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Upgrade VS Clean Install - My Findings
- Thread starter IceflowStudios
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Presumably you exclude the System folder in the TM options, but I don't really know if that would work.
I actually needed to do a clean install of Leopard, import from TM and then bring it back up to 10.5.8. After all this I upgraded to SL and everything is running great.
same here
+1 Upgrade install on my unibody (late 2008) MacBook went very smoothly.
+1 Upgrade install on my unibody (late 2008) MacBook went very smoothly.
I chose to do a clean install because my existing Leopard install was itself a migration from my old white MB to my UMBP, itself an upgrade from Tiger. My old Leopard install ran pretty quick tbh considering it was 3+ years old essentially, but I thought it made sense to start afresh for a change.
The whole task was made easier by the fact that I had a pretty much mirrored Leopard setup on my Mac Mini, so it was simply a case of replicating all my old settings on my MBP, doing a Time Machine backup, then restoring that fresh install to my mini. Took me nearly all day today, but wooooow it was worth it!
Won't have have bother with another clean install for a few years now
The whole task was made easier by the fact that I had a pretty much mirrored Leopard setup on my Mac Mini, so it was simply a case of replicating all my old settings on my MBP, doing a Time Machine backup, then restoring that fresh install to my mini. Took me nearly all day today, but wooooow it was worth it!
Won't have have bother with another clean install for a few years now
I did a "normal" install b/c, we'll, I don't have a couple days to waste doing a true clean install which includes a fresh install of apps, rather than just copying back the "dirty" apps from a cloned drive or other backup.
My result was no probs, no slowdowns, etc. Everything on both MBPs is working great. Before I installed though I updated all apps that had SL specific versions and used Onyx to repair permissions and delete all caches.
Personally, I'd say do the regular install first and then if you have problems do a clean install. For 90% of users a regular install will do just fine.
My result was no probs, no slowdowns, etc. Everything on both MBPs is working great. Before I installed though I updated all apps that had SL specific versions and used Onyx to repair permissions and delete all caches.
Personally, I'd say do the regular install first and then if you have problems do a clean install. For 90% of users a regular install will do just fine.
Ok I did a clean install. just to make sure if I did it right or wrong ...
when I got to the os X screen after it restarted, I went to disk utility and clicked on the hard drive that said Hitachi or whatever. I told it to erase that. It changed the name of the subcategory hard drive to Untitled, but it did erase everything like I asked it too.
I had everything backed up so no big deal.
just checking to see if I was suppose to choose that hard drive or the one underneath it (sub category).
when I got to the os X screen after it restarted, I went to disk utility and clicked on the hard drive that said Hitachi or whatever. I told it to erase that. It changed the name of the subcategory hard drive to Untitled, but it did erase everything like I asked it too.
I had everything backed up so no big deal.
just checking to see if I was suppose to choose that hard drive or the one underneath it (sub category).
This is the same question I have as well. If I do a clean install then migrate from a Leopard backup, doesn't it just put me back to where I was as far as lingering junk?
It seems a lot of slowdowns occur because of this (laziness).
I restored my user accounts and most files associated with them, as well as the "other files." So I've got the SL version of everything that's included with OS X. No slowdowns. Loving everything except Safari which seems way more crash-prone. Almost wish I could go back to 3.
I stated previously that I have a UMB that's 9 months old and I just upgraded with no erase. No problems at all.
Laziness?
Maybe the upgrade just flat out works for most people and there's no reason to do a fresh installation.
I have two minty fresh Leopard systems here that upgraded with no issues, so I'm not going to cry my eyes out that I didn't waste half of the weekend reinstalling software.
Maybe you're just conditioned by the Windows world on needing to do a from-scratch install to avoid getting a steaming pile of turd?
The standard upgrade install is an improved "archive and install". This process does automatically what you would do with a manual "clean" install and restore from Time Machine (or manually from backups).
The OS is moved and the new OS installed. It is not installed on top of the old OS. So there really should be little to no difference between the standard upgrade and what you folks are recommending.
S-
The OS is moved and the new OS installed. It is not installed on top of the old OS. So there really should be little to no difference between the standard upgrade and what you folks are recommending.
S-
I got my Intel iMac in late 2006. It came with Tiger. I bought Leopard day 1 and did an upgrade, and just bought SL day 1 and again did an upgrade. So an upgrade over an upgrade and I have never had any issues in all this time. Just wish HP would get some better drivers for its printers on this last upgrade.
Laziness?
Maybe the upgrade just flat out works for most people and there's no reason to do a fresh installation.
I have two minty fresh Leopard systems here that upgraded with no issues, so I'm not going to cry my eyes out that I didn't waste half of the weekend reinstalling software.
Maybe you're just conditioned by the Windows world on needing to do a from-scratch install to avoid getting a steaming pile of turd?
+1
Thanks. So it seems somewhat snappier now? The erase and install crowd think their Macs are quicker and smoother using this method.
I initially did an upgrade and had a few bugs but it was relatively OK. Just finished a full erase & install and some of the bugs are still present, so erasing is no guarantee of success I'm afraid
For the record the bugs I have are:
Some Apps are shown in Spotlight with foreign text
C doesn't work in Spaces to gather all windows into Space 1
The number keys no longer select Spaces either (CTRL & 1, 2, 3, 4 do still work)
For the record the bugs I have are:
Some Apps are shown in Spotlight with foreign text
C doesn't work in Spaces to gather all windows into Space 1
The number keys no longer select Spaces either (CTRL & 1, 2, 3, 4 do still work)
ok so i originally upgraded. it seemed fine. made my TM backups.
Then decided to do a clean install and then migrate over my TM backup. This was a mess. none of my apps worked, it didnt move any of my music, photos, movies. all settings were gone. boo.
It ran about the same as well. all the expose/spaces animations were the same.
it wasn't worth it so i booted the SL DVD and did a recovery from my past upgraded SL install. So now i'm back to where im started with SL and everything is fine.
Then decided to do a clean install and then migrate over my TM backup. This was a mess. none of my apps worked, it didnt move any of my music, photos, movies. all settings were gone. boo.
It ran about the same as well. all the expose/spaces animations were the same.
it wasn't worth it so i booted the SL DVD and did a recovery from my past upgraded SL install. So now i'm back to where im started with SL and everything is fine.
Definitely snappier! I don't know, I'll believe the erase and install crowd (who already tried upgrading) when I see benchmarks before and after. I'm just amazed at how easy it was to upgrade.
Question about what people mean when doing a clean install.
I of course understand that they are wiping out their hard drive, but getting it back to where they want it...
Are you:
1) Reinstalling all of your third-party apps and then copying over all documents from an external drive?
2) Using a TM backup to restore (don't know if that would put you back on Leopard)
3) Using some third party clone application
4) Something else
I'm guessing most people are doing #1, but with that I have a few questions. What is the best way to make sure you don't forget anything? How do you export Mail, Contacts and Calendar? Do you need to create a new Bootcamp install (that would be a pain as I need to call MSFT to validate each time since I've used my Windows copy more than 3 times)?
Thanks for the help.
I of course understand that they are wiping out their hard drive, but getting it back to where they want it...
Are you:
1) Reinstalling all of your third-party apps and then copying over all documents from an external drive?
2) Using a TM backup to restore (don't know if that would put you back on Leopard)
3) Using some third party clone application
4) Something else
I'm guessing most people are doing #1, but with that I have a few questions. What is the best way to make sure you don't forget anything? How do you export Mail, Contacts and Calendar? Do you need to create a new Bootcamp install (that would be a pain as I need to call MSFT to validate each time since I've used my Windows copy more than 3 times)?
Thanks for the help.
I used the stuff-mover during the install process. Man, that took forever. I brought over everything except a few folders and my apps. I reinstalled all apps that I use and it's much more orderly now.
I upgraded to SL from a 7-8 months old Leopard installation, i don't have any of the issues mentioned in the first post, is working smooth and very fast.
i am still planning on doing a clean install, but i don't see how the OS could get any faster than now.
i am still planning on doing a clean install, but i don't see how the OS could get any faster than now.