does clean install mountain lion deletes pre-loaded iLife and iTunes preferences?

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does clean install mountain lion deletes pre-loaded iLife and iTunes preferences?

i am going to install mountain lion, but i still don't know whether i want to do clean install or just upgrade. If i say choose clean install, does it deletes all my installed applications including pre-loaded iLife (garageband, iMovie, iPhoto) and iTunes preferences? if it does, can anybody provide me any back-up methods that could keep all my installed applications and everything just the same as before i did clean install?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 18, 2012 6:56 AM

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Answer 1

hpr3

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5,756 points

Aug 18, 2012 7:03 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4056

I would just upgrade. I"ve never had a problem with this method but some may disagree.

Message was edited by: hpr3

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Answer 2

Ilmianfhm Author

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Aug 18, 2012 7:13 AM in response to hpr3

yeah me too, i was just gonna upgrade because it just simple and save time. but if i do upgrade, will it deletes my lion and overwrite it with mountain lion? the only reason i want to do clean install is just i want to re-occupy the file size that was used by lion, but if it deletes lion, so i just gonna choose upgrade..

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Answer 3

hpr3

Level 5

5,756 points

Aug 18, 2012 7:17 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

It will overwrite Lion with Mountain Lion leaving everything else intact. Anything could go wrong as I'm sure you are aware and a backup is highly recommended.

Before you upgrade you should boot into the Recovery HD and verify your disk.

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Answer 4

Aug 18, 2012 7:22 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

If everything works perfectly on the upgrade none of your data or applications should be touched.

Having said that are you going to trust your data to everything working perfectly?

I don't know about you but I never trust my data to everything working perfectly. In fact I actually back it up twice using differect software for each backup.

As far as the so called clean install goes I think they are nothing but a waste of time.

Allan

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Answer 5

Aug 18, 2012 7:22 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

If you just upgrade, it will leave everything in place, replacing only the system files.

A CLEAN installation means formatting the hard drive and installing the base OS. Everything is deleted, including your documents, pictures, music, etc. You have to reinstall all your applications, re-set all your preferences (or restore them from a backup).

One way to do this is to back up your ~/Library folder (yours, not the System one). Then after a clean install, you can just copy the prefernces you need for your sofware back. Most of them are in ~/Library/Application Support and ~/Library/Prefences

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Answer 6

Ilmianfhm Author

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Aug 18, 2012 7:28 AM in response to Allan Eckert

so yeah i know that in worst scenario i will lost everything, so i come prepared with backup. But still i dont know what is the easiest way to do back up..

i can't use time machine because i dont have time capsule. i only have Toshiba external HDD 500GB. Does Carbon copy cloner comes as free app?

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Answer 7

hpr3

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5,756 points

Aug 18, 2012 7:32 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

You don't need a Time capsule for time machine. CCC is not free anymore. https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4054

Message was edited by: hpr3

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Answer 8

Aug 18, 2012 7:32 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

Disk Utility restore can make a copy for you.

Allan

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Answer 9

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 18, 2012 7:32 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

It works with external disks. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US

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Answer 10

Aug 18, 2012 7:35 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

Carbon Copy Cloner is free for 30 days. While I highly recommend the purchase, if you just needed it for this one time, 30 days would be more than enough.

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Answer 11

Ilmianfhm Author

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23 points

Aug 18, 2012 7:43 AM in response to Allan Eckert

@allan eckert : how do i create copy of my HDD using disk utilty?

@mende1 & @hpr3 : oh thanks i thought i have to buy time capsule to use time machine. Hey, can i use multiple external HDD to use with time machine? because i just realized that my external HDD is not enough to perform backup..

@stephen.bradley : okay thanks for your advice 🙂

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Answer 12

Aug 18, 2012 7:45 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

See https://support.apple.com/kb/PH5848

Allan

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Answer 13

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 18, 2012 7:47 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

1. Open Disk Utility, select the volume and open Restore

2. Drag the external disk to Destination and go to Restore

You can use the external drives you need in Time Machine

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Answer 14

Ilmianfhm Author

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Aug 18, 2012 8:03 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

Thank you all for your fast-response. i am gonna prepare my macbook pro now as i am waiting my download copy of mountain lion to be finished. i'm gonna try and do all the things that you guys have have suggested to me. Thanks again! hope my upgrade would run smoothly 🙂

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Answer 15

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 18, 2012 8:16 AM in response to Ilmianfhm

You're welcome

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