Update or Clean-install OSX Mavericks...

[Cassady]

So - who's doing what?

I had Lion for all of 3 weeks, before updating to ML. But I'm tempted to clean-install Mavericks...

Main thing holding me back is a.) the schlep of getting all my licence details together again, for the reinstalling of non-MAS software packages, and b.) possibly losing the countless AWESOME terminal etc. tweaks I've set up over the past year, that has everything purring along nicely...

Any of you made a decision yet? Plenty of thread about this very topic all over the interwebs - no right or wrong, just interested to see what you all are doing...

 

[Joker]

OSX is great at updating itself cleanly without losing settings. You should rarely have to clean-install.

 

[vinodh]

I'll do a Time Machine backup first, install Mavericks after wiping Mountain Lion, then restore all my apps and settings from the Time Machine drive.

 

[greg0205]

Just a backup and upgrade for me thank you...

 

[Cassady]

I'll do a Time Machine backup first, install Mavericks after wiping Mountain Lion, then restore all my apps and settings from the Time Machine drive.

Seen this a couple of times. I have a TM running on my external - how would the restore from TM actually work? Install Mavericks, plug in the external, and follow the prompts?

 

[vinodh]

Seen this a couple of times. I have a TM running on my external - how would the restore from TM actually work? Install Mavericks, plug in the external, and follow the prompts?

Yes. Exactly like you say. You can even deselect certain parts of the restore if you don't need it. e.g. if you want to restore only user data and not apps, then its available as an option.

 

[noxibox]

I make a backup, then upgrade. The backup is only in case something goes wrong. Same on Windows in fact. All this clean installing and re-installing applications is nothing more than a big waste of time.

 

[Priapus]

I'll do a Time Machine backup first, install Mavericks after wiping Mountain Lion, then restore all my apps and settings from the Time Machine drive.

Then this isn't a clean install. TM restores put back all the stuff you had originally on the machine. Including your Libraries (system ones too) your Plists and so on..

TM for backup incase it goes pear-shape during the upgrade. But no need to restore - you're just waiting time then.

To the OP: Just upgrade as per normal. There is no reason to clean install. This isn't Windows, remember.

 

[Cassady]

Going the TM backup and simple update route. Don't actually have the energy or inclination to go the other way - regardless of whether it would make the slightest difference in any event...