Format versus Defrag of OS X

[AnthroAndStargate]

I recently deleted my Bootcamp gaming partion so I could make it smaller. I then realized I need more space and so later on I deleted it again and tried to make it bigger. I got the infamous "files can not be moved" error which is Apple's nice way of saying "sorry we don't build in good defrag tools for large files, just small ones". Suffice to say, I cant install Windows without either doing a bootdisk defrag of my system using a third party tool like iDefrager or doing a fresh fromat of the hard drive.

I think I would like to do a fresh format as its quicker and cleans out your system but my problem is thus:

I dont know if I should back up my mp3s, pictures, aim convo logs, etc. to an external and just recopy them over with fresh installs of all my apps or if I should do a Time Machine restore (either the restore in the system disc or a restore after a fresh format and install of OS X). I have a Time Capsule so the ****** lag is a factor there.

Please help demigods and knowers of OS X. Which is the best option for me to pursue!?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
I recently deleted my Bootcamp gaming partion so I could make it smaller. I then realized I need more space and so later on I deleted it again and tried to make it bigger. I got the infamous "files can not be moved" error which is Apple's nice way of saying "sorry we don't build in good defrag tools for large files, just small ones". Suffice to say, I cant install Windows without either doing a bootdisk defrag of my system using a third party tool like iDefrager or doing a fresh fromat of the hard drive.

I think I would like to do a fresh format as its quicker and cleans out your system but my problem is thus:

I dont know if I should back up my mp3s, pictures, aim convo logs, etc. to an external and just recopy them over with fresh installs of all my apps or if I should do a Time Machine restore (either the restore in the system disc or a restore after a fresh format and install of OS X). I have a Time Capsule so the ****** lag is a factor there.

Please help demigods and knowers of OS X. Which is the best option for me to pursue!?

Another option you have would be to Carbon Copy Clone your drive to an external, then wipe the source drive, partition the source drive by booting from the external, and then CCC back.

 

[umrigar]

Second what Stu suggested.

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

I went ahead and formatted (write zeros to drive), fresh install OS X (so I could clear off all the junk files I didn't need like fink stuff), and then used migration assistant to copy my user over form my time capsule.

Is this safe? Like does Migration assistance copy a bunch of junk from old program installs you dont need? I deleted about 3 gigs of stuff from my user/library/application files or something like that.

Thanks!

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
I went ahead and formatted (write zeros to drive), fresh install OS X (so I could clear off all the junk files I didn't need like fink stuff), and then used migration assistant to copy my user over form my time capsule.

Is this safe? Like does Migration assistance copy a bunch of junk from old program installs you dont need? I deleted about 3 gigs of stuff from my user/library/application files or something like that.

Thanks!

User Migration shouldn't be unsafe. It might bring a few extraneous files, but not too many.

 

[umrigar]

Migration Asst rocks.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: umrigar
Migration Asst rocks.

You know, I've never had a reason to use it. I only have the 1 Mac... but when/if I upgrade this to the Unibody MacBook.. I will definitely use the Assistant.

 

[sourceninja]

3 gig of files in ~/Library/Applications?? Man do you use any kind of application cleaner to uninstall software?

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
3 gig of files in ~/Library/Applications?? Man do you use any kind of application cleaner to uninstall software?

haha like what? I use App Cleaner but it doesnt find much stuff. I guess the software I use is just bulky. I do A LOT of gaming so maybe the gmaes take up a lot of space with pref files? i dono

 

[sourceninja]

It's not that you had 3 gigs there that weirds me out. It's that you had 3 gigs of stuff there you didn't need. It just highlights a huge flaw in the way OSX handles software.

 

[umrigar]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: umrigar
Migration Asst rocks.

You know, I've never had a reason to use it. I only have the 1 Mac... but when/if I upgrade this to the Unibody MacBook.. I will definitely use the Assistant.

It's also good when you upgrade to a larger hard drive. Move the internal to an enclosure, put the new drive in, install the OS, update to the latest version, then run migration asst.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: umrigar

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: umrigar
Migration Asst rocks.

You know, I've never had a reason to use it. I only have the 1 Mac... but when/if I upgrade this to the Unibody MacBook.. I will definitely use the Assistant.

It's also good when you upgrade to a larger hard drive. Move the internal to an enclosure, put the new drive in, install the OS, update to the latest version, then run migration asst.

For when I do that, I will probably just clone my drive. I just did a full format recently so I could start fresh, no need to do it again.