Updating from Monterey to Ventura (Clean install?)

[loby]

What is wrong with wiping out the drive completely and after doing an internet recovery after activation? Is it different now with Apple Silicone?

 

[StellarVixen]

What is wrong with wiping out the drive completely and after doing an internet recovery after activation? Is it different now with Apple Silicone?

Yes, apparently wiping clean the SSD also wipes out the bootloader and you need special tool to restore it. It's...that's just not alright.

 

[fdw777]

I have found the most informative video on reinstalling Mac OS on Apple Silicon (4 different ways). Actually this video should be a Sticky note

 

[MallardDuck]

Since the System Volume became a signed, sealed, verified, read only Volume, quite separate from the -Data Volume, which holds absolutely everything you have ever added to or changed on the machine, there is no point in doing a "Clean" install. A Software Update to Ventura will leave a perfectly clean Ventura System volume in its place, with no cruft or left overs.

If you want to get rid of all cruft, do Erase all Content and Settings to return the machine to factory state, and re-install your apps and data and settings.

The only time you need to erase and reinstall is if your sytem is not booting, or you want to downgrade. There are dangers in using Disk Utility to erase the internal, and it is not necessary (unless non bootable, or downgrading).

Agreed, I bricked a machine by partitioning the drive instead of erasing it.

And 100% agree - if you want a clean install, doing erase all content and settings on the old OS, then upgrade to the new OS is the way to go.

But honestly, if you've done a clean install in the last 4-5 years, it's probably unnecessary. Yes, there's cruft (I go through preferences and ~/Library periodically and delete old stuff), but if you're not having issues, it's more trouble than it's worth. If you do, and use local mail folders, just be aware that, Apple has made it exceedingly difficult to restore them manually.

 

[haralds]

I agree with @Mike Boreham. If your system has been running ok I would absolutely go for an upgrade.
If you want to clean caches and indexes, use the correct version of Onyx (macOS version specific) before or after the upgrade.

 

[bradl]

I have not had that problem. Have you read the thread you quoted to see if there are any workarounds?

I had, yes. I didn't know if any of them worked because they were more recently reported. I hadn't updated to Ventura yet because of that. If it's fixed in 13.2, then I may try it, as I'm still on Monterey. I was waiting for all the reports to come in and fixes to be made before making the jump.

BL.

 

[Queen6]

But honestly, if you've done a clean install in the last 4-5 years, it's probably unnecessary. Yes, there's cruft (I go through preferences and ~/Library periodically and delete old stuff), but if you're not having issues, it's more trouble than it's worth. If you do, and use local mail folders, just be aware that, Apple has made it exceedingly difficult to restore them manually.

Doubt I've done a clean install in 12 years LOL. In the mean time I'll leave Ventra with Apple until close to the end of the cycle.

Q-6

 

[fdw777]

I ♥️ clean installs

Me too!

Today. I decided to go back to Monterey. I followed the video instruction I posted in my previous post and everything worked out great, actually better that I anticipated. Ventura 13.2 IMHO is not ready for prime time. I ran into a couple of problems that convinced me to go back to Monterey where I had zero problems. This will be the first time I've ever downgraded.

 

[loby]

Me too!

Today. I decided to go back to Monterey. I followed the video instruction I posted in my previous post and everything worked out great, actually better that I anticipated. Ventura 13.2 IMHO is not ready for prime time. I ran into a couple of problems that convinced me to go back to Monterey where I had zero problems. This will be the first time I've ever downgraded.

did you go back to Monterey on your 14" MacBook Pro 2021?

 

[hoodafoo]

Me too!

Today. I decided to go back to Monterey. I followed the video instruction I posted in my previous post and everything worked out great, actually better that I anticipated. Ventura 13.2 IMHO is not ready for prime time. I ran into a couple of problems that convinced me to go back to Monterey where I had zero problems. This will be the first time I've ever downgraded.

I mean if the user is willing to take a bit of time to get his settings back to what it was, I don't see ANY argument against clean installing. I don't know why there is a group of ppl out there that absolutely rail against clean installing. Maybe they are lazy? or just prudes?

 

[Queen6]

I mean if the user is willing to take a bit of time to get his settings back to what it was, I don't see ANY argument against clean installing. I don't know why there is a group of ppl out there that absolutely rail against clean installing. Maybe they are lazy? or just prudes?

No harm in clean installing if you want, nor any harm in going with the direct upgrade unless your systems have issue or need to rollback. Not a question of people being lazy or just prudes, for some it's more efficient and you end up with the same results...

I learnt from a wiser man, best to stay an OS revision behind unless there is an imperative. You still get a new OS at the end of the cycle that's far more mature and don't need to deal with the bugs or worse have to rollback.

What I think is more important is to plan your OS upgrades so that you are not frequently updating the OS and wasting your time...

Q-6

 

[fdw777]

did you go back to Monterey on your 14" MacBook Pro 2021?

Yes I did.

 

[Queen6]

Yes I did.

This exactly why I don't update the OS until the end of the cycle. Even then there needs to be compelling reasons.

I can see why Apple needs to update macOS annually to keep pace with it's IOS products. Personally I'd far prefer a slower release cycle with less bugs/issue, equally not going to happen.

As long as security is supported I see no issue in holding off. Even then older unsupported OS can be secured by 3rd party app's.

Q-6