Tons of Problems. Clean Re-Install?

[NickD]

A lot of you may have read about the problems I've been having with my machine. They include:

Application access restriction
Temporary file database problems
Inability to upgrade
Keychain password rejection multiple times a day
Etc., etc., etc.

I was wondering if a clean reinstall of OSX would help. What do you think?

NickD

 

[netdog]

If you have booted from the CD and checked and repaired permissions and that failed to help, I would do an Archive Install. That should do it.

 

[NickD]

OK. I'll try that shortly. Any other suggestions?

 

[theISHkid]

This happened to me before... I just backed up anything I wanted on an external HD and zeroed everything out and reinstalled.

 

[NickD]

I don't know if I'd be able to find everything I want to keep though, because I have so many things on my HD, so backing up and erasing might not be the best option.

 

[theISHkid]

Well I don't know what kind of setup you have... but if you can't get to everything you need to keep then you probably need to get a little better organized. That's not an insult... just what I have learned from being a designer. I have to be able to jump from one computer to the next in a moments notice if something goes down. You should be able to pull all your documents and files then reinstall all the programs and they will come right back up.

 

[NickD]

My files are very well organized, but I have so many applications/preferences/permissions that I'd worry about that.

One question: If I do an Archive Install, would all my old files, applications, and preferences remain?

 

[lamina]

My files are very well organized, but I have so many applications/preferences/permissions that I'd worry about that.

One question: If I do an Archive Install, would all my old files, applications, and preferences remain?

Yes, but in my experience, this can be problematic. You'll boot to your newly-archived and installed system and usually everything will be the same, except your custom preferences, file associations, etc, which can sometimes get messed up in the process. I'd say archive and install, and at last resort, do a full reinstall.

 

[NickD]

Is there any other method besides Archive/Install that I can use that will be sure to save all my preferences?

 

[trainguy77]

Is there any other method besides Archive/Install that I can use that will be sure to save all my preferences?

Backing up and wiping the entire disk is the only other option.