Clean install of OSX while saving files/applications/preferences

[lnels]

What is the easiest way to do a clean install of OSX, but save all my current files/applications and preferences and load those back onto the new install? Should I use TimeMachine for that?

 

[lnels]

Backing up data files (word documents, pictures etc) could be a simple task, basically a matter of drag and drop, but its the applications I'm more concerned about. I want to be able to save all applications and their preference files.

Maybe if someone knows a good article explaining preference files, and that way I could drag and drop specific preference files to an external and then drag and drop back to a new formatted OS.

 

[janitor3]

Do a time machine backup,then when you do a clean install it will ask you if you want to restore from backup or continue. Click restore from time machine backup and your files will be restored to your new osx.

http://www.imore.com/how-set-and-restore-time-machine-backup

 

[chabig]

There is no need for a clean install. Just boot to the recovery partition and reinstall the OS. Your apps and data will remain the same.

 

[jdechko]

There is no need for a clean install. Just boot to the recovery partition and reinstall the OS. Your apps and data will remain the same.

Unless there is an actual need to perform a true clean install, this is what I'd recommend.