How to do a clean install, including apps?

[mtngal]

Is there any sort of guide online for doing a clean install on a M4 computer? I’m pretty clueless and scared about doing it. I’ve been using migration assistant for the last two new computers I’ve bought, most recently from an M2 MBP to an M4Max MBP. In doing so, I think I brought something over from a previous Intel MBP that is in conflict with two programs I use all the time, and it’s now bugging me enough, and I have some time at the moment so I’ve been trying to figure it out.

I’ve tried partitioning the SSD (from what I read, it’s not really a true partition but acts that way), clean installing Sequoia on it and booting up using it. I did a fresh download of one of the problem programs (Lightroom) and the issue doesn’t appear. I also created a second user on the original partition and using LR as a second user, the problem again does not show up. So the problem has to do with the original migration and user, my guess it might have been something from the Intel computer to the M2.

I’m now thinking that the best thing I could do is start over, but I’m not sure I know how to do that - I’m looking for a guide, since I’m most capable of messing things up and finding all the possible “gotcha’s” there could possibly be.

Do I use the erase feature, like I did on the M2 computer I traded in? Then log into my Apple Account, through the set-up procedure, but not use migration assistant? Then download all the software and install it fresh? I know enough to go into my Adobe account and deauthorize one of the computers before I try to install Creative Cloud. I have license information for a number of the other programs I use. Is there anything else I need to know or take into consideration before I start this? I am really dreading this, but at this point I don’t think I have a choice if I want to solve the issue correctly.

 

[Bigwaff]

I’ve been using migration assistant for the last two new computers I’ve bought, most recently from an M2 MBP to an M4Max MBP. In doing so, I think I brought something over from a previous Intel MBP that is in conflict with two programs I use all the time, and it’s now bugging me enough, and I have some time at the moment so I’ve been trying to figure it out.

What’s the issues with Lightroom, etc?

 

[Ben J.]

In APFS file system, the virtual drives, or "partitons" are called 'Volumes'. They are much easier to manage than proper partitions. Quicker to create and erase, and most notably; volumes on a drive don't have to have a fixed size set, like partitions. They share the free disk space, which is pretty genius. You can still partition a drive, but the only practical reason for doing that is if you want to have partitions with different file systems, like APFS, ExFat, HFS+, etc. APFS volumes is the way to go.

Important to understand is that a APFS bootable volume actually consists of two volumes in a so called 'volume group'. One is the system volume, typically called Mac HD, which is locked, unwritable. The only way to manipulate this volume is with Apple's system installers, and an admin password. The other (typically called Mac HD - Data) contains everything else; apps you install, user accounts, everything, and these two volumes show in Finder as one: Mac HD. You can see this structure in Disk Utilities if you select 'Show all volumes'.

If you erase Mac HD - Data, the mac will boot into the Setup Manager, like it would when it was new from the shop. This is what happens when you select to "Erase this mac" in System settings, and it's what you typically do when selling or transferring ownership. Any other volumes you created can be easily deleted in Disk Utilities.

So, if you have a booting mac, and you want to start all over; delete unwanted volumes in DU, and do the 'erase this mac' in system settings. Done in a few minutes. Absolutely no need for a "clean install". The locked system volume is 'untouchable' and 100% secure, it's part of macOS security now.

You might want to start fresh though; don't import anything from backup with Migration assistant and set up a new user account. Start tweaking settings and install compatible versions of your programs. Be sure you're backed up to an external drive, and you can at any time do the erase this mac again and import from yesterdays state or a few hours ago, should anything go wrong.

Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support

Use Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.

support.apple.com

Add, delete or erase APFS volumes in Disk Utility on Mac

In Disk Utility on Mac, add, delete or erase APFS volumes.

support.apple.com

 

[Fishrrman]

Oh, my, have you messed things up.

Let's try to get them fixed.

Before we start, you have your personal data backed up, right?
Because it's not going to be on the MBP when we're done.

First, boot up from the "first" partition (NOT the one that YOU created). Boot from the one that was "there" when you bought and first booted it.

Next, open disk utility and DELETE the partition that you created. Make it "gone". Poof!

Then, go into system settings.
We want the "erase all content and settings" function.
It may not be easily located, so go to the search box and enter "erase all content and settings", and it should appear.

Now, choose that and "click through" the process. It actually should take very little time to complete.

When this is finished, the computer will be restored to "moment zero" -- the state it was in the very first time you took it out of the box and opened the lid.

From here, you can either:
- connect your backup drive and click through, and use setup assistant to restore all your data
OR...
- start COMPLETELY OVER by creating a new account, etc.
OR...
- restore everything EXCEPT your applications. To do this, when setup assistant presents you with the list of stuff to migrate, UNCHECK the "applications". This will get your personal data and user settings moved over, but leave apps behind.

Again, you need to GET RID of that "second partition".
Then, use the "erase all content" to get back to "moment zero".
And then, decide what you want to do from there.

Chances are, the problem isn't what you thought it was...

 

[BigBlur]

I assume you still have another Mac, so it may just be easier to do a restore from an IPSW file to get things back to the way they were...rather than trying to undo your partition/volume changes and hope you did it right. If you've ever restored an iPhone or iPad before, this is pretty much the same thing but with a Mac.

Follow the steps to do a restore, as that will wipe the disk and restore everything back to factory settings. Make a backup first if needed.

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

Rarely, a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip might stop responding and need its firmware to be revived or restored by another Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[mtngal]

What’s the issues with Lightroom, etc?

Here’s the thread that I started several days ago under the photography section when I decided to try to figure out what’s going on. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lightroom-classic-and-graphics-processor.2444861/

It goes into the details about the problem and the various trouble-shooting things I’ve done to try to solve it. Since I don’t know what’s causing the issue and don’t know if something that I see when the computer is starting up under my original user is the problem or not, I’m thinking that a clean install might be the only way I’m going to get rid of the issue.

I did read through the article about adding a volume before I did it (something new I’ve learned over the past couple of days) - I ended up printing it before I started, since all this is completely new to me.

I have a TimeMachine backup of the computer on an external SSD. Is that good enough or should I get something else to make a copy of the internal drive? I have an unused external SSD at the moment and could use that if I need more than TimeMachine.

So the order should be to delete the extra volume I created to troubleshoot the problem. Then do the erase like I would do if I were going to sell the computer.

I’m thinking that whatever is interfering with CameraRaw/Lightroom is connected to something old in my user preferences or something old from the Intel computer that was brought over to the M2 computer. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing wrong with the installed LR, since the second user, using LR that is on the first volume I set up for testing, doesn’t show the same problem (though to be fair, I didn’t download PS, only LR).

That’s why I’m thinking of setting up the computer as a new one, not import my old preferences and data. I don’t have many files on the computer and I have a copy of them on an external SSD - the files copied before I got the M4 computer. I’ll probably copy them again before I start this process.

P.S. I traded in the M2 computer before I decided to try to tackle this issue. It also had the problem.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I traded in the M2 computer before I decided to try to tackle this issue. It also had the problem."

Something tells me that any problems you're having with the Adobe apps won't be fixed by "reinstalling the OS", etc.

How old are the versions of Lightroom and Photoshop?

 

[mtngal]

I’m running the latest versions of both LRC and PS. But the M2 (and this one) have older versions of Adobe software, including CS6 (which I somehow never got around to deleting). There’s other older software that I don’t need, mostly photo processing software that didn’t get deleted when I updated it. I did follow X-Rite’s instructions on how to delete i1Profiler yesterday, but it didn’t make a difference (one of the old software that initially didn’t work with the M2 Max chip. I about a year ago I tried downloading the last version of it but my old calibrator still didn’t want to work. I ended up buying a new Calibrite calibrator and installing that software).

I’m thinking that there’s something in my user preferences that’s left over from who knows what when I migrated from an Intel MBP to the M2.

I see a splash notice when I boot up on my user that says something about increasing monitor contrast. I’m guessing that wherever that came from could be connected to the interference problem. I don’t see it when I switch to the test user I set up, and the monitor dimming when I use LR’s Develop mode doesn’t happen.

Edit to add: I agree that there’s probably nothing wrong with the OS system itself. Or with the current versions of Adobe’s software. What I’m thinking of doing is going back to the operating system that came with the computer and then NOT migrating anything - downloading only the latest versions of Adobe and other software I use. Leaving behind all my old user preferences.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I see a splash notice when I boot up on my user that says something about increasing monitor contrast."

Look in system settings --> accessibility --> display.

 

[mtngal]

"I see a splash notice when I boot up on my user that says something about increasing monitor contrast."

Look in system settings --> accessibility --> display.

Hadn’t thought of that, thanks for the suggestion. Looked and the “increase contrast” is turned off there. Only things turned on are reduce transparency and auto-play animated images.

I’m looking for something that would interfere with Adobe’s graphics processor and CameraRAW settings. I was thinking that whatever it is that causes my monitor to say it is increasing contrast when it starts up with me as the user might be what is dimming the MBP’s monitor when I go into LRC Develop or use CAmeraRAW in PS.

 

[mtngal]

Never mind…. Duh…