Clean install every once in a while

[marmiteturkey]

I have a habit of occasionally (every 12 months or so) doing a fresh install of the OS and setting everything up from scratch, to ensure that there's no cruft from old apps, old betas, etc. It doesn't take me that long to set everything up again (usually in front of the TV), and I have a solid backup schedule so there are multiple copies of everything in case something goes wrong.

Anyone else do this? Am I wasting my time, do you think?

 

[GGERARD]

Hi!
For me never I've done that.
Only if necessary, when I've some problems I have to reinitialize my computer with a clean install of the OS and also with all my Applications saved on my Time Capsule and also another saving datas with CCC on a DDE.
GGERARD

 

[S.B.G]

That's something I used to do when I was using Windows XP and prior.

I've been with OS X since Tiger and I've never done this. I've done every upgrade overtop the existing OS and, in my experience, I've never had any issues with it.

The only clean install of OS X I do is the public betas. But those go on a separate external SSD and not on my main OS drive.

 

[rctlr]

I have a habit of occasionally (every 12 months or so) doing a fresh install of the OS and setting everything up from scratch, to ensure that there's no cruft from old apps, old betas, etc. It doesn't take me that long to set everything up again (usually in front of the TV), and I have a solid backup schedule so there are multiple copies of everything in case something goes wrong.

Anyone else do this? Am I wasting my time, do you think?

I do that, again every 12 months.
I install several apps and check functionality - then remove the ones I don't want to use - they always leave the odd file here or there.
I do regular time machine backups, as well as scripted backups of the music and documents folders to the cloud, so I feel I have my bases covered.

 

[MacGizmo]

I used to do the same thing every year, until Apple stopped providing CDs for the OS. It has become too much work to do this (creating bootable installers/backups, etc.).

 

[Steve121178]

I always do a clean install with a new OS version.

 

[MacDawg]

That's something I used to do when I was using Windows XP and prior.

I've been with OS X since Tiger and I've never done this. I've done every upgrade overtop the existing OS and, in my experience, I've never had any issues with it.

The only clean install of OS X I do is the public betas. But those go on a separate external SSD and not on my main OS drive.

Ditto, I always just upgrade over the existing OS and keep on rolling
My rMBP runs exceptionally well with Yosemite and several VM's and multiple monitors
Never felt the need to spend the time on a new install

I do occasionally clean out my applications folder and do some other housecleaning, but other than that I just press on

 

[chabig]

For the computer it's a waste of time. But for you personally it might not be a waste of time if you like doing it.

 

[Weaselboy]

Am I wasting my time, do you think?

Pretty much... yeah.

 

[Tamagotchi]

I clean install every OS, whether it is for Mac, or for iPhone.

 

[Rusty33]

For one reason or another, I've always done a clean install...however, come el capitan, I'm determined to break the habit...

 

[navaira]

I've done a clean install twice since... let me think... 2007? Once because I got a new computer, and once because I had a feeling things slowed down after I added another user account, then deleted it. It helped restore the speed. Other than that I've always just updated things.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Every 2 months for me.

 

[Tamagotchi]

Every 2 months for me.

I would say I'm more like you... Every 2-3 months.

Then with my USB3.0 drives I transfer all my back ups in less than 1 hour.

 

[KALLT]

If it makes you fell better then it’s probably not a waste of time.

 

[Traverse]

I really don't think it's necessary, but I probably would once in a while. My old MacBook Pro came with Snow Leopard. I went from SL -> Lion ->ML and then decided to clean install Mavericks. The system crashed because of a dGPU failure and a got a new rMBP. SO that was like clean install of Mavericks again. I upgraded to Yosemite, but downgraded back to Mavericks with a clean install. After 10.10.3 I clean installed Yosemite again.

I've done it way too much. I probably won't clean install again until 10.14 unless I have a problem.

If it makes you fell better then it’s probably not a waste of time.

It's not *that* much work and it makes me feel better every few years.

Every 2 months for me.

Is this sarcasm? If I may ask, why do you feel the need to do that every 2 months?

 

[Queen6]

Never, just upgrade and clean up from time to time. If your doing this on OS X your just burning daylight, exception being Devs for obvious reason.

Q-6

 

[Taz Mangus]

I always do a clean install with a new OS version.

Also do clean installs of major OS X releases. Gives me a chance to do some house cleaning. Having the user accounts on a separate partition from the OS makes it easy to do clean installs.

Every 2 months for me.

Curious why so often?

 

[Blue Sun]

Yep, every year coinciding with the new OS.

 

[randomgeeza]

Yep, every year coinciding with the new OS.

Same, same here... It makes me feel that any cruft or potential for issues is removed from the get go... Albeit, the x.x.1 versions always come with their own issues... *rolls eyes*

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I really don't think it's necessary, but I probably would once in a while. My old MacBook Pro came with Snow Leopard. I went from SL -> Lion ->ML and then decided to clean install Mavericks. The system crashed because of a dGPU failure and a got a new rMBP. SO that was like clean install of Mavericks again. I upgraded to Yosemite, but downgraded back to Mavericks with a clean install. After 10.10.3 I clean installed Yosemite again.

I've done it way too much. I probably won't clean install again until 10.14 unless I have a problem.



It's not *that* much work and it makes me feel better every few years.



Is tis sarcasm? If I may ask, why do you feel the need to do that every 2 months?

No i see bit rot start to happen at around 60 days of use.

Also do clean installs of major OS X releases. Gives me a chance to do some house cleaning. Having the user accounts on a separate partition from the OS makes it easy to do clean installs.



Curious why so often?

After about 60 days I see a reduction in performance and the best way for me to to get that newness back is a regular clean install.