Need Help with "Get Info"

[Slydude]

A nuke and pave is simply a colorful way of suggesting a clean install of the OS. After that one can reinstall apps and copy data over.

 

[Rod]

Ah, leftovers from apps that you decided to trash. Things like preference files, user data files etc. For a long time I used a system extension called AppTrap which is a very handy tool. If you dragged an app to the trash it would ask if you wanted to trash all associated files. Simply clicking yes made sure that it was completely removed. Of course you may never have done this, or have a different method.



The point is over time we can unintentionally accumulate a lot of stuff (data) which may or may not cause problems and the only way to get rid of it all in one hit is to "empty the drawer" and only put back what you need. A "clean" install is a way of doing that.
As for upgrading a couple of OS's up the rung it should be fine but I always bear in mind that Apple's OS upgrade instructions always say update all your apps before an upgrade and if you skip Operating Systems you cant do that.

 

[Rod]

Thanks Sly.
Terryann, may I suggest that you purchase an external, USB HDD roughly twice the size of your internal HDD and use the already installed, native Time Machine app to perform a full backup of your device. I think you will thank me in the long run. Off site cloud based storage will not generally allow you to selectively restore your data to a new device or restore damaged or trashed files as TM does.
Here at MacForums we have a saying; "It's not a matter of if your hard drive will crash but when"

 

[terryann]

Rod, I think this is very sage advice for me to do a TM backup, and I will do it. I think this would be a first step before anything else, yes? My HD has 1.11TB. Do you have a recommendation of a USB HDD brand...Maybe available on Amazon?

I am sure that over time I have rushed and just deleted things by searching for them and just dragging the name into the trash. Is AppTrap a free extension available on the web?

Also, Is running Onyx going to be risky for me?.

What risk is there to my data files by reinstalling the operating system? Do I need to reinstall Sierra, or can I install the newest OS that just came out?

Thank you for your kind help.

Terry

PS: Rod, by the way, I just came across this post and wondered what you think of the answer he got:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6998442

 

[terryann]

Sly, I like knowing the latest colorful ways to say things!

 

[pm-r]

PS: Rod, by the way, I just came across this post and wondered what you think of the answer he got:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6998442

I sure cannot agree with his comment and I'm quite surprised that the poster (etresoft) actually posted such a comment:

Ideally, only install software from the Mac App Store.

- Patrick
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[pm-r]

Sly, I like knowing the latest colorful ways to say things!

Actually, the Nuke and Pave expression is quite old and probably started with Reagan or Nixon, and when used in relation to computers, I think my eldest son may have had something to do with its use when he was very involved with computers at University and maintaining them at several schools many (20±) years ago, and being rather artistic and theatrical, he used it rather dramatically and it was often repeated by others and spread quickly.

Anyway, quite descriptive regardless of context, even in this day.





- Patrick
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[pm-r]

What risk is there to my data files by reinstalling the operating system? Do I need to reinstall Sierra, or can I install the newest OS that just came out?

There is always a risk, and that is why it is always suggested to have a proper backup before attempting any major install like macOS.

I would get your current version working properly before attempting or thinking of a newer macOS version and many use the compatible macOS COMBO System Update in such cases where some things just don't work. If that doesn't work, then a reinstall is often used.

You can find the COMBO version you need here:
https://support.apple.com/downloads/combo

For more combo update install info if you need it check here:
How to Use a Combo Update to Install Mac OS X Updates
How to Use a Combo Update to Install Mac OS X Updates







- Patrick
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[terryann]

Thanks Patrick! I think I need to get that external HDD.

 

[Rod]

terryanne, what is the total storage capacity of your Macintosh HD? That will be found in About this Mac under the Apple Icon in the menu bar in the Storage tab.
ie. Apple Menu > About this Mac > Storage.

App Trap is a free third party app and yes it does only remove associated preference files. I'm sorry if I gave the impression it would remove ALL associated files.
Only a few applications are capable of doing that and caution should be exercised in using such applications, eg. Clean My Mac

The Mac way would be to perform a full search for all of the components of an application using the Finder or another third party app like Find Any File then trash them manually.
Best by far is to always look for an Uninstaller provided by the developer and use that.
As for is App Trap dangerous/harmful? Well I've had it for years and it's never caused a problem although I cant remember the last time I used it.

OnyX like anything that can access your system files should not be used BEFORE you have a viable backup.
This is just being cautious and you will see that they show you a warning that they accept no liability for damage. This is normal and any responsible developer should display such a warning, it's no reason to panic, I've never heard of OnyX causing a problem.

Your last question is complex. Simply reinstalling your macOS may not solve any problems although many people think it will. Essentially all of your files remain the same, except the Operating System files.

To get rid of all your other data (and any conflicts it may be causing) you would need to erase your Macintosh HD completely. This is what is called a Clean Install.
To do this you must first have a full backup using Time Machine or a Clone of your Macintosh HD.
It can be done using the built in Restore partition, accessing Disk Utility, erasing the Macintosh HD, reinstalling the Operating System and restoring you files and applications from Time Machine. Time Machine will offer to do this as part of the process and you can choose at that time which files, folders, and apps you want to reinstall.

As for upgrading the Operating System to say High Sierra or the latest Mojave I recommend you check your third party apps for compatability. Upgrading to High Sierra should be fine but bear in mind it will change the filing system on your device from HFS+ to apples new APFS. I quick online search will tell you what that means eg. How to Clean Install MacOS High Sierra

 

[terryann]

Rod, my total storage is 1.11TB

After a clean install, I am not sure how I would reinstall Sierra since it was an upgrade that I installed, I think i went from Lion to Sierra. So if I have a clean install, I wouldn't have a full version of Sierra. ???

So, when you "restore" after the clean install, can you actually get your apps back with all their preferences without reinstalling all you apps from scratch?

 

[ferrarr]

Usually, when you do an upgrade, from one version of Mac OS X, to a newer/different version of macOS, it will also update the Recovery partition.

When you boot into macOS Recovery, you have the option to just reinstall macOS Sierra, which "should" save everything and leave settings (I think), and just re-install the operating system.

 

[pm-r]

After a clean install, I am not sure how I would reinstall Sierra since it was an upgrade that I installed

With no intended offense, but to prevent this thread from carrying on indefinitely which it might do at this pace for a solution, if any of them are convenient or close by, I would suggest contacting either as I'm sure there would be a member or two that could help you get sorted out:


Portland Macintosh Users Group
https://www.pmug.org

Corvallis Macintosh User Group
CMUG ∴ Home





- Patrick
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[Rod]

I agree that there is a point where "hands on" is ultimately much better than trying to convey the steps of what may turn out to be a complex proceedure with an unknown outcome.
After all the issue was about Get Info not working as expected, not a major functional problem.
EtreCheck did state there were issues so the Get Info problem may be a symptom of a developing problem which may or may not get worse.
Regardless of that I think the idea of making a backup is a very good one at this stage.

 

[pm-r]

Regardless of that I think the idea of making a backup is a very good one at this stage.

Man, I would have thought that would've been done some time ago, especially considering many of the suggestions to do so this thread contained.

Otherwise, why even bother providing any advice if it's not going to be followed???





- Patrick
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[terryann]

Patrick, I don't know what you are taking about but it sounds like some kind of criticism of me. I have no idea what I did wrong, but it has been only 5 days since someone suggested I get a HDD to backup my drive. I am a senior citizen with some serious health issues and I have no one to help me, and I'm sorry I didn't do things fast enough for you. I didn't even understand what exactly to get yet. I will be uncomfortable in the future looking for help here on mac-forums. Thank you to everyone else for the kind and helpful remarks.

 

[pm-r]

@terryann

Patrick, I don't know what you are taking about but it sounds like some kind of criticism of me.

Absolutely NO CRITICISM of you or your actions at all terryann, but just a strong reminder to have a backup as most users and readers should and considering this thread started about ten days ago.

My apologies to you if you took it as such. And please continue to post and ask at the mac-forums when you have a Mac question and/or problem.





- Patrick
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