Fresh Install: Best method to transfer data?

hi everyone. know there tons of people out there have done os upgrade , run permission nightmares. sincerely think "best practices" guide should made outline how best restore personal files after fresh install of os x.

have been fighting permissions errors months. mean trackpad settings wouldn't stick, iphoto kept prompting me if want auto-open when connecting camera, couldn't rotate photos in preview because didn't have sufficient privileges files. tried fix these problems via "repair disk permissions," acl fix/repair tool (both lion's recovery mode, , 3rd party apps), manually editing permissions in finder, , myriad of terminal 'chmod' suggestions. seemed each attempt fix 1 or 2 problems, while others persisted. tried wiping , installing leopard (my original os) thinking if went through two-os upgrade process solve issues. i'm usable state, i'm not convinced i'm through this.

here recommendations os x re-install:

• do clean install (wipe hard drive), because if you’re me, there many applications, , files left behind applications, don’t need, , keep things clean.
• don't transfer applications (migration assistant or time machine). install applications need fresh, , don’t touch prefs files.
• home folder: copy whole desktop, duplicate , erase old copy. take while, should reset permissions should be, since old account seen foreign new system (and yes, should able “chmod 755” instead of lengthy duplication, whatever reason changes didn’t stick me once restarted).
• organize home folder data proper locations in new system copy absolutely necessary. library/preferences files, example, should left alone; main culprit when comes random errors , anomalies in day-to-day use.
• run verify/repair disk permissions in disk utility. *this shouldn't find problems, anyway.

so rule of thumb not use migration assistant or time machine interface, because seem create unsolvable permissions errors. also, copy need, should document-type files, rather applications, or files affect applications.

think overkill? do, after wiping system 5 times using different restore methods, way able system running without wanting defenestrate macbook. thought migration assistant designed copy on entire user, updating permissions work on new installation. this, however, has never been experience.

please share experiences , suggestions (unless upgrade went first time. there's not point in hearing you). if knows don't, i'm anxious learn!

thanks!

 

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