How to do clean install and install lion

Installing, servicing, and updating/maintaining Mac's since OS9 for professional environments where downtime is simply not an option, I can tell you that a clean install is on the menu every time.

If you want it done right and working minute one, a clean install is the only way to fly.

Keep your apps/discs organized, keep your backups current, and get to reinstalling. Chances are, going through that process will help you find a few out-of-date apps anyway.

The fact that you can't access disk utility and other essentials from an OS disk anymore may make me sound like a get-off-my-lawn geezer, but boy do I think they screwed up on that one.

It's cute for the app store to have dictation software and the like. It's a mistake to have the OS there.

I believe it better advice to recommend people do clean installs, regardless of your viewpoint on its usefulness or how much more time consuming it can be. "Stacked" OS installs have failed on me. Clean installs have not.

2 cents.

Wow. Pondini you really went to great lengths to be unhelpful on this topic.

I was just looking for a way to a clean install because I'm replacing my hard drive and I want to do a clean install of Lion and I only want to reinstall the apps that I really use. But you want me to restore from my time machine backup and leave all the crap that has accumlated on my hard drive for 2 years because it will work better.

I just want a fresh clean like new out of the box install. Apple now has Recovery Disk Assistant, which lets you boot from a USB key and do a clean install of Lion. So what you are saying isn't needed, is now officially supported by Apple. I suggest you put that in your pipe and smoke it, my fanboy friend.

it-geek

Oh, be serious.

If you really want to do it, know what's involved, and have everything you need before you start, and a couple of backups, great - have a ball.

You have no idea how many threads there are in these forums by folks who've started it with no idea what was involved, and made a huge mess -- can't find many of the application discs; or they're damaged; don't know where all the files are; drag & drop things in the wrong places; miss things; didn't back up everything; etc., etc.

Or how many had sense enough to ask first, were advised that in most cases it isn't necessary, just used Setup Assistant, and were very happy with the results.

I'm not talking about "power users" or those who love tweaking everything, but the novice-to-casual user who's either used to Windoze or heard about how "clean installs" are the best thing since sliced bread. They're the ones I'm here to help.

This thread appears to be stuck in an infinite loop, looks like a clean install is required 😉

The method to clean install Lion is provided by jade86 at the start of the thread. Pondini is just saying that you don't HAVE to clean install, and in lots of cases it will be overkill. If you have the computer skills and interest in clean installing, then do it, no one will be hovering over your keyboard to stop you.

My opinion is that a clean install is best, but only for power users. The point is that most people are not power users, so you have to try and imagine what it would be like for someone with no idea about computers doing a clean install; potentially losing their data, license keys, not knowing how to set anything up, whatever. It could take them a very long time, and the benefits of clean installing may not outweigh the time investment/risk. It's a last resort for them, not a preference. If you're geeky enough to be arguing about whether to clean install or not, it's probably safe to say you're ok with doing a clean install. 😝

I clean installed Lion, works great. If you want to do it, go ahead. Just make sure you know what is required to get your system back to how it was.

WORD.

Can you speak up? It's hard to hear your measly 10 points over Pondini's 31k points... Also, if you're going to flame useful and factual advice, be sure to use proper grammar and spelling; you look like an idiot. In all seriousness, a fresh install of Lion seems to be the most widely successful solution to many users. I myself have upgraded to Lion from SL, and have experienced slowdowns for many things. I tried deleting my cache files, repairing permissions/disk, removing Adobe Flash (yes, this is a solution to some), and the only thing that did it for me was a clean install. When in doubt, and you KNOW your hardware is fine... it's the software in some way.

My God!!! This is still going 🙂 Oh what a suprise Pondini still at it and Points are the new falac symbols for man-hood I see. Well the times move on I guess - The car is replaced with the Apple community points. Cracks me up.

I suppose the messages in this thread is that a clean install is best option after years of crap build up. In saying that, it should be attempted by experienced users who understand what's envovled or you could spill your milk.

Additionally, Apple should make it easy by supplying DVD/USB/APPSTORE access and not just the APPSTORE internet method. This takes away the flexiabilty of the experienced users who require different methords.

Tmemphis wrote:

This is still going

Only because you keep resurrecting it!

Pondini still at it

I see. It's terrible when I respond to someone, but fine for you to leap back in just to stir it up again.

Points are the new falac symbols

I assume you mean "phallic"? If so, you might want to review how that word is spelled.

You might also investigate how and why points are awarded (https://discussions.apple.com/static/apple/tutorial/reputation.html) -- if you see a connection to Freud there, perhaps you should review the meaning of the word as well.

You just love having the last word

And you don't?

😝