help with fresh install re install apps etc

[Rud3Bwoy]

i want to do a clean install of el captain and keep my files but not the system files etc want to start fresh but have all my apps/music/photos/ etc there but fresh system files how can i back this up?im using time machine but that backs up the entire system

 

[maflynn]

That's not a clean install. A clean install is wiping the drive clean.

Just reinstall the OS, from the recovery partition.

 

[ShikariMR]

Was not at all sure about re-installing El Capitan. Took a chance and it went in like silk wth no losses.

What I CANNOT solve is the way Finder continually keeps popping up and wiping out Safari. and everything else. .. I seldom use Finder but it sure does want to monopolise my screen.

 

[MacGizmo]

It should be noted that while reinstalling OS X System Software on a Mac with Recovery Mode is the preferred method (since it only installs the CURRENTLY running OS files, rather than an Internet Recovery install which will install the OS that shipped with the Mac originally), if you're performing this re-install to solve a problem, you MAY be wasting your time.

Many times, the problem you're having may be tied to a preference file, daemon, or other app file from a third party app, which will still be there unless you do a complete clean install as maflynn mentioned above.

Still, reinstalling only the current OS files is faster than completely backing up the computer and starting over from scratch.