Help: Alittle bit of guidance on clean install from Mavericks to Mojave

[jetranger407]

Hi all! After plenty of help on a different thread, I’ve settled on updating my Late 2013 rMBP (2.3ghz Intel Core i7 and 16GB 1600 MHZ DDR3) to Mojave. I was encouraged to do a normal update as the OS is still supported, but would prefer to go the route of a clean install so that the computer’s operation is as fresh and lean as can be. I’ve been reading up on how a clean install is performed, watched tutorials, and tried to equip myself with the fundamental concepts behind what I’m doing.

Disc utility reveals that my current (factory) SDD is Mac OS Extended Journaled with Mavericks. When beginning the clean install and given the option of erasing my current drive for the clean install, I am given the option to create the new drive w/ various file systems. This is my question:

Which one should be selected? I understand that APFS is default after 10.13, and has benefits for “deep sleep” on a new breed of faster SSDs that my MBP doesn’t have. Or should it be Mac OS Extended Journaled (the way it came factory).

I also am unsure of the performance changes that might occur after moving to Mojave. If I don’t like it, I understand I can roll back to Mavericks (but would need a Time Machine backup, which I just made yesterday). Which leads to my next question:

If I were to roll back to Mavericks, I would imagine that drive would now be APFS (if I had gone that route). Would this pose a problem for my Time Machine backup I’d be using to go back to Mavericks (which was originally Mac OS Extended Journaled?

Sorry for the lengthy post, I just really don’t want to screw this up. Looking forward to hearing anyone’s thoughts!

 

[Mr Todhunter]

Hi all! After plenty of help on a different thread, I’ve settled on updating my Late 2013 rMBP (2.3ghz Intel Core i7 and 16GB 1600 MHZ DDR3) to Mojave. I was encouraged to do a normal update as the OS is still supported, but would prefer to go the route of a clean install so that the computer’s operation is as fresh and lean as can be. I’ve been reading up on how a clean install is performed, watched tutorials, and tried to equip myself with the fundamental concepts behind what I’m doing.

Disc utility reveals that my current (factory) SDD is Mac OS Extended Journaled with Mavericks. When beginning the clean install and given the option of erasing my current drive for the clean install, I am given the option to create the new drive w/ various file systems. This is my question:

Which one should be selected? I understand that APFS is default after 10.13, and has benefits for “deep sleep” on a new breed of faster SSDs that my MBP doesn’t have. Or should it be Mac OS Extended Journaled (the way it came factory).

I also am unsure of the performance changes that might occur after moving to Mojave. If I don’t like it, I understand I can roll back to Mavericks (but would need a Time Machine backup, which I just made yesterday). Which leads to my next question:

If I were to roll back to Mavericks, I would imagine that drive would now be APFS (if I had gone that route). Would this pose a problem for my Time Machine backup I’d be using to go back to Mavericks (which was originally Mac OS Extended Journaled?

Sorry for the lengthy post, I just really don’t want to screw this up. Looking forward to hearing anyone’s thoughts!

I cannot answer your last question with any degree of confidence but I think you cannot roll back.
On the other hand I’m pretty sure your Mac will fly after the move to Mohave. You won’t feel the need to rollback unless you will dislike the look of the UI.

 

[MBAir2010]

what you can do i perform a time machine back up on the Mavericks OSX incase you need to reinstall that system.
i have performed this on every OSX since Snow Leopard.
my updated and switching OSX numerous times were on a MacBook air, and mac mini from 2010, 2012 and i never worried about the format, i guess that back up selects which one one use.

i hope this answered your question.

 

[BrianBaughn]

If you decide to go back to Mavericks (which I don't think you will) you'll have to rely on either creating a Mavericks USB installer or hoping that Internet Recovery works properly. The format issue isn't a problem with that. The SSD will just need be reformatted HFS+ which is simple.

I don't use Time Machine presently but my concern would be how well it works (or if it chokes) on restoring the Mavericks backup if you continue using the same TM drive with Mojave. Someone else here might know if it'll work without a problem. Personally, I'd leave the TM drive off until you decide which way you want to go.

Alternately, if you have another adequate external drive you could use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your Mavericks drive (CCC is free for 30 days) and, if you don't like Mojave, boot from the external clone, reformat the internal SSD and clone back to it. This is what I always do in that situation.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

I don't know "how far you've gone" yet with your plan, but...

...the BEST WAY to ensure that you can "get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged" (if the upgrade doesn't go as planned) is to have a BOOTABLE CLONED BACKUP of your previous (Mavericks) installation.

You create this with either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.
Both of these are FREE to download and use for 30 days, so this will cost you nothing.

Again, if things don't go as planned, you can do this:
1. BOOT FROM the bootable cloned backup (which is an exact copy of the internal drive)
2. ERASE the internal drive completely.
3. Use either CCC or SD to "Re-clone" the backup BACK TO the internal drive.

You can "get back" other ways, but none of them will be this fast or easy.

HAVING SAID THAT...

A good way to experiment with Mojave BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO IT, is to install Mojave onto a spare external drive (instead of onto the internal drive).

Now you can boot from it, install apps, see how it runs, what works and what doesn't, etc. -- all while leaving your internal Mavericks install untouched.