I'll be upgrading. Mainly in order to see, if there will be any problems on that route. Thus I should be able to help friends with similar problems.

A week or so later I'll be doing a clean install, as I like a fresh and clean start with every major update.

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Probably via an archive and install. Does anybody whether there is a difference between:
A: Wipe and install followed by Migration assistant, and
B: Archive and install?
(I know that A automatically adds a defragmentation but apart from that?)

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I'll be updating my full clone backup, then upgrading my current system just to see what happens... But ultimately, I'll erase and start from scratch. So much cruft. Apps installed. Unnecessary files. Somethings will get lost in the shuffle, maybe my iTunes and iPhoto metadata. We'll see. I believe in starting from scratch with major OS releases. Upgrades can cause havoc.

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Mat X -- VFX Mac Tech

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I used to always do a clean install with Mac OS. But since the last few versions of OS X I just do an upgrade install, and every has been working perfectly.

Doesn't seem like too much of a reason anymore to do a clean install.

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G4/Digital Audio/1GHz, 1 GB, Mac OS X 10.4.10 • www.david-schwab.com • www.myspace/davidschwab • www.imanicoppola.net

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I wonder if the OSXHints poll reflects all 10.5 upgraders? Or, are the readers here so like minded that we will by and large erase and install?

(After upgrading Windows 95 to 98, I swore never ever again to upgrade, but always do a clean install.)

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Well this isn't Windows! And never was as bad with upgrades.

I find doing an archive and install is almost as time consuming as a clean (wipe) install. I have two other people using this Mac, and none of us have time for that! Invariably applications needs to be reinstalled and serial numbers reentered. It just doesn't copy every thing as it should.

On the other hand, I've been doing an upgrade install since 10.3, and it's worked flawlessly. The only prevision is making sure third party drivers are updated first, and that the hard drive checks out as healthy.

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G4/Digital Audio/1GHz, 1 GB, Mac OS X 10.4.10 • www.david-schwab.com • www.myspace/davidschwab • www.imanicoppola.net

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Deut3221, while a complete reformat and install was desirable for Windows 95-NT considering the creeping HDD corruption problem, OSX isn't Windows.

I've used upgrade installs before on 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4. on several macs and all have worked fine thereafter and for most people this should work perfectly again, it's painless and it works like a dream.

The Archive & Install - without preserving the user account settings - is useful if you're thinking about restructuring your user accounts, or if you've tried ons of shareware and free apps and your systm is getting a bit cluttered and its time to clean out the junk. Given the journalled file system and automatic defrgamenting reformatting is basically pointless.


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>Does anybody whether there is a difference between:
>A: Wipe and install followed by Migration assistant, and
>B: Archive and install?

A will employ Migration Assistant which will move some things and not others. There's no telling what Apple has coded/decided not to migrate until you find things missing.

B on the other hand leaves all your local stuff alone and on the HD and simply moves aside the old system and replaces it with the new one. I believe there's an option for the Installer to keep the old system in a folder with an appropriate name like "Old System folder".

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Regards... Barry Sharp

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That is pretty much what I knew already. Let me rephrase: Is Archive and Install the same as a clean install + copying the User folder from a backup? Or does it create a new user folder and merges the old folder into it (as the Migration Assistant does)?

My computer has thousands of personalized settings, maybe 50 applications requiring an installer to run and another 150 which might work via drag'n drop. I have at least a dozen of command-line apps that I will have a hard time remembering how to install them, or even remembering that I have to install them (not even speaking about finding the installers).

I might test the upgrade route first before spending time on figuring out what the Archive and Install or Migration Assistant route missed out.

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I always do an erase and install with a new OS. I also usually have some version of Linux I am off and on playing with. This time, I plan on trying something new. A Tri-Boot of 10.4, 10.5 & Linux.

Normally and wouldn't bother having both 10.4 & 10.5, but I have an HDTV pci card (which claims to be only PC compatible), but it is running on my mac with drivers and software from http://www.defyne.org/dvb/. There hasn't been much activity on his site in several months, and I don't know if the driver/software will work in 10.5. I am also exploring the option of using the card in Linux (which I know is possible, but haven't got working yet) as a backup.

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I'll use SuperDuper! to clone my drive to an external FireWire drive for insurance followed by an Upgrade Install on the main drive. If things get screwed up and don't go as planned, I'll do an Erase and Install on the main drive and use Migration Assistant to pull the needed files back from the the clone.

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I've beta-tested Panther, Tiger, and Leopard and have always used and prefer the upgrade previous version option. It's the fastest option, deletes all earlier OS components that aren't needed, adds the new OS components, and doesn't create a Previous System folder. There's no messing around with the Migration Assistant, reinstalling applications, or moving stuff from the Previous System folder that the installer misses.

That said, I highly recommend getting a bootable, external HD, and making and testing a bootable backup/clone before upgrading/updating. Since I moderate the Bombich forums, I'm partial to Carbon Copy Cloner. That allows you to revert to the previous good state without having to reinstall anything in case something goes awry.

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I am using the opportunity of installing to upgrade my PB17's (last G4 version) hard drive to a faster 7200RPM drive. I'll install Leopard to my new drive in another enclosure as a clean install and play with it externally for awhile. This is also of course a good time to clean out all the cruft. A clean install is more time consuming, but I like having a fresh, clean system periodically. When I bought a mini to use at work, I was amazed at how a new and clean system could be so, uh, "snappy":).


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I will clean-install and then migrate from Tiger using the migration Assistant on a non mission-critical low-end machine for bug testing, and hope to use this method for the rest of the machines in our office as soon as it feels safe. My own macs will eventially get a clean install (which i haven't done since Panther!)

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