Clean install of 10.8

[bigpoppamac31]

If there is a thread on this please direct me there.

I'm still running 10.7 but I'm assuming I'll need to upgrade to 10.8 before I can get 10.9. Either way how would I go about doing a clean install of ML? I have my entire HDD backed up as a clone on an external HDD using CCC. Once I erase my internal HDD can I download ML from App Store through the external drive and install it on the internal drive then migrate my contents over?

 

[benwiggy]

First of all, you don't need to buy 10.8 before getting 10.9. You can buy 10.9 when it comes out, whatever your current OS (down to 10.6) and install it.

By default, running the 10.8 installer will install the new OS in the place of your existing OS, leaving your apps, user files and settings intact.

There is no need to do a clean install, unless you have a specific problem, caused by altering, overwriting, deleting system files, or you've got lots of stuff you want to get rid of.
But for general installation, or even general problems with your computer, a clean install is rarely necessary.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

First of all, you don't need to buy 10.8 before getting 10.9. You can buy 10.9 when it comes out, whatever your current OS (down to 10.6) and install it.

By default, running the 10.8 installer will install the new OS in the place of your existing OS, leaving your apps, user files and settings intact.

There is no need to do a clean install, unless you have a specific problem, caused by altering, overwriting, deleting system files, or you've got lots of stuff you want to get rid of.
But for general installation, or even general problems with your computer, a clean install is rarely necessary.

But wouldn't a clean install get rid of all the junk files hiding around the system and taking up space unnecessarily? That's kinda what I want to accomplish. If I install ML on a clean HDD and bring my files over then everything is fresh. Sure I may have to redo a bunch of things like remake all my playlist in iTunes and such but that's no biggie.

 

[benwiggy]

If I install ML on a clean HDD and bring my files over then everything is fresh.

If you erase everything, and then put everything back, you've achieved nothing.

There are very few "junk files hiding around the system". Even if there are, their impact is likely to be minimal. Files on the disk that are not used will have no effect at all.

Do you have a problem with your current installation of OS X?

If not: then go home and sleep well tonight.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

If you erase everything, and then put everything back, you've achieved nothing.

There are very few "junk files hiding around the system". Even if there are, their impact is likely to be minimal. Files on the disk that are not used will have no effect at all.

Do you have a problem with your current installation of OS X?

If not: then go home and sleep well tonight.

Maybe. Maybe not. I'll try it and see how it goes. But how do I download ML and install it on a different then the one I'd be using at the time? Would I have to put ML onto a USB stick?

 

[benwiggy]

When you buy ML from the App Store, it downloads an app into your Applications folder, called something like "Install Mountain Lion.app". It gets deleted when you run it, but you can make a copy.
In the installation process, you can select which drive you want to install the OS on.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

When you buy ML from the App Store, it downloads an app into your Applications folder, called something like "Install Mountain Lion.app". It gets deleted when you run it, but you can make a copy.
In the installation process, you can select which drive you want to install the OS on.

Okay. Thanks.