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+--- Thread: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? (/showthread.php?tid=201356)
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Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - tuqqer - 02-05-2017
Yeah, today's that day, it's that time, where I'm nuking it all and reinstalling the OS from the zeros on up. I used to do it every OSX upgrade, but I've been negligent and it's been about 3 updates and 3 years.
For fear of copying any weird glitch over, I always have rebuilt my User folder from scratch. I always named it the same and used the same password (to prevent permission issues), and I take a ton of screenshots before doing any of it, to aid in getting all my settings back to how I prefer them.
However, from expert sites like this one, they suggest just copying the entire Home Folder back over to the new installation. I'd be nervous that doing that would potentially bring over the very glitches that I'm trying to remove. But I don't know enough about the underlying code to know if that's true or possible.
Any thoughts on that? Do you copy over your Home Folder, or do you set it all up from zeros and scratch?
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - space-time - 02-05-2017
Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, i.e. what you know best.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - btfc - 02-05-2017
Since you've done it before, and, if you have access to any software installers you'll need, I'd rebuild from the ground up. A lot of stuff builds up in your user library.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - tuqqer - 02-05-2017
btfc wrote:
Since you've done it before, and, if you have access to any software installers you'll need, I'd rebuild from the ground up. A lot of stuff builds up in your user library.
that's my thinking, too. Takes longer, and may be an unnecessary step. But I've done it many times, and feel comfortable with the process.
Thanks for the thoughts on this.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - rich in distress - 02-05-2017
Another vote to rebuild.
It doesn't feel cumbersome to me. A few copy operations instead of one.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - jdc - 02-05-2017
I find reinstalling from the ground up easier everytime I do it.
With all the software now online, no more cumbersome and slow DVDs for install, or giant passwords, or install one version, then upgrades after that.
The first thing I install is 1 Password, relink it to its dropbox archive and the above is even simpler.
As long as your net connection isnt super slow, shouldnt take too long.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - tuqqer - 02-05-2017
jdc wrote:
I find reinstalling from the ground up easier everytime I do it.
With all the software now online, no more cumbersome and slow DVDs for install, or giant passwords, or install one version, then upgrades after that.
The first thing I install is 1 Password, relink it to its dropbox archive and the above is even simpler.
As long as your net connection isnt super slow, shouldnt take too long.
Exactly how I do it, jdc! 1Password first, then everything follows. I do like screenshots of things, so I can remember, "oh, yeah, I want that in the menubar, those are my settings on my mouse..." etc.
Really good to get confirmation that the way I've been doing it, others do, too.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - steveroberts - 02-06-2017
tuqqer wrote:
I take a ton of screenshots before doing any of it, to aid in getting all my settings back to how I prefer them.
Getting ready to do this myself. Can you tell me what screenshots you find useful in documenting your settings?
SR
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - tuqqer - 02-06-2017
Clean install went well. 4 hours yesterday and a couple more today, fine-tuning, but the effect is always gratifying.
Re: Opinions on Clean Install: copy home folder or built it from scratch? - tuqqer - 02-06-2017
steveroberts wrote:
Getting ready to do this myself. Can you tell me what screenshots you find useful in documenting your settings?
SR
One of these days, I want to document how I do it, not only because I need to remember all the tiny steps each time, but also because it'd be a useful doc to get out there. I haven't done it yet, so here are some off-the-cuff things:
- do an exact clone of the HD you're going to pave. Aside from the obvious Documents, iTunes, and iPhoto/Photo folders you'll want to bring over, the most important is: you'll most probably need to dig in there and get tiny files that hold stuff that you didn't know even existed. You might get away just the Library folders (Home and main), but there's no need to take a chance. Create a full backup, and then restart from it to make sure it's all there and all working. When it comes time to actually hit that button that implies "you sure you want to erase 20 years of work from this hard drive?" there's always that sobering moment of what you're doing. Having a full fresh and double-checked clone will eliminate that fear.
- be sure Time Machine is backed up, too. I wouldn't use this in place of the Clone above, since the clone will be easier to access.
- I abhor iCloud, but I do use it for the basics (weird settings, Calendar, Contacts) which keeps the total about 1.5 gigs). Be sure it's backed up.
- odd files you'll want: custom dictionary (Home: Library: Spelling ... see? that's just one example of tiny little files). export Calendar, Contacts, Bookmarks, 1Password, any 3rd party System Preferences (I use SteerMouse for example, and that has a export setting function)
- aText backup, KeyMaestro backup
Screenshots:
- All applications
- Most System Preference windows (to see how I set each one up, see Location Services, Notification settings,
- Menu bar (I have a lot of stuff up there, I want a reminder of what I have.
- Keyboard: Shortcuts. I have a lot of custom keyboard shortcut settings
- Dock (I use custom icons for certain folders)
As someone mentioned earlier, the first thing I go and install is 1Password, since I store everything in there that matters. So, I make sure I have that file ready and the general passwords needed to get that up and running.
Because I use Mac Mail (versus a browser version of Gmail, etc), I get that going quickly, too. I am a Zero Inbox kind of guy, and constantly go in and thin old emails, big attachments, etc, but it still takes a few hours to cache all old Mail. I want that working in the background while I'm setting everything else up. Same with bookmarks. I install that immediately.
Hope that helps.