Erase Mac & reset or format & reinstall?

[multimania]

Hi there, I'm considering the above options. The reason is that my Mac Studio seems to be somewhat slower (especially booting up). I upgraded it from Ventura and thought it might help me to streamline what I install this time.

Is erasing/reseting really a "fresh" system? As I understand it, it's not a reformat but does that part matter (as I'm not selling it).

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[kitKAC]

Is erasing/reseting really a "fresh" system?

Yes.

 

[Anthony Z]

Hi there, I'm considering the above options. The reason is that my Mac Studio seems to be somewhat slower (especially booting up). I upgraded it from Ventura and thought it might help me to streamline what I install this time.

Is erasing/reseting really a "fresh" system? As I understand it, it's not a reformat but does that part matter (as I'm not selling it).

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Cheers

I would usually create a bootable installer and erasing Mac from Disk Utility in RecoveryOS. I would also sometimes restore the Mac through DFU mode, as that's the fastest method. With the Erase all content and settings option, it's just deleting the user data and keeping the OS, so if there were any issues with system files, those wouldn't get fixed, thus you may still experience issues.

 

[kitKAC]

I would usually create a bootable installer and erasing Mac from Disk Utility in RecoveryOS. I would also sometimes restore the Mac through DFU mode, as that's the fastest method. With the Erase all content and settings option, it's just deleting the user data and keeping the OS, so if there were any issues with system files, those wouldn't get fixed, thus you may still experience issues.

If there were issues with system files, then macOS wouldn't boot because the cryptographic signature would be broken.

 

[Sciuriware]

Hi there, I'm considering the above options. The reason is that my Mac Studio seems to be somewhat slower (especially booting up). I upgraded it from Ventura and thought it might help me to streamline what I install this time.

Is erasing/reseting really a "fresh" system? As I understand it, it's not a reformat but does that part matter (as I'm not selling it).

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Cheers

What makes you think that any of the 3 'solutions' above would make any difference?
Any idea why your Mac is slow?
There are so many causes possible and you are going to do a lot of work.
;JOOP!

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd try the "erase all content and settings" first.
Then, restore from a backup.

If that didn't help... THEN is when I'd consider "doing more"...

 

[StoneJack]

Format
reinstall os
set up as new

 

[ProQuiz]

Quick question about formatting using Disk Utility in macOS Recovery:

Which "level" do you Erase for a full/complete format? Do you Erase "Macintosh HD", "Container disk3", or top most level that has the SSD's drive name?

 

[VineRider]

I always erase at the top level (SSD). It rebuilds the container and volume.

 

[multimania]

What makes you think that any of the 3 'solutions' above would make any difference?
Any idea why your Mac is slow?
There are so many causes possible and you are going to do a lot of work.
;JOOP!

Well I have a load of music plugins with various copy protection routines (iLok, Roland Cloud, yada yada). Some are older and thought a good clean might fix. Other issues - my vector app Sketch has an issue that support can't replicate rendering certain UI functions unusable.

I'm not sure but, yeah it will be a lot of work!!

 

[multimania]

I always erase at the top level (SSD). It rebuilds the container and volume.

That's very helpful, so effectively the whole disk. I've seen that you can just remove the volume before. Maybe blitzing the whole thing will be better. Thanks.

 

[ProQuiz]

I always erase at the top level (SSD). It rebuilds the container and volume.

When I erase in Disk Utility in macOS Recovery, I am given the chance to rename the volume or drive. If I erase on the SSD level, will I have to reenter the SSD's original name as seen in my screenshot above if I want to keep it the same?

Also, if I erase on the SSD level, will it create "Container disk3" and "Macintosh HD" automatically and install macOS on the Macintosh HD volume without me doing anything extra?

I am asking because I originally only erased the Macintosh HD volume and reinstalled macOS on that volume again whenever I did a reformat.

 

[VineRider]

When I erase in Disk Utility in macOS Recovery, I am given the chance to rename the volume or drive. If I erase on the SSD level, will I have to reenter the SSD's original name as seen in my screenshot above if I want to keep it the same?

Also, if I erase on the SSD level, will it create "Container disk3" and "Macintosh HD" automatically and install macOS on the Macintosh HD volume without me doing anything extra?

I am asking because I originally only erased the Macintosh HD volume and reinstalled macOS on that volume again whenever I did a reformat.

Before I erase the SSD, I just copy the SSD name as it currently is so that the name stays the same (As in the screenshot above)

Mine always creates the container and Macintosh HD automatically without doing anything extra.

 

[ProQuiz]

Before I erase the SSD, I just copy the SSD name as it currently is so that the name stays the same (As in the screenshot above)

Mine always creates the container and Macintosh HD automatically without doing anything extra.

Thanks.

I am assuming Macintosh HD is the one that contains macOS. What is the Container disk3 and the top SSD level for?

 

[VineRider]

Yes, Macintosh HD contains macOS. This is the architecture of APFS.

Volumes reside within a container, and containers reside within the disk's partitioning scheme. If you don't adjust the size of the SSD partition when you initially erase and reformat, it takes the entire disk.

 

[ProQuiz]

Yes, Macintosh HD contains macOS. This is the architecture of APFS.

Volumes reside within a container, and containers reside within the disk's partitioning scheme. If you don't adjust the size of the SSD partition when you initially erase and reformat, it takes the entire disk.

If I erase on the SSD level, will the macOS Recovery feature stay intact? Based on what I read online, the macOS Recovery feature to fresh install macOS through an internet download is stored on the firmware and not anywhere on the SSD.

 

[VineRider]

If I erase on the SSD level, will the macOS Recovery feature stay intact? Based on what I read online, the macOS Recovery feature to fresh install macOS through an internet download is stored on the firmware and not anywhere on the SSD.

Yes, the recovery feature will be intact. When you erase the SSD, you will be required to re-install macOS from the internet, so be sure you have an internet connection available.

 

[ProQuiz]

Yes, the recovery feature will be intact. When you erase the SSD, you will be required to re-install macOS from the internet, so be sure you have an internet connection available.

Does macOS Recovery always download the latest version of macOS regardless of what version your Mac came with? I have a MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip. It came with macOS Sonoma. Whenever I reformat, it downloads the current latest version of macOS Sonoma. When macOS Sequoia is officially released, will it download that instead of macOS Sonoma?

 

[VineRider]

Does macOS Recovery always download the latest version of macOS regardless of what version your Mac came with? I have a MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip. It came with macOS Sonoma. Whenever I reformat, it downloads the current latest version of macOS Sonoma. When macOS Sequoia is officially released, will it download that instead of macOS Sonoma?

In my experience it always downloads the most recent version. So recovery should download Sequoia when it is available

 

[eRondeau]

IMHO erasing, reformatting and reinstalling is a Windows PC solution to a problem that is likely more imaginary than real. I don't think it's reasonable to expect any used Mac to boot as fast as it did when it was new. What is it, 6 second now vs 5 seconds brand new? If you get a lot of "beachballs" or apps crashing that's more of a warning sign that something needs attention.

First try a "Safe Boot" (google it for instructions on how to do it on your particular Mac) and then try a system cleaner such as OnyX (free and very good). Then run a system analysis app such as EtreCheck (also free and very good) which will show you anything unusual about your installation.

 

[kagharaht]

Erase All Contents and Setting on my iMac M3 literally fixed all my issues now. Although I did set it up back as new and no restore from Time Machine. I just let iCloud synchronize it all back. I then redownloaded all the Apps I need and no 3rd party utility Apps installed.