For a fresh install, is it better to restore with time machine or manually?

[Suno]

This is the first time I'll be doing a fresh install of OS X and I was wondering what the best method of restoring my personal files would be. I'm unfamiliar with how Time Machine actually works, so I don't know if it backs up my personal files, applications, widgets, and whatnot, or if it copies preference files, and things of that nature as well. I -only- want to restore my personal files, as well as a handful of apps. Nothing else. I don't want any of the old, cluttered stuff from my current computer to get into the fresh installed OS...

 

[xShane]

This is the first time I'll be doing a fresh install of OS X and I was wondering what the best method of restoring my personal files would be. I'm unfamiliar with how Time Machine actually works, so I don't know if it backs up my personal files, applications, widgets, and whatnot, or if it copies preference files, and things of that nature as well. I -only- want to restore my personal files, as well as a handful of apps. Nothing else. I don't want any of the old, cluttered stuff from my current computer to get into the fresh installed OS...

For a truly "fresh" install, you should do a clean install of OS X and then manually transport the personal files you need (such as from a flash drive).

Remember to back up any files you think you even *might* need before reinstalling.

 

[Suno]

For a truly "fresh" install, you should do a clean install of OS X and then manually transport the personal files you need (such as from a flash drive).

Remember to back up any files you think you even *might* need before reinstalling.

Thanks for your input.

Is there any way to create some sort of text file containing a list of all of my applications/drivers? I know it's not called drivers on a mac but I can't remember what they're supposed to be called at the moment. I'm talking about things like Perian, FunctionFlip, etc.

 

[ritmomundo]

I just did this on my new MacBook. My old one was running very slow, and rather than use Time Machine and inadvertently transfer the "problem" to my new Mac, I wanted to have a truly fresh install.

I installed only the programs I actually use, manually set all my settings/preferences, transferred my media files from my "User" folder, and copied over the login.keychain from my latest TM backup. The only thing I don't see (and its not a big deal to be honest) is the iMessage history. I'm just wondering, for peace of mind, did I get everything? Or are there more files/folders (possibly hidden) that I should transfer?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!