Can I do an archive and install of Leopard on Leopard?

When I first upgraded, I chose the simple upgrade option. But now I'm having performance issues, and I'm wondering if it would help to do a cleaner install. In the alternative, I need to learn how to back up my applications and documents and perform a clean install from scratch.
I'm a bit frustrated. I switched in March from Windows to Apple because I no longer wanted to be locked in mortal combat with my computer. Before I did the upgrade, I was very happy with my iMac, and I want to be happy again. I'm thinking that maybe I didn't do a good install, and that a "do over" would help.
Please, if you know what you're talking about, I would be grateful for any advice you can give me. Thank you.

Once, you sort out your problems, Get a bootable, external HD, and make a bootable backup/clone before upgrading/updating and ensure that works like the original. That allows you to revert to the previous good state without having to reinstall anything. Then, peruse these
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106941
http://www.macmaps.com/upgradefaq.html
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/installswupdates.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/backuprecovery.html
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5757385
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5666369
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5646414
Also, since you're new to Macs, these should help:
Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
MacFixIt Tutorials, and
MacTips Learning Centre.
Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:
Quick Assist.
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

Similar Messages

How can I do an archive and install

I have just put my new 1TB HDD in my macbook pro and I cannot enable FV2, something to do with a recovery partition. I have heard that a reinstall will work, so how can I do an archive and install on my MacBook pro?
Mid-2012, Mountain Lion.
Thank you.

A&I went away with Snow Leopard. Reinstalling it or later OSs overwrites all OS components and basic Apple apps. Updating or upgrading to solve problems is the wrong approach, You need to fix the current issues before embarking on that path. As for speeding up things, see:
Mac Maintenance Quick Assist,
Mac OS X speed FAQ,
Speeding up Macs,
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance,
Essential Mac Maintenance: Get set up,
Essential Mac Maintenance: Rev up your routines,
Maintaining OS X,
Five Mac maintenance myths
How to Speed up Macs, and
Myths of required versus not required maintenance for Mac OS X for information.

Can I Archive and Install From Leopard Up-To-Date Disc?

I'm a Mac newbie, so I apologize if this is an obvious question.
I purchased my iMac this month, so I received a Leopard Up-To-Date disc for $10. The CD says Upgrade on it, and I can't find any options for what type of install I want to run. I've seen things like Erase And Install, Archive and Install, and Upgrade posted here on the forums, but the only options I have are whether or not to install things like Core Services, X11, etc. Can I not perform an Archive and Install with this disc, and if I can't, is there any chance I could request a full CD from Apple?
Message was edited by: AceDew

You should be able to -- when you get to the screen that asks you to choose your installation destination, highlight the drive, then you will see in the lower-left an options buttion. CLick it and you will find three choices: upgrade, archive/install and upgrade install. Choose the one you want and enjoy!
Keep in mind that when you put the disk in, the system will verify that the DVD is OK -- it takes a few minutes, but it is worth knowing that the disk is not corrupt before you start. Also, repairing permissions seems to take awhile -- just let it happen.

Can you do an archive and install from a download update?

I upgraded to Tiger and 10.4.4 came on the disc I bought. I'm running into some problems w/ utilities that I have and would like to do an archive and install from the 10.4.10 download. The only option is an easy install though.

Welcome to the forums!
You cannot Archive & Install from a downloaded update. You need to do an Archive & Install from your 10.4.4 DVD, then download and run the 10.4.10 Combo Updater.

Aftewr Archive and Install of Leopard - how to recover files?

After a long and frustrating day installing Leopard on my MacBook Pro (five months old), I finally have it up and running but don't know how I should recover settings and documents from my archived files. As per Apple's advice, I did the archive and install without preserving settings.
Actually, documents are fairly straightforeward, but what about Entourage data (emails, addresses, etc.)?
Also, will applications like Photoshop, Lightroom, etc. need to be reinstalled?
Please advise.
Thanks very much.
Regards,
Tom

Having left my French in high school, I googled, and then read your description. That is the "Keychains" folder. Keychain Access is the program that manages the keychains, which store all of your passwords.
There are a few places on the Mac you can look for translations. Each app will have embedded in it folders for each localization it supports. The .strings files usually hold the translations. To see inside an app, ctrl-click on the app and choose "Show Package Contents." You'll get a folder Called "Contents." Dig down into that folder and there will be a "Resources" folder. In there, will be the translation folders named with the language.lproj. You can poke around in these folders, but don't change anything or you might break stuff. I used QuickLook (select file and hit spacebar) to view the files, but any text editor will work--just ctrl-click on it and choose "Open with..."
The Finder and the Core Services of the OS are in the /System/Library/ folder. The CoreServices folder has just that, including the Finder and Dock, which are the apps that drive most of what you see. Both of those are just apps, so you can view their contents and see what localizations they have. I searched through them for "Trousseau de clefs" but could not find it. In the /System/Library folder are two other promising folders, "Resources" and "SystemFolderLocalizations." Both have .lproj folders with some translations.
Besides just googling for French localizations on Mac OS X, try reading about Localizations at the Apple Developer Connection.
As where I've learned all of this: Mostly here on these discussions and MacOSXHints and MacFixIt and The X Lab. I've also found info on personal blogs by googling for an issue along with "Mac OS X" or "Tiger" or "Leopard."

Difference between "upgrade" and "archive and install" to Leopard

Please explain the difference between the two. I've been on the fence for 2 weeks and have about decided not to install Leopard at all. My system is running perfectly and I'm not sure what Leopard offers that I "need".
I understand that if I do "anything" I should do a disk image of my current hard drive, and somewhere not long ago there were complete instructions on how to prepare yourself before installing Leopard.
I've been looking through threads and haven't found what I need to know.
thanks

And if I partition my current hard drive , everything is erased.
I can't find where I read it to verify and provide a link, but someone posted that the new version of Disk Utility can partition an HD without destroying data. DU is available on the Leopard install disc in the Installer's Utilities menu.
Still can't verify this report. So please take it with a grain of salt!
Message was edited by: David.Austin.Allen

Boot problems - can I "Archive and Install" to back-up and then reformat?

Hi all!
I'm having booting problems with my PowerBook 15".
I've ran the hardware/disk utility tests and everything seems fine. The problem is, I get a blue-screen with the spinning sun-dial or sthing. It keeps spinning and spinning! I tried going into safe-mode, but it doesn't work!
My question is, can I do an "Archive and Install"... load a fresh copy of OS X on my PowerBook so that I can back-up my data? Would this work?
Please help, thanks!

I took the risk and managed to install Tiger over my previous OS successfully! Afterwards, I backed up everything as fast as I could, and then did a Clean Install. Worked like a charm! haha..
However... after doing the Clean Install, I realised that I am UNABLE to install "Windows Media Player for Mac OX X" on to my machine!?!?! I downloaded "WindowsMediaInstaller.bin", and opened it with StuffIt Expander. StuffIt Expander just hung at the "Preparing" mode and says "Preparing..."
Anyone else has/had the same problem? Please help, as a number of online radio sites require Windows Media Player to run, and now I can't access them!! =(

Recovery of lost printers after Archive and Install

Hi,
I just finished an Archive and Install of Leopard, and I discovered that one of the side-effects of doing this is that my printers are all gone. I sort of expected this, and I have a full system backup of the system I rebuilt, so if all else fails, I can boot off the backup, and print or take notes on the printer settings, and then go back to my active installation of Leopard and re-enter them all. But I'm wondering if there's an easier way. Would anyone know if all of the printer info might be contained in a few discrete sections of the "Previous System" folder that I could just drag into the current system folder to get all of my printers back? I do consulting work at a number of companies, so I have about ten printers that I routinely print to, so it's a bit of a bother to rebuild the list by hand.
Thanks,
Ken

Usually, when no additional printer software had been installed into the Mac
(assuming the printers are among the many supported printers already in it)
all you'd have to do in order to use one of those attached or available printers
would be to have them turned on and attached to the computer or the network
they'd normally be accessed through. Unless they require newer driver software.
At times, the choices of available printers would appear in the print setup in an
open application; at others, you may have to go into the setup utility to see if
the printers could be added to the list - pulling drivers from the installed OS X
and putting them into a position to be used, if compatible with the printers there.
The system's installer and updated files available to it include many drivers,
and these are not all turned on by default.
So, if there is no chance of the printers being recognized by the OS X version
you have (assuming archive & install and update) even after being given any
new drivers available through Software Update, you may have to seek out the
latest drivers from the printer manufacturers web site downloads pages.
There may be some other way to make the printers work through the OS; if
they otherwise should appear and be available. Some of the printer setups
& CUPS printing options or settings should be explored if they haven't been.
Although I don't have OS X 10.5.x running in my computers now, I have tried
it and decided to stay awhile longer in 10.4.11; some of the same kinds of
issues can occur, between these slightly different systems. You may be able
to re-use the printer drivers from the Previous System, unless their installer
had an instruction set to put various parts for the printer software in different
locations, in which case, the drag-n-drop may not be suitable to reinstall them.
Hopefully someone with more restore experience (short of manually reinstalling
drivers, if these are not already a part of the OSX and its 10.5 install/updates)
will contribute a bit more and direct you as per the specific demands of Leopard.
PS:
When you get your system back in order, you may wish to consider making a
full computer drive clone on an externally enclosed FireWire drive unit capable
of booting Mac OS X and running your PPC-based Mac (and also Intel-based)
so that unit may be something in the way of a FW400/800 + USB2.0 drive with
its own AC power adapter. OWC sells a mercury drive enclosure with HDD in it.
That may be a way to avoid doing Archive & Installs + updates; just restore from
a full drive clone and be on your way. And do other backups if needed, too.
Good luck & happy computing!
{ edited 2x }

Lost MPEG-2 after archive and install

I bought and used the MPEG-2 playback component but MPEG Streamclip no longer believes it is installed after a recent archive and install of Leopard.
I still have my confirmation email of purchase, but there's no indication as to how to reinstall or repair MPEG-2.
What do I need to do to restore Quicktime and especially MPEG-2?

I'd recommend saving your (paid-for) QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg file on your local disk. This would go for any software you pay for and then download online, especially if it can be accidentally wiped out by an OS upgrade.

Installing leopard as an 'archive and install' and problems!

I have just made and archive and install of leopard on my macbook and although the programme told me the installing had been accomplished without problems, the computer could not start up. Instead of starting up it entered a sort of loop where it displayed the Mac apple and had a weel spinning for some minutes, then the screen went black as if it restarted the computer and then it went back to the mac apple on a grey/blue background and the spinning weel.
Can anybody help me with this problem? What has gone wrong and how can a save my computer!

This is just my disaster day! I finally managed to get Leopard installed, but despite the fact that I did an 'archive and install' the installation process had not kept my files intact - most of my work files have gone it seems and the Leopard did start all over keeping none of my settings at all.
I have now looked in the previous systems folder and only some files and settings are seemingly stored, but I don't know how to 'reinstall' them on my computer.
I must admit that Mac very much resembles macrisoft products in this case. What a disaster!

Does "Archive and Install" really exists on the Snow Leopard install DVD ?

Well, Mr Magoo really needs your help.
I have an iMac late 2009 edition and the Snow Leopard DVD installer discs.
Reading the little baby paper book manual that came with the discs and the iMac it says on page 54 that i can re-install Snow Leopard by choosing "Archive and Install" or "Erase and Install".
Mr Magoo just can't find that "Archive and Install" choice and have concluded that this is a very bad reprint of a manual from years long ago when it was possible to archive and install or it some joke by Apple.
Unfortunately my 90 days of phone talk to Apple has expired albeit the two year warranty under apple sometimes care program i purchased is still valid.
Help/suggestions on how i can get to do an Archive and Install with the Snow Leopard installer DVD that came with this iMac ?

Dave Sawyer wrote:
You misunderstand what Carolyn wrote. In Snow Leopard, Apple engineered the installer so that any reinstallation over an existing copy is in essence an "archival" install in the sense that it replaces all the OS files while automatically preserving the applications and user settings, just as the old "archive and install" option did, though no longer with the option to not preserve the user settings. So all installations over an existing OS are in essence "archive and install", so Apple removed the extra, now-redundant option.
They also removed the "Erase and Install" option. The only way you get a "complete fresh" installation is if you use Disk Utility to erase the drive. Otherwise the 10.6 installer will install a new set of OS files but not remove your apps and user settings.
If you want to reinstall Mac OS X 10.6 and keep your applications and user settings and data, just do a normal installation over the existing one. If you want to do a completely fresh installation, either starting completely new or restoring user data from a backup, first run Disk Utility from the Utilities menu and erase the drive.
Well, have you tried an Snow Leopard installation on top of a previously installed Snow Leopard.
I must really be an idiot in using the snow leopard installer.
I loaded the optical slot with the Snow Leopard DVD installer and after it opened up on the desk top i double clicked the install icon. That restarted my iMac.
When I launched the installer after selecting my "Language" and then going thru the customization ( for example I don't need all those foreign languages ) and then selecting the drive to carry out the installation the installation starts.
Upon completion all my third party applications were zapped and i only had the Apple applications. There was no "previous" system folder as there used to be in previous operating system installers.
So, honestly, I have no idea how you folks manage to make an Snow Leopard installation over a previously installed Snow Leopard whereby all the third party applications are still there.
Please tell me the steps i should take to make an "archival" install over top of a previously installed Snow Leopard that retains all third party applications.
After my install of Snow Leopard I had to re-install all my third party software applications which in my case are mainly midi/audio programs.

Mac OS X to Mac OS X Server Archive and Install

I bought the Tiger Server Box and need to install it onto an iMac to serve as a non-mission critical server, but there is some data on it that I would like to avoid having to backup. Can I perform an archive and install installation of Mac OS X Server over Mac OS X, while preserving all of my data and settings?

You don't need to do an archive install. You can install OSX server right on top of an existing OSX Install.
It is documented on the server install disk what to do if installing on an existing osx installation.
I installed Panther Server some time ago onto an existing Panther OS. I did not need to boot from the server install disk. I just ran an installer package.
I am sorry I can't be more specific but its been over a year since I did a server install.

Archive and Install iLife 09

I am using iLife '09. I performed an archive and install of Leopard from Snow Leopard. Everything works great, with exception of iLife applications. Does anyone know where the support files are located on the system so that I can recover all of my photos, and imovie projects? Appreciate anyone's help with knowledge in this area. Unfortunately, I cannot locate my CD with my iLife Apps for a reinstall. Thanks.

Robert:
Your photos are located inside the iPhoto Library package that's located in your Pictures folder. You movies are located in the Movies folder.
What happens when you try launching one of the iLife applications?

Archive and Install Leopard - questions about "previous system" folder

now that i have done an archive and install for leopard I have a "Previous system" folder. In it is "Applications", "Library", "Private", "Users", and "System" folders.
Which can I delete and which must I save??

Hi DrAndy;
It is my understanding that after testing the installation done with an Archive & Install once you are certain that everything is working correctly the "Previous System" folder can be deleted in it's entirety.
Allan

Can I wipe my 2012 Mini and install Snow Leopard

I have years of apps, and files on my backup Time Machine using Snow Leopard, can I wipe Mountain Lion and install Snow Leopard?

Running Snow Leopard (with Rosetta) in Parallels:
[click on image to enlarge]
Full Snow Leopard installation instructions here:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1365439
NOTE: Computer games with complex, 3D or fast motion graphics make not work well or at all in virtualization.

Can I do an archive and install of Leopard on Leopard?

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