Clean install then recover from Time Machine?

[TXBDan]

What would this do?

I'd like to try a clean install, but i also don't want to reinstall all my apps and settings, etc. But if i recover from a TM backup, won't it bring over all the crap to? I guess my question is, what exactly is on my TM backup? How would i do this?

 

[r.j.s]

Everything is on your backup.

Reinstall, then use the Migration Assistant to bring over your user data and applications.

 

[daflake]

What would this do?

I'd like to try a clean install, but i also don't want to reinstall all my apps and settings, etc. But if i recover from a TM backup, won't it bring over all the crap to? I guess my question is, what exactly is on my TM backup? How would i do this?

It will bring over whatever is in your profile including your apps. I used the migration assistant to connect to the backup and bring it in. During this, you can select what you want to bring back in. It is pretty straight forward.

 

[TXBDan]

i guess i'm hoping that any "crap" wil be left behind and the TM stuff will somehow be clean and proper.

think this method is any "cleaner" than just doing a simple upgrade? I'm already via upgrade and things seem to be working fine. but if i can get to where i am right now with all my apps and settings, but with a clean install, i'd do it.

 

[nikhsub1]

On my MBP I did an upgrade install even though I wanted to do a clean, had no time but wanted it done... On my wife's machine I wanted to do an upgrade (she would never know a difference) and on hers it failed... so I had to wipe the drive and do a clean install, go figure. As I type this time machine is doing a restore. I will let you know if I can tell a difference but somehow I think not, unless you were having issues before the upgrade.

 

[ManhattanPrjct]

It will bring over whatever is in your profile including your apps. I used the migration assistant to connect to the backup and bring it in. During this, you can select what you want to bring back in. It is pretty straight forward.

I presume this works the same way on a cloned hard drive (Superdupered)?

 

[r.j.s]

I presume this works the same way on a cloned hard drive (Superdupered)?

Yes, it does.

 

[palebluedot]

I just go into my Time Machine and manually copy over the files I want (like the iTunes dir, iPhoto Library, Documents folder, etc.).

If you do a Migration Assistant thing it will copy all the crap you don't want like prefs files, folders, etc.

Clean install + old fashioned FTW.