MacOS – Time Machine Single File Restore after System Reinstall

If you don't restore the applications in the Migration Assistant you can restore them later by navigating to the /Applications folder and then running "Time Machine.app" go to the point in your history you want to restore and the choose the apps you want.

Good Luck.

No.

"Clean slate" makes sense primarily outside you user folder: System Extensions, Drivers, Fink/Macports, UNIX Tools, Developer Tools, etc.

Therefore you can try restoring only your user folder from Time Machine backup during system installation, which restores all (or almost all) of your personal software configuration as well. If you store software in ~/Applications, you're done (except maybe iWork and other installer-installed applications); otherwise you can copy them from the backup.

If you just want a "clean" ~/Library/Application Support and ~/Library/Preferences: It is primarily a waste of your time. Delete the large, obsolete directories there and you're done.