Installing OS Upgrade Question

[Wie Gehts]

I'm curious about something. I'm thinking about upgrading from Sierra to High Sierra at least in order to update Logic Pro to its latest.
I come across the same stuff that people say about doing a 'clean' install or a 'fresh' install. Nowadays the amount of software a person like me has installed makes it logistically impossible to literally start with an empty HD to install an OS and reinstall everything from scratch.

People say to do a clean install. I had thought that meant starting from scratch but apparently that means cleaning out your system of all the build up of old garbage files with some sort of app/system cleaner utility before upgrading an OS right onto your current system.

I use SuperDuper cloning. My question is.... doesn't cloning apps automatically disregard all that system garbage stuff when making a clone. Or is a cleaning app necessary?
IOW, I'd make a clone then put that back onto the computer then upgrade the OS.

Being unaware of this I had updated from Mavericks right up to Sierra with no special preparation couple years ago with no discernible bad effects... and I have a lot of audio software, plugins etc with all kinds of authorizations going on.
However if its really necessary to clean the system up before upgrading I'd give that a go.

 

[Fishrrman]

Since you're already a SuperDuper user (that's a GOOD thing), do this:

1. Do an incremental backup of your cloned backup drive
2. I would try an "upgrade in place" with the High Sierra installer (by that I mean just upgrade "over" the existing install
3. If the upgrade is successful, give it a few days to see if all things are working as intended.
4. Upgrade Logic Pro.

Do it this way, and if things DO NOT go "as intended", you can just do this:
1. Connect backup
2. Boot from backup
3. ERASE the internal drive
4. RE-clone the cloned backup BACK TO the internal drive
You'll now be "right back where you started from".

 

[Wie Gehts]

Thanks.

Couple questions though. What do you mean by "Do an incremental backup of your cloned backup drive". Sorry but I don't follow. I have two things. A clone made (theoretically up to the minute) of my computer. And I have my computer itself. Where and how does this incremental thing come into play?

Are you also saying to just go ahead and install High Sierra on top of Sierra regardless of any of this cleaning up of garbage files business thing and that should most likely 99% be fine to do?

And of course, obviously, if it doesn't I have my trusty clone backup. 😃

Since you're already a SuperDuper user (that's a GOOD thing), do this:

1. Do an incremental backup of your cloned backup drive
2. I would try an "upgrade in place" with the High Sierra installer (by that I mean just upgrade "over" the existing install
3. If the upgrade is successful, give it a few days to see if all things are working as intended.
4. Upgrade Logic Pro.

Do it this way, and if things DO NOT go "as intended", you can just do this:
1. Connect backup
2. Boot from backup
3. ERASE the internal drive
4. RE-clone the cloned backup BACK TO the internal drive
You'll now be "right back where you started from".