OS X: Fresh Format Checklist

With Windows, I found myself reformatting and reinstalling things quite regularly- about once every 2 months or so. I just felt "cleaner" and it certainly helped boost performance. While OS X is MUCH more stable and reinstalling Tiger is more uncommon, I still have found the need (by my own fault) to reinstall Tiger 3 or 4 times since the purchase of my MacBook Pro about a month or so ago. So, I'm throwing this checklist up for my own personal reference. I'll check here in the event of a reinstall and make sure I've remembered everything.

1. Backup data - This step should be a no-brainer and shouldn't require much as I'm trying to keep everything important on either iDisk or the external HD.

2. Record Any Program Specific Settings - Make a note of any custom configured settings in an programs that might need to be saved (ie: FTP site directory).

3. Boot from OS X Disk

4. Deselect Unnecessary Options - Primarily MS Office Trial and iWorks but also all the foreign language crap. I speak one language, and that's Uh-muuur-uhhh-kun.

5. Install takes right at 26 minutes on my machine

6. Run Software Update

7. Configure OS Settings - Mouse/trackpad speed, energy settings, screen saver, view options, dock icons/size, etc.

8. Install 3rd Party Applications - This is the biggest step. My applications are as follows: nobootupsoundsprefPane, NeoOffice, Thunderbird, divx codecs, VLC, BBedit, CoRD, Transmission, Adium, Marine Aquarium SS, Cisco VPN Client, iGetter, Split and Concat, FireFox and associated addons (FoxyProxy, Adblock, StumbleUpon, delicious buttons), Visual Hub, Parallels, Boot Camp, Quicksilver, iStat widget, digg widget, Onyx, RemoteBuddy, Stuffit, Xee)

9. Configure 3rd Party Applications

10. Restore Data - Copy back any external media like movies or mp3's