/clean-install-your-mac-without-hesitation

Checklist version of Clean install your Mac without hesitation

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Clean install your Mac without hesitation

This is the checklist version of process for clean installing your Mac. To see verbose article, visit Medium.

  • Requirement
    • An external drive with available space larger than your Mac for Time Machine and migrated data
    • An USB larger than 8GB for bootable disk
  • Backup
    • Connect your Time Machine drive and run a full backup of your Mac
    • Softwares
      • Install Homebrew with /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
      • Install mas-cli with brew install mas
      • Dump softwares list to Brewfile file with brew bundle dump
      • Compare apps in Application folder with Brewfile.
        • For apps found only in Application folder, brew cask search {app_name}.
        • For apps found only in Brewfile, google and find if you need it anymore.
      • Comment the Brewfile with leading # about how or why you need it.
    • Software Data
      • Keychains
        • Turn on iCloud Keychains sync
      • Safari
        • Backup Bookmarks from ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist
        • Backup Browse History from ~/Library/Safari/History*
        • Backup extensions from ~/Library/Safari/Extensions
      • iTunes
      • Photos
        • Backup Photos Library file Photos Library.photoslibrary from ~/Pictures
      • Messages
      • iBooks
      • Fonts
      • Dashboard Widgets
        • Backup widgets from ~/Library/Widgets
      • 1Password
        • Enable Sync
        • Backup backup files from ~/Library/Containers/2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-helper/Data/Library/Backups
      • Day One
        • Enable Sync
        • Backup backup files from Library/Group Containers/5U8NS4GX82.dayoneapp2/Data/Backup
      • Money Pro
        • Enable Sync
        • Manually backup from iOS app
      • Dictionary
      • Dash
      • Screen Saver
      • Dotfiles
        • ~/.ssh
        • ~/.zshrc
        • ~/.gitconfig
    • Static files
      • ~/Desktop
      • ~/Documents
      • ~/Downloads
      • ~/Movies
      • ~/Music
      • ~/Pictures
  • Re-installation
    • Bootable USB
      • Download macOS Mojave
      • Format USB drive with Mac OS Extented (Journaled) format and Untitled name
      • Create bootable macOS USB with sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app --nointeraction
    • Backup everything again
      • Connect your Time Machine drive and run a full backup of your Mac
    • Make sure you have these ready
      • Your Mac was properly backed up
      • Brewfile is correctly on Dropbox or drive
      • Check your migrated files are fully ready
    • WARNING: YOU ARE GOING TO DELETE EVERYTHING ON YOUR MAC IN THE NEXT STEP!!! You won’t be able to to open your Mac until macOS is installed.
    • Format and Install your Mac
      • Plug in the bootable USB
      • Restart & hold down the Option(⌥) key
      • Choose Install macOS Mojave(the bootable USB)
      • Select Disk Utility from the menu and erase you Startup Disk(usually named Macintosh HD) with Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
      • Go back to the main menu; select Install macOS and choose your HDD when prompted
  • Migration
    • Install Homebrew with /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
    • Install mas-cli with brew install mas
    • Copy Brewfile to your home folder then run brew bundle in Terminal
    • Migrate Software data
      • Safari
        • Migrate bookmarks
        • Migrate history
        • Migrate extensions
      • iTunes
      • Photos
        • Migrate Photos Library
      • Messages
        • Migrate Message folder
      • iBooks
        • Migrate PDFs and Books
      • Fonts
        • Migrate Fonts
      • Dashboard Widgets
        • Install widgets to ~/Library/Widgets
      • 1Password
        • Enable Sync
        • Migrate backup files
      • Day One
        • Enable Sync
        • Migrate backup files
      • Money Pro
        • Enable Sync
      • Dictionary
      • Screen Saver
      • Dotfiles
        • ~/.ssh
        • ~/.zshrc
        • ~/.gitconfig
    • Migrate static files
      • ~/Desktop
      • ~/Documents
      • ~/Downloads
      • ~/Movies
      • ~/Music
      • ~/Pictures
    • Restore Settings
      • System Preferences
        • General
          • Use dark menu bar and Dock
          • Recent items: None Documents, Apps, and Servers
        • Desktop & Screen Saver
        • Dock
          • Size: 1/3
          • Magnification: Max
          • Minimize windows into application icon: on
          • Automatically hide and show the Dock: on
        • Mission Control
          • Group windows by application: on
          • Dashboard: As Overlay
          • Hot Corners
            • Top Left: Dashboard
            • Top Right: Desktop
            • Bottom Left: Start Screen Saver
            • Bottom Right: Put Display to Sleep
        • Language & Region
          • Add Traditional Chinese to Preferred languages
          • Time format: 24-Hour Time
        • Security & Privacy
          • Require password 1 minute after sleep or screen saver begins
          • Turn on FileVault
          • Turn on Firewall
          • Enable location for Weather, Siri
          • System Service: Show location icon in menu bar
        • Notification
          • Turn on Do Not Disturb
          • Allow repeated calls
        • Keyboard
          • Key Repeat: Fastest
          • Delay Until Repeat: Fatest
          • Use smart quotes and dashes: off
          • Specify shortcuts for Spotlight, Input Method, Show Notification
          • Full Keyboard Access: All controls
          • Add Zhuyin to input sources
          • Dictation: add English, Chinese
        • Trackpad
          • Turn on Look up & data detectors, Tap to click, App expose
          • Tracking speed: 3/4
        • Sound
          • Show volume in menu bar
          • Play feedback when volume is changed
        • Siri
          • Show Siri in menu bar: off
        • Time Machine
          • Select backup drive
          • Show icon in menu bar
        • Accessibility
          • Zoom: Enable Use scroll gesture to zoom, zoom style: picture in picture
          • Mouse & Trackpad: Enable dragging without drag lock, Trackpad Fastest Scrolling Speed, Fastest Mouse Scrolling Speed
      • Finder
        • Show Hard disks on desktop
        • New finder window show Home folder
        • Sidebar: Movies, Music, Pictures, Home folder
        • Advanced: Show file extensions, searching current folder
      • Safari
        • Search engine: DuckDuckGo
        • Show full website address
        • Show Develop menu in menu bar
      • iTunes
        • iCloud Music Library: on
      • Photos
        • iCloud Photo Library: on
      • Dash
        • Install license file
    • Development Environment