Do you re-install OS X before first use? [Archive]

Jimmieboy

Feb 11, 2008, 05:28 PM

Cromulent

Feb 11, 2008, 05:31 PM

Hey everyone!

I'm holding out for the new MBP (hopefully not long!) and I wanted to make this mac perfect (unlike my iMac which was my first one).

I'm just wondering if you guys re-installed OS X before you first started to use your computers?

Yep I always reinstall when I get a new computer. I get rid of all the printer drivers (I can download and install the most recent from the web), the extra languages, all the demos and most of the iLife suite (except for iPhoto - I have Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio to replace the others).

Saves absolutely tons of space and at least then I know that only what I really want is actually on the computer.

blueflame

Feb 11, 2008, 05:44 PM

I like knowing what is on my computer is installed by me. lets me keep a CONTROL type situation over my stuff.
A

Yep I always reinstall when I get a new computer. I get rid of all the printer drivers (I can download and install the most recent from the web), the extra languages, all the demos and most of the iLife suite (except for iPhoto - I have Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio to replace the others).

Saves absolutely tons of space and at least then I know that only what I really want is actually on the computer.

Jimmieboy

Feb 11, 2008, 06:05 PM

pulsewidth947

Feb 12, 2008, 03:09 AM

Any ideas on how much space I'd save with only installing the english language and not others? The thing is that since I'll have a notebook, free space is a big issue. It's a pain carrying around an external HDD and installing a larger one is more of a job than on a desktop.

You'll save a couple of GB. I always re-install to get rid of some of the crap. You can save another couple of GB by only installing the printer drivers you need.

All in all I think I saved 5-6GB by choosing what to install. Much easier to do this at the start than trying to remove later.

kainjow

Feb 12, 2008, 05:39 AM

Any ideas on how much space I'd save with only installing the english language and not others? The thing is that since I'll have a notebook, free space is a big issue. It's a pain carrying around an external HDD and installing a larger one is more of a job than on a desktop.

You don't save as much space with Leopard as you would have with Tiger, but under Tiger I remember it being around 5-6GB. I think under Leopard it's less, but it's still a few gigs and worth it.

Roadster

Feb 12, 2008, 05:46 AM

Printer drivers alone take up about 3.4GB on the Leopard install, with another 2GB on top for additional languages - so that's around 5GB you can save. Definitely worth doing a reinstall if you're short on HDD space.

johto

Feb 12, 2008, 05:54 AM

Indeed. I went straight to the OS installation after the hardware diagnostic with my new first iMac. What better time to go and make some coffee while it installs. Same time you make sure your hardware seem to work ok! And of course, save many GB of disk spaces. Installing OS X is so easy :p Better question is, Why not?

Markleshark

Feb 12, 2008, 06:43 AM

Sure do. Usually anywho, when I get a new computer I'm usually excited and get ahead of myself

slowbutspeeding

Feb 12, 2008, 07:15 AM

Have not in the past, but definitely intend to with my new notebook. Saves tons of space by letting you put only what you need on it, not what the entire world does.

ewinemiller

Feb 12, 2008, 07:29 AM

I've found that with the last two new macs (an ibook G4 and the first rev MBP), all the squirelly behavior (kernal panics, lock ups, etc) I saw stopped with a clean install. I don't think the image they blast onto the drives is very good. A new Mac Pro is heading my way and currently "out for delivery", that will be the first thing I do.

Jimmieboy

Feb 12, 2008, 07:31 AM

Thanks for all the advice.

Hopefully I'll get my MBP soon. WIth the apple store currently down (in the US + Canada, not Aust) there is a chance I'll be getting it soon! And now I will re-install OS X before I use it! YAY!

IJ Reilly

Feb 12, 2008, 10:10 AM

No. Pretty much a complete waste of time.

slu

Feb 12, 2008, 10:18 AM

No. Pretty much a complete waste of time.

This. IJ Reilly and I have tried to fight the good fight before in a couple of these threads, but in most cases, a re-install is a waste of time.

themoonisdown09

Feb 12, 2008, 10:38 AM

I've never re-installed the OS when I've bought a new computer. It's a waste of time to me.

mperkins37

Feb 12, 2008, 11:06 AM

It makes me feel better knowing that i am not bloating the system with unnecessary extra stuff to process and load., The extra drive space never hurts either.
Just did a full Install on my new macpro when I got it and saved a few seconds off startup & I am sure it's peppier because it doesn't have to deal with so much bloat.
I never used the extra languages, I also download drivers straight from the net.

PlaceofDis

Feb 12, 2008, 11:10 AM

i do it, especially on a laptop.

things i get rid of:

printer drivers
languages
iDVD
iMovie
Garageband & Loops
other software i won't use.

usually trim the install size down considerably.

is it worth it? sure for some people, others not.
me i'd rather have things clean from the start and not have to dig out all the stuff i want to delete.

Antares

Feb 12, 2008, 11:18 AM

Unless you are really, really worried about space constraints and want to pick and choose what you specifically want installed, you don't need to worry about doing a custom reinstall. It's a waste of your time.

I never do it. If storage space starts running low...I simply prune and purge. You never know what you may need or want at a later point.

Batt

Feb 12, 2008, 12:35 PM

Nope, Startup Assistant does everything I want. And I never reinstall the tires when I buy a car, either.

crazycat

Feb 12, 2008, 12:47 PM

I never reinstall OSX but since i got a MBA i think i would need to to save some space.

Mac OS X Ocelot

Feb 12, 2008, 12:56 PM

I've only owned one mac in my lifetime and I didn't know to do it when I got it. I probably won't do it with my next one because I'm intending to have at least 500GB internally, so it won't be necessary. I might think about it though.

slowbutspeeding

Feb 13, 2008, 09:49 AM

Nope, Startup Assistant does everything I want. And I never reinstall the tires when I buy a car, either.

I think you're missing the point. Removing the tires and putting them back on would do nothing. Now if you were to take out the backseat, a few child restraint locks, some pretty plastic covers over the engine block, and other useless items to shave weight, that would be more like it.

phjo

Feb 13, 2008, 10:00 AM

I did... (not immediately though) with my macbook (first gen).

The 60Gb hd was already 26~27Gb full when I got it (printers, languages, stupid trial software and games, garageband and some other parts of ilife I don't use...)

I did not do it with my mac pro, as I saw no use doing it...

phjo

neiltc13

Feb 13, 2008, 10:03 AM

I had to do it on my MacBook because Apple shipped it with a buggy version of Leopard which didn't include Boot Camp Assistant. The version on the discs was different and included the software.

UltraNEO*

Feb 13, 2008, 10:15 AM

Hey everyone!

I'm holding out for the new MBP (hopefully not long!) and I wanted to make this mac perfect (unlike my iMac which was my first one).

I'm just wondering if you guys re-installed OS X before you first started to use your computers?

Yup, it's nice to get rid of all the "iApps" which just clogg up my drive, trash all the default applications like Chess, Stickies, GarageBand and DVD Player which I ain't gonna use, remove useless printer drivers etc. Though, one could install AppZapper and it'll remove whatever application you tell it to uninstall - dragging to thrash is cool, but some applications ain't tidy - they put files everywhere!