How to Install OS X 10.9 (Yosemite) From USB 'Step-by-Step'

Are you tired of repeatedly downloading and reinstalling OS X Yosemite on your Mac? Have you run out of space on your main hard drive or simply want more flexibility when setting up a new machine? If so, installing OS X from a USB flash drive is the perfect solution. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through each step required to create an installable USB stick and boot directly into Yosemite.

### Step 1: Download OS X Yosemite

Before proceeding with the installation process, make sure you have access to either:

* A valid purchase receipt for Mac OS X Snow Leopard (or later)

* An active Apple ID registered in your name

* A working internet connection

To download the operating system, follow these steps:

1. Launch Safari or any other web browser on a computer running OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) or later.

2. Navigate to 'Mac App Store'(http://macappstore.com/).

3. Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.

### Step 2: Prepare an Installer USB Flash Drive

To create the installation media, you'll need:

* A blank 16GB (or larger) USB flash drive

* An empty folder on your main hard drive to store the necessary files

* 'USB Disk Creator'(http://www.macosumb.com/usb-disk-creator.html), a free utility for Mac

### Step 3: Install OS X Yosemite from USB

Once you've downloaded and prepared all required components, follow these steps:

1. Connect your USB flash drive to the computer with an available USB port.

2. Launch Disk Utility (located in Applications/Utilities) or use Spotlight to search for it.

3. Select the USB drive as the target device.

### Step 4: Install OS X Yosemite

Once you've selected the correct drive, follow these steps:

1. Format the entire disk (this will erase all data on your USB flash drive). Click 'Continue.'

2. Quit Disk Utility and launch Bootloaders/BootCharger from Applications.

3. Follow any prompts to install Chimera or rEFInd.

### Step 5: Install OS X Yosemite

1. Insert the USB flash drive into the target computer's optical (or USB) port.

2. Press 'alt' while powering on your Mac and select the correct boot device from the menu that appears.

After selecting the proper installation media, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process:

1. Agree to terms of service

2. Select language & keyboard preferences

3. Enter apple ID & agree to terms

### Step 6: Install Bootloader and Drivers (Optional)

If you've installed OS X Yosemite from USB without a functional boot loader or drivers, follow these steps:

1. Download 'Chimera'(http://www.chimingosx.com/).

2. Double-click the downloaded file (.dmg) to mount it.

3. Drag & drop 'Boot' folder into /Volumes/'USB drive name'/System/Utilities/ (replace with actual USB drive label).

### Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during this process, please refer to our comprehensive 'OS X Yosemite Installation Guide'(http://osxtricks.com/install-os-x-yosemite-10-dot-9-from_usb.html) for more detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips.

By following these simple steps, you'll have a fully functional USB installation drive ready to boot directly into OS X 10.9 (Yosemite). Happy installing!

Install os x yosemite from usb