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I've never done a clean install, always just updated previous osx's. So I don't have the original files to do it.
So I'm thinking I'm going to have to download/create a bootable USB from Yosemite/el capitan or sierra. Then do a clean install from that, assuming that a clean install is a more manual version of migration.
The reason I want to do this is that there's a whole load of carryover from previous operating systems and files which aren't in use and which can't be deleted, so want to make sure those aren't carried over otherwise the whole thing is a waste of time...
Plus I need to make a back up of boot drive/documents as I've never had one, and after a couple of computer freak outs want to make sure if it does fall over totally I can bring all my shit back.
Why do you want to boot from an external drive? Can't you just backup, format, clean install?