What is supposed to be the best option if a mac has becoming slow after years of upgrading: a clean install using a bootable usb stick or a reinstall from mac os recovery?
I just wonder for future use. What are the reasons to prefer a clean install?
If someone would take the time to answer on this, thanks in advance!
iMac 27" 5K, macOS 10.14
If you want to start with a "clean" installation of macOS, you will want to choose the "erase before install" option in Recovery Mode. Basically the difference is, whether or not, the system drive is first completely erased or not, prior to installing macOS.
Ref: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support
Thanks, I was just wondering.
If issues occur, I’ll be happy to follow your advice and use etrecheck to figure things out
Thanks, also very interesting link you sent
Either way you mention— the issue really is when you go to restore your user account, you can simply migrate back your full user or selectively restore certain directories, but your options are a bit limited here.
How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac:
How to move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support
Set up your new Mac - Apple Support
If you are having issue you get a good look at your System config. for conflicts or issues, you can run this utility hhttp://etrecheck.com
If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the toolbar below.
I have used the SetUp Assistant on every new Mac I have bought going back a decade or more with no issues of "becoming slow after years of upgrading."
clean install or reinstall from mac os recovery
