I am switching macbooks and I am wondering if the performance will suffer if I use the Time Machine backup to recreate my current laptop on the new one. Or is it better to just to a clean install and copy things over?
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Time Machine Recovery as good as Clean Install?
- Thread starter Larrabee213
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Personally if it was me I'd just time machine everything over to the new one. That way you know all your data and settings are there.
Rather then copy certain pieces of data over, then using the HD as a new time machine on the new MB and possible loosing any data you had thought of after you formatted the HD with a new time machine backup.
Although I do miss starting a fresh when I get a new device.
Rather then copy certain pieces of data over, then using the HD as a new time machine on the new MB and possible loosing any data you had thought of after you formatted the HD with a new time machine backup.
Although I do miss starting a fresh when I get a new device.
This^^
A restore is that, a restore. Meaning what you had. It might not even be possible if your MBP models are different. Furthermore, if you had something going on that slowed you down, then restoring can end up restoring what slowed you down.
A "clean install" is rather a misnomer. If you mean a completely new installation, all applications installed from downloads or media, manually copying all user data, etc etc., then no, it's not worth the risk or the hassle, and it may do anything but speed things up. You might get rid of a kext or cache or pref that caused problems or slowdowns, but you might not. It's like having a problem with a car and just disassembling and reassembling it in hopes that it fixes the problem; better to diagnose the actual problem and fix that.
Unless you've got a good reason not to do what Apple's engineers recommend, just run setup assistant (which is what starts up when you start your new machine) and use TM or the old machine to migrate. It generally works flawlessly. And quickly.
I'm particularly fussy about the new laptops I put into service each year.
Because of that and having the same question (a few years ago) about Time Machine as the OP has posted, I've run side by side tests. One using Time Machine to setup my new MBPr and One test doing a conventional "clean install". The end result is identical. This was proof positive for me that Apple's engineering team did a fabulous job with Time Machine.
I enjoy using Time Machine for it's speed, convenience and excellent results.
Because of that and having the same question (a few years ago) about Time Machine as the OP has posted, I've run side by side tests. One using Time Machine to setup my new MBPr and One test doing a conventional "clean install". The end result is identical. This was proof positive for me that Apple's engineering team did a fabulous job with Time Machine.
I enjoy using Time Machine for it's speed, convenience and excellent results.
Are you have any problems with your current setup? If not, just use Migration Assistant during the new system initial setup to import everything and it should work just fine.
For most people, unless you are having some current issue you are worried about moving along to the new system, a clean install is a complete waste of time.