Clean install without loosing settings?

[kayleee]

Okay i don't mean full clean install...what I mean is - is it possible to fully erase the mac in terms of the DATA only.....but not the settings?

AS in, i really want a full clean install, but want all the settings as they are right now....ALL data can be erased, thats okay with me

Possible?

BTW I'm already on El capitan and want to use El capitan only


But i would like to add that - PURPOSE OF THIS IS THERE ARE MANY SMALL JUNK FILES ON MY MAC....THAT I DONT NEED, SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE - WILL TAKE A DAY TO DELETE THEM ONE BY ONE AFTER INSPECTING THEM.....HENCE A CLEAN INSTALL!

 

[chrfr]

AS in, i really want a full clean install, but want all the settings as they are right now....ALL data can be erased, thats okay with me

The settings are data too. There's no point in doing a clean install if you're bringing all your settings with it. If you aren't having a specific problem with the computer, there's no real good reason to do a clean install in the first place.

 

[chabig]

If you aren't having a specific problem with the computer, there's no real good reason to do a clean install in the first place.

I agree with chrfr, and there is no reason to think that your settings will become loose from a clean install, but you will lose them.

 

[kayleee]

The settings are data too. There's no point in doing a clean install if you're bringing all your settings with it. If you aren't having a specific problem with the computer, there's no real good reason to do a clean install in the first place.

Haha but i think its a psychological thing...it might make mac faster...more responsive and I might feel clean Lol

not that its not fast or responsive right now..

 

[kayleee]

But i would like to add that - PURPOSE OF THIS IS THERE ARE MANY SMALL JUNK FILES ON MY MAC....THAT I DONT NEED, SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE - WILL TAKE A DAY TO DELETE THEM ONE BY ONE AFTER INSPECTING THEM.....HENCE A CLEAN INSTALL!

 

[KALLT]

But i would like to add that - PURPOSE OF THIS IS THERE ARE MANY SMALL JUNK FILES ON MY MAC....THAT I DONT NEED, SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE - WILL TAKE A DAY TO DELETE THEM ONE BY ONE AFTER INSPECTING THEM.....HENCE A CLEAN INSTALL!

Stop yelling. These settings are just tiny text documents (.plist files). All of the unnecessary ones combined will not even amount to a MB. What you can do is check the ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Application Support folders for applications you don’t have anymore.

 

[mikzn]

But i would like to add that - PURPOSE OF THIS IS THERE ARE MANY SMALL JUNK FILES ON MY MAC....THAT I DONT NEED, SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE - WILL TAKE A DAY TO DELETE THEM ONE BY ONE AFTER INSPECTING THEM.....HENCE A CLEAN INSTALL!

Most of the settings can be returned by logging into iCloud (if you use it) to sync emails and contacts passwords (keychain), etc. I wish I would have done a clean install but everything is working so maybe will do a clean install later.

IMHO the biggest drawback and "time consumer" for a clean install is software - installing, key codes, updating to current versions, then adjusting all the settings and tweaking things, even things like bookmarks can be a pain if you don't have an easy way to put them back.

So if you have emails, contacts, calendars backed up on iCloud a clean install should be an easy way to start fresh without chasing down those "JUNK FILES"