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MacBook Air 11" Late 2010, "Erase" option not working. Want to do a clean OS install.

MacBook Air 11" Late 2010, "Erase" option not working. Want to do a clean OS install.

MacBook Air 11″, 10.11

Posted on Sep 4, 2020 6:50 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 4, 2020 9:15 PM

Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch


If possible, back up your files.


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo and progress bar appear. Wait until the Utility Menu appears.
  2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
  3. When Disk Utility loads select the target volume (indented entry, usually "Macintosh HD") from the Device list.
  4. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  5. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  6. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  7. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  8. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  9. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 4, 2020 9:15 PM in response to gladscientist

Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch


If possible, back up your files.


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo and progress bar appear. Wait until the Utility Menu appears.
  2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
  3. When Disk Utility loads select the target volume (indented entry, usually "Macintosh HD") from the Device list.
  4. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  5. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  6. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  7. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  8. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  9. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


MacBook Air 11" Late 2010, "Erase" option not working. Want to do a clean OS install.

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