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Perfesser · Feb 21, 2006, 07:30 PM

Just got my MacBook Pro 2.0, and am still numb, this thing is BEAUTIFUL! Anyway, I used the migration feature to import data from my old iBook. It imported everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! Every document, application, miscellanous file from the desktop, and a bunch of stuff I don't need or won't work on the MacIntel.
I really didn't think that the migration feature would be so darned good, I figured it would only bring only settings and documents, and maybe Apple applications.
So here's my question--I'm inclined to wipe the HD and reinstall, so I can start with a clean slate and not have all that stuff I don't need. What are the drawbacks, other than the time it will take me to set it up again. Will I lose anything, like iLife6 or any other extras, or is everything on the install disks?
Thanks.

///Milien · Feb 21, 2006, 07:59 PM

I normally start with a clean slate on any new Macs. Reason being is I don't need all the printer drivers, extra apps, trial apps, language files, etc. It frees up some HDD as well. The only drawback is that you have to manually migrate files from your old Mac to your new one.

As for iLife '06, it's on the install discs.

chipchen · Feb 22, 2006, 02:02 AM

Manually migrate? No. When you re-install everything from the discs minus the stuff you don't want... it will still boot to the migration assistant to transfer your data.

robby818 · Feb 22, 2006, 06:37 AM

I prefer the clean install as well, for pretty much the same reasons Milien stated--those language files take up a lot of room.

But I thought that you needed the retail version of the OS X Install Disc in order to leave all of the extras off. Is that not true??? The system restore discs--don't they just allow you to bring your MacBook Pro back to the same state as it was shipped- with all the ilife apps, etc...?

///Milien · Feb 22, 2006, 06:45 AM

I don't believe you need the retail version of the OS X. After getting my Quad, I wiped the system clean using the restore discs. There's a option for you to customize what you want installed in your Mac.

AppleCello · Feb 22, 2006, 07:44 AM

Will the migration assistant work with Backup archives that are stored on a FireWire drive? My old powerbook is dead and gone and all thats left is the data collected from it on an external disk. I can always copy the stuff manually, but that would be more of a nuissance. worst case, I can probably restore the archives via the Backup application.

cambro · Feb 22, 2006, 08:03 AM

I agree with stated advantages to doing a CUSTOM install of the OS on arrival. Saving a few hundred MB of disk space might not be a bad idea.

I fail to see the advantage of WIPING the drive...seems like a waste of time to me.....

Oh, and half the fun of getting a new computer is that you get to start over, erect new/optimized directory structures for yourself, and maybe do a little spring file cleaning.

Skip the migration assistant and use the transfer as a good excuse to play with your new toy and learn some new tricks!

bpd115 · Feb 22, 2006, 08:43 AM

I was going to wipe it but was just too excited to try it out

I ran Monolingual after I had all apps installed and saved 2.8 gigs of space....now I just have those unneeded print drivers....

anyway to trash them?

danonamac · Feb 22, 2006, 02:09 PM

Save the files you want, back up to firewire. Do a clean install of all programs, and copy over any projects, docs, or images. I've done it this way for years, with great success. And, using .Mac, bookmarks, accounts, iCal, etc. are all migrated.

schalliol · Feb 22, 2006, 02:51 PM

I agree with camrbo. If you're on this forum and have more than 50 posts, you should be enjoying the reinstall.

For me, it's not the space, a few hundred MB shouldn't be an issue with 100GB and 120GB Hard Drives. My concern is with bloating of the OS, which can slow down the system and cause unwanted clutter. That's why I think I'll probably do a custom install. I too don't see the point in zeroing the drive though.

ciparis · Feb 23, 2006, 08:54 AM

After the 17 "accident" thread, this subject takes on a whole new meaning.

Perfesser · Feb 23, 2006, 09:27 PM

OK, so I'm replying to my own post. I decided to compromise. I partitioned (which of course erased the disk), then custom installed, and used migration manager to import my network settings and home directory, but not applications. I'm up and running very quickly without all those useless language files and old obsolete apps that I don't need, and I don't have to endure the tedium of setting up all my accounts and passwords again. I had to reinstall some apps but most of the registration codes were retained, so I didn't have to re-enter those, either. And now I know I have the latest versions of everything that I downloaded. Works for me!

schalliol · Feb 23, 2006, 10:57 PM

What partitions did you set? I don't see a reason for more than 1...

magicbbird · Feb 24, 2006, 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by Perfesser

OK, so I'm replying to my own post. I decided to compromise. I partitioned (which of course erased the disk), then custom installed, and used migration manager to import my network settings and home directory, but not applications. I'm up and running very quickly without all those useless language files and old obsolete apps that I don't need, and I don't have to endure the tedium of setting up all my accounts and passwords again. I had to reinstall some apps but most of the registration codes were retained, so I didn't have to re-enter those, either. And now I know I have the latest versions of everything that I downloaded. Works for me!

I have never done migration as I am still using my old mac. I wonder if the migration assistance gives you options of just transferring emails, passwords, etc. but not applications? If so I don't mind doing migration AND clean installing the apps that I really need (and getting rid of the old junks).

Thanks in advance for letting us know how to do it your way.

Perfesser · Feb 25, 2006, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by magicbbird

I have never done migration as I am still using my old mac. I wonder if the migration assistance gives you options of just transferring emails, passwords, etc. but not applications? If so I don't mind doing migration AND clean installing the apps that I really need (and getting rid of the old junks).

Thanks in advance for letting us know how to do it your way.

Yes, you get to select/deselect your home directory, Network Settings, Applications, Documents at the root level (not in your directory). Pretty convenient. And I like to have a seperate partition for disk utilities, daily backups (yes, there is a risk of physical failure of the drive, but it's a tradeoff and I still have weekly backups) and might experiment with WISE or stick a VirtualPC drive on there, as the case may be.

Borman · Feb 25, 2006, 02:37 PM

Would it be wise for a new mac user to format as well? Im an advanced PC user, but of course that doesnt much matter in this world heh. Space is nice to say the least, but is there any wierd settings that will trip me up in the process?

John123 · Feb 25, 2006, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Borman

Would it be wise for a new mac user to format as well? Im an advanced PC user, but of course that doesnt much matter in this world heh. Space is nice to say the least, but is there any wierd settings that will trip me up in the process?

Nothing to trip you up, no. As for the wisdom of it: it depends entirely on how you use your computer. I tend to advise new users *not* to do it, solely because until you're familiar with the platform, you may not know quite what you want/don't want. Use it for a while and get familiar....then, after a few weeks, if you want to try your hand at it, just clone your drive over to an external and start from scratch.

John123 · Feb 25, 2006, 03:09 PM

double post...

schalliol · Feb 25, 2006, 04:22 PM

I'd say to go with the pre-installed version for the reason John mentioned, later, you'll have a better idea of what you need. Partitioning/formatting generally is not necessary, as of course Apple has done this for you and the OS won't load some pieces that aren't really needed by your machine. The alternate startup drive mentioned above is the only reason I can imagine not to have a single volume, yet if the drive goes, you can't boot up of that other partition either.

dndog · Feb 25, 2006, 04:50 PM

I definitely want to free up space on my MBP and reformat, but I enjoy not having to fumble and install printer drivers each time I print outside of home.

If I just eliminated unneeded languages, how much space would that free up? And can I eliminate certain brands of printer drivers (ie. Canon).

Thanks.

schalliol · Feb 25, 2006, 08:32 PM

These days, it won't save much space. If space is the primary concern, I wouldn't bother. The installer gives you sizes for each item.

shiff · Feb 25, 2006, 09:21 PM

Partitioning can be useful. I do it as I keep all my important things on a separate partition and backup that partition. I have an image of my "OS" partition.

My home folder is on my second partition along with any other files I want to keep. I back them up over the network as well as a copy to a thumb drive.

It is not all that necessary but allows for quick restores as well as when I get a new machine; I know where all my files are.

schalliol · Feb 25, 2006, 10:53 PM

It's barely useful. For everything you just noted, folders work just as well as volumes, without being as restrictive. You can very easily copy a folder to back it up or sync it to some space.

shiff · Feb 25, 2006, 11:43 PM

Not really. I re-image alot of my test macs 2-3 times a day which wipes out the "OS" partitions. Also, it is very very useful when working in a lab environment where you have dozens of macs and you re-image on a daily basis. OS returns to a pristine state and all documents are intact. No backing up or restoring necessary beforehand.

Just saying something is not useful is too broad. What may not be useful to you may be a necessity to someone else.

dndog · Feb 26, 2006, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by shiff

Not really. I re-image alot of my test macs 2-3 times a day which wipes out the "OS" partitions. Also, it is very very useful when working in a lab environment where you have dozens of macs and you re-image on a daily basis. OS returns to a pristine state and all documents are intact. No backing up or restoring necessary beforehand.

Just saying something is not useful is too broad. What may not be useful to you may be a necessity to someone else.

Consider using Faronics Deep Freeze Mac.

I believe that will save you a lot of the trouble of reimaging/partitioning.

powerbook911 · Feb 26, 2006, 02:14 AM

You don't have to do a clean install to get rid of the language files.

Just use Delocalizer. I used it on my intel iMac. Took out more than 3 GBs!! Worked great. Took about 20 minutes. I left it alone, and then I had 3 GBs reclaimed.

n8236 · Feb 28, 2006, 02:55 AM

What I want to know is if a wipe w/ general installed software will give me any noticable boot up time differentials.

CincyGamer · Mar 2, 2006, 11:43 PM

Is Comic life and OmniGraffle resinstalled after a wipe using the factory discs?

///Milien · Mar 3, 2006, 06:01 AM

As long as you customize the installation, you can choose to have Comic Life and OmniGraffle reinstalled.

romeosc · Mar 3, 2006, 07:22 AM

I have another reason for a 10GB 2nd partition.... I put Disk warrior, disk utility and a few other utilities on it with a minimial Tiger install... it allows repairs to be made without access to DVD etc on road. Great for quick repairs.

mrplow · Mar 3, 2006, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by n8236

What I want to know is if a wipe w/ general installed software will give me any noticable boot up time differentials.

Inherently, having less data on the disk drive tends to leave it less fragmented etc and it will boot a few seconds faster... but nothing major.. unless your drive is fairly close to being full (or if there are alot of items set to launch at startup that won't be set after reinstalling, etc..)

schalliol · Mar 3, 2006, 11:28 AM

it seems a lot easier to just burn a DVD, which is nearly 2D...but I guess that's just me.

Person Man · Mar 3, 2006, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by chipchen

Manually migrate? No. When you re-install everything from the discs minus the stuff you don't want... it will still boot to the migration assistant to transfer your data.

You don't have to migrate anything. You can tell it "No, I don't want to migrate." You can then manually copy the things you want.