FCPX runs faster on a clean install of macOS - how to replicate on existing install?

Thanks guys. I've done Etrecheck before and didn't find anything that I could remove that I didn't need.

Why should we avoid Chrome? I had heard that was the case about a year ago, but surely Google have solved that now no?

Is Safari okay and if so why is that different?

Thanks!

Thanks for the feedback. Here's where I'm confused. I mentioned my FCPX ran much faster with a new user account. But it was using the same boot drive. The fusion drive.

How can I remove those kernel extensions?

I don't use turbo boost, it was from a previous laptop. How can I fully remove it?

Finally, can I use migration assistant to move to a SSD for boot and system usage?

Fair enough. In defense, Apple/Migration Assistant never says not to do this, so if I have been doing it for years, it was based on not logging into a forum and asking specifically, rather being directed that it was an acceptable option.

But I'm going to bite the bullet and give it a try. Thanks for all the help guys.

Perhaps Tom and Luis could join this conversation as there seems to be some debate as to migrating only the user profile being a bad thing to do, with it compared to how Windows users need to act. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the opposing views. Thank you.

Luis wrote: "Your system drive ... is "Fusion Drive", and one of those with only a 28GB SSD. If you were to boot your mac using one the SSD you already have ... the responsiveness of your mac would change very signifcantly."

With all due respect this was somewhat misleading. I have just completed this transfer process based on your recommendation. The system boots up just as slowly as before. It is definitely booting from the Samsung t5 ssd. However using the blackmagic speed test the fusion drive is outperforming the T5 half of the time. The Fusion drive can peak 650MB/s whilst the T5 is giving 450.

Whilst I have noticed that opening applications is snappier, the boot time is not and I would definitely disagree with your statement that an external SSD is "very significantly" faster than an internal smaller one.

I am very well versed in programming and understand fully that applications may not work if they were designed for older versions of macOS, but you are talking about something different to what this thread and my questions are about. I am talking specifically about slow down.

You were clear above that migrating only the user account and intentionally excluding applications would result in a faster system with less slowdown.

You said that in response to my question about why the new user account ran faster with Final Cut than my current user account.

I am arguing the perspective that it is only additional apps that I like to have running in the background that cause a bit of slow down. You are saying that I could achieve the same speed increase by migrating and excluding the applications then spending painful days setting up all my preferences, keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, Etc back to how I want them. I am arguing respectfully that that is a waste of time.

I linked to you to another thread where a level six contributor stated that he agreed with that being a waste of time and stated that it sounded more like advice you would get for a Windows system.

I have asked people this question in the past and I've never got a clear answer. you are still not giving a clear answer, with all due respect. I asked you why excluding applications from migration would cause the system to run faster. you answered this by explaining why it might prevent crashes. Talking about crashes is not an answer to a question about slow down.

If I open Final Cut Pro, what is Final Cut Pro looking at from my older applications that is causing it to slow down? I don't think it interfaces with the old apps at all.

When I provided the Etrecheck you mentioned 2 kernel extensions. I removed these and the system did not speed up.

I remain open to the possibility but until someone can give a clear answer as to why excluding applications during migration will cause the migrated system to run faster, even one month later when all of those applications have been reinstalled and eight of them are running in the background, then I cannot understand it. can you give a clear answer as to why excluding applications from migration would result in Final Cut Pro running faster one month later?

yet you would want to carry around all this dead weight on your system.

I do appreciate all the help but you're still not actually explaining what speed impact that "dead weight" has. I know it takes up disk space but how does disk space on my new 2TB SSD slow down the system? I have 1.6TB free now. But FCPX runs at the same speed as ever.

Until someone can explain that there's anything other than an aesthetic "feeling" about having less "clutter" sitting there unopened and unused, I cannot see why it would speed things up. It is invisible to FCPX. FCPX doesn't go looking at the Preferences folder or the Applications folder then say to itself "there are preference files for Office 2011 there, I'm going to run slower".

Please, by all means explain it. I'm open to any rational explanation of why old applications that are not open slow down FCPX.

Is it really that hard to reinstall the applications?

Yes hugely. I've explained above that I have many custom settings: Toolbars, preferences, keyboard shortcuts, 8-button mouse hotkeys, screen layouts...you name it. I know that weeks from now I'd still be finding things I have to rebuild for all that.

Without any valid reason being given other than words like "clutter" or "dead weight", and with other high level users on this same forum saying that what you guys recommend is not necessary, would be a "pain", and is more like Windows users act, then I'd really rather avoid weeks of annoyance.

I'm open... tell me why some undeleted files slow down FCPX...

Thank you.

Thanks for the reply. So to confirm are you saying that my hotkeys and toolbars for Photoshop, Fusion 360, Adobe Audition, FCPX, as well as the Logitech mouse software "Logi 360" app-specific mouse buttons for those programs, all migrate with the user account even if I don't migrate any of those apps or Logi?

You asked why a clean admin runs faster. I already stated it's because all the background apps I require aren't loaded yet. And I said I bet after a month the clean account would be back to being a bit slower.

I do find it strange nobody can ever explain "the why" for the "Windows" like argument of a clean install. Oh well.

Thanks for offering to look at the EtreCheck. Here it is:

https://bit.ly/3cjEvF9