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If you do a fresh install you want to back up any data that you already have on the machine.
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If you do a fresh install you want to back up any data that you already have on the machine.

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I would recommend an External HDD that supports Time Machine. &nbsp;Once you have a Time Machine backup - you can basically reformat the old HDD or heck - buy a new HDD, and using Disk Utility, you'll have the option to restore from Time Machine.
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I would recommend an External HDD that supports Time Machine.  Once you have a Time Machine backup - you can basically reformat the old HDD or heck - buy a new HDD, and using Disk Utility, you'll have the option to restore from Time Machine.

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Thanks for commenting. &nbsp;I have a time machine backup. &nbsp;But if I restore to that, won't that take me back to the same place I was? Or would the system reinstall &quot;clean things up&quot; and after restoring things would work better?
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Thanks for commenting.  I have a time machine backup.  But if I restore to that, won't that take me back to the same place I was? Or would the system reinstall "clean things up" and after restoring things would work better?

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I have a 21.5&quot; , 2.7 GHZ Intel i5, 12 gb RAM, &nbsp;iMac and it's been feeling kinda slow lately , I've had it a a year and a half or so... I've been reading around and other than using DISK TOOLS on the hard drive people recommend I run a fresh install of the OS.<br />
<br />
If I do this, will I loose all the applications that I've installed?<br />
<br />
Would you recommend I do this?<br />
<br />
Thanks for the advice Experts!
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I have a 21.5" , 2.7 GHZ Intel i5, 12 gb RAM,  iMac and it's been feeling kinda slow lately , I've had it a a year and a half or so... I've been reading around and other than using DISK TOOLS on the hard drive people recommend I run a fresh install of the OS.

If I do this, will I loose all the applications that I've installed?

Would you recommend I do this?

Thanks for the advice Experts!

Fresh system install OSX

Apple's early computers ran on a variety of operating systems, including a Pascal version and one based on CP/M, before releasing its ProDOS with the advent of its 16-bit computer. With the release of the Lisa, which had its own OS, Apple and computing entered the graphical age; it was followed by the Macintosh, which offered a series of "System" operating systems. Other Mac operating systems included PowerPC until Apple acquired NeXT and folded it into the Mac OS. Current operating systems for Apple devices are Mac OS-X and iOS.

Apple OS

All of Apple's hardware is produced solely by Apple Inc., who determines internal systems, designs, and prices. Apple buys certain components wholesale from third-party manufacturers. The current Mac product family uses Intel x86-64 processors. All Mac models ship with at least 1 GB RAM as standard. Current Mac computers use ATI Radeon or nVidia GeForce graphics cards and include a dual-function DVD and CD burner, called the SuperDrive. Current Apple hardware includes the iPad, iPhone, iMac, Mac Pro, Macbook, iPod and Apple TV. Discontinued hardware includes the Apple I, Apple II, and the Apple III, the Lisa, the Newton, the Quadra, Performa, Centris, Macintosh II and LC series, the Power Macintosh, iBooks and the MacBook.

Apple Hardware

Mac OS X is the desktop operating system from Apple Inc., found on Macintosh computers. OS X consists of a Mach/BSD-based kernel, operating system interfaces primarily based on FreeBSD and additional frameworks (written in C, C++ and Objective-C providing user interface and application-level services.