Time Machine and using the Reset option on MacBook Pro.

Question

Level 1

24 points

Time Machine and using the Reset option on MacBook Pro.

Having never used Time Machine before, when you back it up to an external HD, what does it actually save?

I want to use the Reset option on my Macbook Pro, and then download and re-install my operating system from fresh.

Using the Reset option, which wipes your HD and then re-download my operating system, it's a fresh version, yes? Which is what I want, so all settings, options etc are put back to default as though fresh from the Factory/Store.

If I then use my time machine backup to put all my things, files photos etc etc back onto my now fresh operating system, does it also put all the settings I had previously back? which is not what I want to happen, Otherwise, it seems a bit of a waste of time doing it. For example, an option that comes ticked by default/brand-new fresh from the store, but I unticked it, will time machine put it back like this, which is not what I want.

Just as an add-on, using the time machine as above, does it save all your passwords and favourites, and then put those back?

Thanks for any replies.

Posted on Oct 12, 2024 2:11 AM

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Answer 1

PRP_53

Level 10

91,117 points

Oct 12, 2024 5:16 AM in response to DoogyDawg

Follow the very good advice from @Luis Sequeira1

Using Erase All Content and Setting will remove your user account and All this is contained in your User Account Folder ( Home Folder )

Time Machine Backup will only Backup your user account and ALL that is contained in your Home Folder

If you really what to have as clean as possible operating system thereafter

Install all your Applications from scratch

You can use TM Backup thereafter to cherry pick what you what to bring back from before you wiped the drive

Just do not Migrate everything back

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Answer 2

DoogyDawg Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 13, 2024 10:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

2020 Macbook Pro, 13", M1

Sonoma 14.7

Safari 18.0.1

For some reason, a lot of my settings which I changed in both Safari and in various bit's and bobs in system settings have either reset to on, or the ones I have turned on, have turned off. I opened up the Mac this morning and my right click I had set for bottom right, had changed.

A lot of folders within various main folders, IE: documents, photos etc, etc, have changed size, so in one folder, images might be one size, look in another folder and they are different, whereas before they were all the same size.

Some of my photos thumbnails have gone pixelated and really small, enlarging the view just makes them look worse. They do open up ok though.

I did post a short clip of my boot-up a while ago. When it is booting up, the Apple logo and loading bar will jump up to the left of the screen, and then back to its normal position just before it finishes loading.

When using Safari, the window will fit the screen as per the normal, but then quit Safari, and when it's opened back up, is has gone shorter, I can drag the corners to fit again, but the same thing happens. I have tried zooming the window, but that still goes the same, it even happens if I have Safari open, and open up another r app etc, close the app down, and the Safari window has gone smaller again.

So what I want to do is save all my photos, apps etc to an external HD, which I would use for TM.

So as I say, I wanted to back just my photos, apps documents etc, but what I don't want is to save any OS settings as well. The last thing I want is to stick these bodged-up ones all back as they are now.

I could move my keychain folder in the library as well, and then just replace the folder on the clean instal, along with the Bookmarks.plist

Hope this makes sense.

EDIT: There is also this.

Sonoma, Safari search suggestions - Apple Community

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Answer 3

Oct 12, 2024 2:49 AM in response to DoogyDawg

There appears to be a relevant misconception here. Having all your settings restored is NOT part of installing the OS, quite the other part about your own data. These two are fairly clearly separate.

We need to know the exact model of your mac and what OS you are currently running, and

exactly what you are trying to achieve. You are right in one thing: erasing just to migrate everything back will maintain all the current problems you may have. It would be just a waste of time.

Please elaborate what problems you are facing, so we can better advise.

If your mac is recent enough, there is no need to erase the OS itself - even if you are having problems. The OS is in a sealed volume and cannot be modified, so there is no point in erasing and reinstalling.

The restore part of your data, photos, etc, including passwords, is easy and automatic.

There is some degree of granularity of what you can migrate.

Again, please tell us what problems you are facing. Having Time Machine active and backing up regularly should done by everyone, regardless, so even if you don't need it now, please do make those backups. They will save you at some point.

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Answer 4

DoogyDawg Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 13, 2024 11:12 AM in response to DoogyDawg

As an Add on to this, since I have timed out on the edit function.

With my previous mid 2009 Mac, up until I bought this, It was still going like a trooper.

Anyway, all I did with that was just copy over folders manually to one of my external HD's Photos etc, installation files for Adobe etc. Including the keychains folder and Bookmarks.plist.

I have already tried the recovery option, Reinstall macOS Sonoma.

With this Mac now, I don't really want to go through the hassle of making a bootable installer, and then reformat my drive for a completely clean install, which is why I was hoping the "Reset option" would more or less do something similar...not formatting the drive , obviously.

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Answer 5

Oct 14, 2024 1:14 AM in response to DoogyDawg

There is no point at all in making a bootable installer, or in reinstalling the OS, so don't worry about that.

If some of your settings are wrong, that has nothing to do with the OS.

Again: the OS is mounted in a sealed, read-only volume for security reasons.

If your windows open with a different size, or if (say) your browser favorites are wrong, that is all associated to your account, and not the OS.

I have no idea why some of your settings have changed, though I have to say it is usually something that you may have unwittingly done.

It is still unclear to me what it is that is actually wrong. Maybe all you have to do is set your preferences back to the way you want them, and not try to do any major changes to your mac.

OF COURSE you should keep a backup always, using Time Machine. Don't do it after something goes wrong, as then it will be too late. Keep your mac backed up, and odds are you won't need it; have no backup, and you risk data loss. Murphy's law exists...

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Answer 6

DoogyDawg Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 13, 2024 10:18 AM in response to PRP_53

Thanks very much.

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