Fresh installing?

[pavvel]

So with the release of Big Sur imminent, I am wondering who will be fresh installing (from usb). Not something I would normally do, but think in this case it might be worth it due to the substantial changes?

Would love you know your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[iStorm]

I'll upgrade from Catalina at first, but plan on doing a clean install at some point. Haven't decided whether I want to do it through USB, or do it through Internet Recovery. Are there any pros or cons doing it one way or the other? (Does the disk get partitioned exactly the same, utilizing all the space; or does the Internet Recovery need to reserve some some space to hold the installer?)

 

[nokiauk]

Prob take the usb route, and do a few weeks after release of the full installer of the GM.

 

[simonmet]

I'll upgrade from Catalina at first, but plan on doing a clean install at some point. Haven't decided whether I want to do it through USB, or do it through Internet Recovery. Are there any pros or cons doing it one way or the other? (Does the disk get partitioned exactly the same, utilizing all the space; or does the Internet Recovery need to reserve some some space to hold the installer?)

Pretty sure there’s no major difference. You’ll still have the option where to install it in both cases.

 

[N82]

Just did a fresh install last night on my MacBook 12" (2016) and it never has been that smooth before!

 

[maverick100]

I will do a fresh install on an external Thunderbolt 3 external 2tb ssd drive. I will test it for several days.

I am over 70 and am having real trouble seeing everything clearly.

My focus will be being able to see things well. Example; menubar icons are too small; unable to see the lines in calendar that separate the days from each other.

Biggest Test will be with Apple TV App. I have over 48 tb of video that just plain crashed on all Versions of Catalina.

I have tested every public beta and Big Sur is a big improvement over Catalina.

I am still on Mojave and will stay there if I must.

 

[Crazy Badger]

Is there any published evidence that a fresh install has any performance improvement over an upgrade?

macOS is not Windows XP which benefitted from a reinstall every 6-12 months. I think I've upgraded my OS since Snow Leopard

 

[ghostface147]

Is there any published evidence that a fresh install has any performance improvement over an upgrade?

macOS is not Windows XP which benefitted from a reinstall every 6-12 months. I think I've upgraded my OS since Snow Leopard

No not hard conclusive evidence. Just through the year between each OS release, I uninstall and reinstall apps, try apps and remove them, maybe load some beta software and I just want a fresh install to clean up any potential mess.

 

[ondioline]

Is there any published evidence that a fresh install has any performance improvement over an upgrade?

Maybe! If only because a 'fresh install' also nukes your data partition (since Catalina) and could remove a load of cruft that has built up over your installations lifespan.

However upgrading/reinstalling from recovery is perfectly adequate otherwise. How could it not be? The OS partitions in Catalina and Big Sur are effectively immutable.

If you 'reinstall' from recovery it just replaces the non-data partition with the latest copy of MacOS. There is literally no difference on the OS partition between a 'freshly installed' copy, and a reinstalled copy of Catalina. 'freshly installing' does not produce magical extra bytes that makes the OS more stable or reliable.

 

[t0m3k]

On Sunday, I did a fresh install off the web, but for some reason it wanted me to install El Capitan.
After that, I installed Big Sur, anyone know why would it load El Capital to install rather than Big Sur after I wiped the SSD clean?

 

[iStorm]

On Sunday, I did a fresh install off the web, but for some reason it wanted me to install El Capitan.
After that, I installed Big Sur, anyone know why would it load El Capital to install rather than Big Sur after I wiped the SSD clean?

Do you remember what key combination you used for Internet Recovery? The key combinations dictate which version gets installed.

• Command+R: Installs the most recent operating system that was installed on your Mac
• Option+Command+R: Upgrades macOS to the most current, compatible version
• Shift+Option+Command+R: Installs the operating system that came with your Mac (or the version closest to it that's still available).

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Is there any published evidence that a fresh install has any performance improvement over an upgrade?

macOS is not Windows XP which benefitted from a reinstall every 6-12 months. I think I've upgraded my OS since Snow Leopard

I doubt there is tbh. I have had great and stable macOS installs over the years by upgrading as well as clean installs. It's basically Murphy's law at play. I have upgraded many Windows PC to major installs as well, smooth upgrades and I've had my share of issues. Again, Murphy's law at play.

With Catalina and now Big Sur, it's now a totally different ballgame because one partition is for the OS and the other is for data. I would not be surprised if the OS partition is somehow sandbox or backed up while the upgraded OS partition is then erased and rewritten as new so in essence you get a fresh install.

tl;dr fresh vs upgrade installation=placebo effect plus Murphy's Law.

 

[t0m3k]

Do you remember what key combination you used for Internet Recovery? The key combinations dictate which version gets installed.

• Command+R: Installs the most recent operating system that was installed on your Mac
• Option+Command+R: Upgrades macOS to the most current, compatible version
• Shift+Option+Command+R: Installs the operating system that came with your Mac (or the version closest to it that's still available).

Command R.

 

[ab225]

I like to clear out the old cobwebs once in a while and do a full erase and clean install of everything. Either with a major OS update or with a new computer.

 

[marzfreerider]

I always do a fresh install on all of my devices.