Updating to OSX Lion Help

[Rideherhard]

I want to update to OSX Lion I'm waiting on my 8GB of ram and my time capsule to come in before doing the upgrade. I have a few questions is it worth it to do a clean install? it doesn't seem too hard from the youtude videos?

Also, in the videos I seen about clean install when Lion boots up it has an option about using TC does this mean it will then upload all my back up files from the TC to my computer? I just don't fully understand the getting my files back after wiping my hard drive clean and if it will have an effect that it was uploaded into TC on Snow Leopard and now to Lion.

 

[GGJstudios]

You could use Carbon Copy Cloner to make a bootable backup of your drive, then restore from that after formatting your drive.

 

[Rideherhard]

Sorry I'm computer dumb, not ashamed to admit it haha maybe kinda. But I don't understand CCC? sounds like what TC would do, right?. After updating to Lion and wiping out my hard drive will TC or time machine what to restore back to snow leopard? and is there any benefits to doing a clean install? if I just download Lion and install without doing clean install is it going to run solid?.

 

[GGJstudios]

Sorry I'm computer dumb, not ashamed to admit it haha maybe kinda. But I don't understand CCC? sounds like what TC would do, right?.

Except CCC can make a backup that you can boot from. Time Machine can't.

After updating to Lion and wiping out my hard drive will TC or time machine what to restore back to snow leopard? and is there any benefits to doing a clean install? if I just download Lion and install without doing clean install is it going to run solid?.

No, you can restore your files without reverting back to the previous OS.

Time Machine is the Apple software used to create backups, and it's free.
Time Capsule is a hardware device that you can store your backups on, just like any external hard drive, and costs $300 or $500.

 

[Rideherhard]

Except CCC can make a backup that you can boot from. Time Machine can't.

No, you can restore your files without reverting back to the previous OS.

Time Machine is the Apple software used to create backups, and it's free.
Time Capsule is a hardware device that you can store your backups on, just like any external hard drive, and costs $300 or $500.

Where will CCC save the files? I'll need to wipe out my HD, I'm guessing it'll save it on the TC which is my external HD? and after the update to Lion restores my computer to how it was?.

 

[GGJstudios]

Where will CCC save the files? I'll need to wipe out my HD, I'm guessing it'll save it on the TC which is my external HD? and after the update to Lion restores my computer to how it was?.

Yes you can use CCC or TM to backup to your Time Capsule. Then wipe and install Lion on your internal HD, then restore from your CCC or TM backup.

 

[Rideherhard]

Yes you can use CCC or TM to backup to your Time Capsule. Then wipe and install Lion on your internal HD, then restore from your CCC or TM backup.

Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[robgendreau]

I would recommend you do the standard installation recommended by Apple unless you have a very good reason to do a "clean" installation.

If you had to ask these questions it's quite possible you'll run of the risk of screwing something up. Why take the chance?? Remember: to do a "clean" install you'll have to ERASE EVERYTHING on your main drive. How confident are you with your backup? Can you live for a while with no computer?

So, to answer your original question: no, it isn't worth it for you to do a clean install. You haven't mentioned anything that would make that a better route than doing the normal installation, and from what you've said you could wind up in over your head.

 

[satcomer]

Read the Macworld articles Should you do a "clean install" of Lion? and How to make a bootable Lion install disc or drive. I used the second article to make a USB thumb drive install of Lion for my three Macs. Also make clone (using the free Carbon Copy Cloner to an external then do a clean install, then use /Applications/Utilities/Migration Assistant to transfer your User data back over (just NOT Network settings, do those manually for the best receiving ability).

This is easier than you think.