Will reinstalling macOS overwrite existing files?

[Reimer]

MBP 15" 2017 is stuck at Apple loading screen. I'm considering trying to re-install to see if it boots back up again.

There are other things I'm thinking of trying as well. Like installing another copy of High Sierra to an external USB drive and try booting off of that so I can possibly recover files just in case. Any other ideas?

Last resort may be to reinstall over the current installation and see if it boots.

 

[Fishrrman]

A re-install will over-write "OS related" files, yes.

It SHOULD NOT over-write your account or data files. That is to say, it should leave your home folder alone.

If you choose to erase the internal drive before the re-install, then it WILL erase "everything". But you're not going to do that, right?

The best way to "protect yourself" BEFORE trying an OS re-install is to download either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are FREE to download and use for 30 days), and create a bootable external cloned backup. This will cost you nothing and you'll have an exact copy of your internal drive "as it was" before you attempted a re-install...

 

[maflynn]

In all cases be sure to have a backup, just to be safe

 

[Gregg2]

How did it go?

 

[Reimer]

A re-install will over-write "OS related" files, yes.

It SHOULD NOT over-write your account or data files. That is to say, it should leave your home folder alone.

If you choose to erase the internal drive before the re-install, then it WILL erase "everything". But you're not going to do that, right?

The best way to "protect yourself" BEFORE trying an OS re-install is to download either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are FREE to download and use for 30 days), and create a bootable external cloned backup. This will cost you nothing and you'll have an exact copy of your internal drive "as it was" before you attempted a re-install...

Thanks, especially for the tip on SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner. I'll be sure to do that in addition to anything else I try.