer while holding down the option key.

  4. Select Installer.

  5. Select Disk Utility.

  6. Highlight the drive.

  7. ​Select Erase.

  8. Enter Volume information (Name, Format, and Scheme).

  9. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for Format.

  10. Select GUID for Scheme.

  11. Select Erase. (Note: This will erase all data from the drive.)

  12. Click on Disk Utility and select Quit Disk Utility.

  13. Select Install OS X from the options

  14. Select your drives as the destination and install


Installing a SATA Drive as a Boot drive 10.6 to 10.10

Note: Reformatting the drive will erase all data on the drive, so you should copy any data you
 want off the drive prior to formatting.

  1. Physically install the drive into the Mac.

  2. Insert the Mac OS X install CD or USB drive.

  3. Power on the computer while holding down the option key.

  4. Select Installer.

  5. Select Disk Utility.

  6. Highlight the drive.

  7. Select Partition.

  8. Select 1 Partition

  9. Name the drive

  10. Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Partition for the volume format.

  11. Click Options - Select GUID

  12. Select OK

  13. Select Apply (Note: This will erase all data from the drive.)

  14. Select partition 

  15. Click on Disk Utility and select Quit Disk Utility.

  16. Select Install OS X from the options

  17. Select your drives as the destination and install


 

Installing a SATA Drive as a Storage Unit - 10.11
 

  1. Physically install the drive into the Mac.

  2. ​Turn the Mac on

  3. Select Applications.

  4. Select Utilities.

  5. Select Disk Utility.

  6. Select the Erase tab.

  7. Verify that the correct hard drive is selected in the left column.

  8. Enter Volume information (Name, Format, and Scheme).

  9. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for Format.

  10. Select GUID for Scheme.

  11. Select Erase. (Note: This will erase all data from the drive.)



Installing a SATA Drive as a Storage Unit - 10.6 to 10.10

Note: Reformatting the drive will erase all data on the drive, so you should copy any data you
 want off the drive prior to formatting.

 

  1. Physically install the drive into the Mac.

  2. ​Turn the Mac on

  3. Select Applications.

  4. Select Utilities.

  5. Select Disk Utility.

  6. Highlight the drive

  7. Select Partition.

  8. Select 1 Partition

  9. Name the drive

  10. Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Partition for the volume format.

  11. Click Options - Select GUID

  12. Select OK

  13. Select Apply (Note: This will erase all data from the drive.)

  14. Select partition 

  15. Click on Disk Utility and select Quit Disk Utility.

  16. Select Install OS X from the options

  17. Select your drives as the destination and install

  18. Allow time for the drive to format.

  19. Verify the drive is mounted on the Desktop.