Clean Erase Install

I initially installed Leopard over tiger I am assuming that this added an additional 9 gbs on my hard-drive so I deceided to get an external HD and use time machine with migration so it wouldn't be an exact copy, then a clean install to get that space back. After everything was said and done I got an extra gb. So I am wondering if time machine copied tiger off of my hard-drive? Is there a better way to do this?

When you run the Leopard installer, you can click the Options button and select the Archive and Install option. This preserves your user data and setting, but gives you a fresh Leopard System instead update the existing system. The old system is put into a folder called Previous Systems. After ensure you do not need anything from the old system, you can delete this folder.
As with any major upgrade, you should back up your valuable user data.
Archive and Install is not a "clean install." The only way to do that is to erase the drive, and then install Leopard.

Similar Messages

Clean erase install, backup question

It is good and time to do a complete erase reinstall of OS 10.4 (plus classic, which is why I use 10.4....I still need classic).
I wish to save and transfer the following
My Documents
All my mails
All my itunes tunes
All my photos and movies
You get the idea.
I have an extra large HD.
Can I just do something simple like drag and drop my USER (house) icon then drop that back in somehowe?
Needless to see, don't want to mess this up.
I dont' min reinstalling all the software I use

It is good and time to do a complete erase reinstall of OS 10.4
Why? That is such a 'Windows thing' to do!
Instead why not simply perform an archive and install, which will preserve all your files and settings but on a fresh system.
How to Archive & Install:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
and this also:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2196?viewlocale=en_US

I need to clean erase/install before selling

I have a flat-panel iMac that I'm selling to neighbors for their daughter's use. First, tell me is $200.00 too low an asking price? The specs are shown in my profile. Nothing is wrong except the mysterious sound issue, which I told them about and advised them to get external speakers. I was hoping to get closer to $400.00 as I saw many going for on Ebay with less capability than mine. (This machine has been a dream!) Do you recommend my getting the original, round Harmon Kardon speakers to accompany the computer for sale?
Secondly, I went to the Apple Store yesterday and the associate knew very little to provide me with assistance. In attempting to do a erase and install of the OS from Disk Utility, my computer is now stuck on a grey screen with apple logo in the middle; it looks like in classic OS9.
It was asking for the install disk and I had 5 disks given to me from the guy that sold it to me off Ebay. I didn't know which one to insert so I chose "OS9" first. That's what put it in its current state.
After trying to backup or save items that I wanted to keep (iTunes library, documents, movies) I gave up and decided to sacrifice them all because the blank DVDs that I was using kept giving me error messages.
I have read here to: "Put your install disk in your Mac and Restart while holding down the C key." What should be on the screen when you put the install disk in?
"Click on Disk Utility and choose the hard drive you want your OS on." How do I know which HD to choose?"
Do I need to take this computer back to Apple or can I restore this myself?

The original Harmon Kardon speakers are hard to find and not compatible with many newer Macs but they do have good quality. If you got them, it would prove once and for all if the problem is with the sound chip on your computer, or just the speaker that is built-in, or some setting. My FAQ* explains how to prepare a Mac for selling:
http://www.macmaps.com/selling.html
Apple may have the correct install disks, if you misplaced yours. Give their AppleCare office a call.
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

Erase/install - backup first question

On my 2yr old macbook I want to do a clean erase/install bc i hear thats better. I've never backed up my computer before. I'm going tonight to buy an external HD to do so. All I want to move to my new OS is photos, music and docs, as well as MS office, all my keychain passwords, and my safari bookmarks. Will I be able to move these files, programs and settings over after the clean erase/install, and how? Also, am I forgetting anything obvious that I should want to move over?

David's advice is solid. However I would like to suggest one other possibility. First, partition the external into two partitions and clone your current system to +both partitions+. Then, upgrade the system on one of the the external's partitions, leaving the other as a backup and your currently stable system intact. You can run from the upgraded external partition to verify that everything is working to your satisfaction. If so, you can simply clone the upgraded system on the external drive back onto your MacBook's internal drive, leaving the second duplicate intact "just in case". But, if you have any issues or find that you prefer the previous version, you have only to reboot your internal drive. This "method" will cover any possible situation you could encounter. After you have verified that everything is "good", you can return the external to whatever use you like. But I would leave it partitioned so that you have one partition dedicated to a backup "clone" of your OS. This should be updated prior to making any future changes to your system.

Clean Erase and Install?

I am about to install Final Cut on my Mac Book Pro, but noticed a piece of advice in a book I was reading. Since I upgraded my OS from 10.4 to 10.5, the book says that to make sure Final Cut works well, I should have done a clean erase and install of 10.5. I did NOT do that, but instead did an archive and install. My 10.5 seems to work pretty well, save for a few little things... occasional random shut downs and frozen screens, prolonged beach balls... but only rarely does this stuff happen. But I'm guessing that things are not really optimized.
So, if I were to do a clean erase, what do I do? I have time machine up and running. I did a copy of my drive with Super Duper! Now what do I do? I don't want to make a big mess. I have my Leopard install disc that I bought (back when if first came out.) If anybody would be so kind as to suggest a list of steps that I would/should take, I would really appreciate it. I'm a little afraid to erase my whole drive... even with all the backups I have.
Thanks!

An Archive and Install is similar except without erasing the drive, so you should be OK. However, it would be wise to make a cloned backup of your boot volume for security in case you later have any problems and must erase the drive.

Should I do a clean OS install after buying second hand MacBook?

I just bought a second hand MacBook 2010 for my girlfriend. It came with a clean Lion installed. What is making me paranoid is that I use tracking software Prey on my own MBP and now how can I be sure that the new one hasn't got tracking software installed for opposite reason (to steal it and sell again)?
I know it might sound stupid, but I like to be prepared for the worst. So should I format the drive and install Lion again? What would you do?

I would never run a used Mac "as is"; there is too much potential for security violations or just software problems. I strongly recommend, unless you completely trust the person from whom you purchased the Mac, that you erase the hard drive and reinstal Mac OS X. That way you start fresh, without any of the cruft that accumulates on any OS, and of course remove any potential for malware such as a keylogger.
Regards.

Clean re-install of Snow Leopard on Macbook 2,1 - how to do, have Snow Leopard CD.

I have an old (late 2006 or early 2007 I believe) Macbook 2,1 : Core 2 Duo. Too old to upgrade to Lion. Still good. Has been running slowly of late, would like to do a clean re-install of all the software. Did re-install Snow Leopard off CD, but it maintained all the existing software and did not help.
Thanks, Matt

Put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window.
Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. You should see your hard drive in the left hand column along with your other drives. Click on the drive and select the Erase tab. Set the format value to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and click the Erase button. After that has finished select the Partition tab. Type in a Name for your hard drive and select how many partitions you want from the Volume Scheme. The usual setting is one partition. Click on the Options button after you've selected a partition to make sure it's set for GUID. Then click the Apply button and after the Partitioning is done quit Disk Utility.
You can now follow the instructions on the install screen

Erase & Install vs. Automatic Installation of Snow Leopard?

We have a MacMini running OS 10.4.11 and want to install Snow Leopard on it. One reason, among many, is that we want to run the newest version of Mac Dictate - v.1.5.8. We're concerned about different information we have received on which form of installation we need to make, and I know the installer options for Snow Leopard have changed from previous OSes. I'm not sure whether we can do an "Automatic" installation, or whether we have to do an "Erase & Install." Here's the conflicting information I've read or received, and I need some guidance on which is the best to follow.
Pogue in his "Missing Manual Snow Leopard" makes very clear that the new, improved and much smarter installer makes it so that there's "no longer any need for the classic "clean install"... every installation is, in effect, a clean install." He says that Snow Leopard can turn any OS X version 10.0 through 10.5-point-anything into version 10.6. He says, there are of course incompatible programs in the Applications folder, for which its one's job to check to make sure they've all been updated to 10.6-compatible versions.
However, the MacSpeech Mac Dictate people say, "if you are currently running 10.4.11 you will not be able to "upgrade" your operating system, you will have to do a clean install of Snow Leopard which will require your programs be reinstalled. For more information on Snow Leopard system requirements please contact Apple."
This seems to be in direct conflict with Pogue's information, which I have found to be extremely reliable - my go to source almost equal to the Apple discussion forums if I have a problem. But, Mac Dictate has a history of quirks. Is it possible that if I did an "automatic" install, the one program Mac Dictate could cause problems, or, not allow me to upgrade/install the new version of Mac Dictate?
Any help on this one? I'd like to do an automatic install and be able to utilize this improvement Apple made with the new OS, an easier installation process.
Thanks.

What about the possibility of older OS components that remain.
FWIW, I have never seen any credible evidence that this actually occurs. It seems to be a theory meant to explain some problems some users have after upgrading, but usually there are other reasons that could explain the same behavior that haven't been ruled out. AFAIK, it is kind of a "maybe/just in case" thing that justifies to some the "nuclear" solution of an erase & install to get rid of vaguely defined problems, including some unspecified 'left over' OS components that nobody seems able to identify.
Personally, I agree with Pogue & with several other users that post here frequently that consider an erase an unnecessary waste of time, except for a few very specific issues like a file system so corrupted that Disk Utility can't repair it or a HD not formatted with the GUID partition scheme.
If it were me & some company like the supplier of MacSpeech said "if you are currently running 10.4.11 you will not be able to 'upgrade' your operating system," I would at the very least ask specifically what they meant by that & why the scare quotes around the work "upgrade." This doesn't seem to have anything to do with the application itself or with installing it -- there is no mention I can find of this in any installation or upgrade instructions at the MacSpeech web site.

Tried to clean and install software on my Macbook

I was trying to do a clean and install on my computer and clearly I missed a set now all I get is a tire track on my sreen.

to be honest not sure where I went wrong. I placed the install DVD in and followed all the procedures and and when I got to the screen that I picked Erase and install it freezed becasue now that I am reviewing I should of gone to the top of the page and pick disk utilities.
Now when I place the disk in I hold down the option key and then pick the disk and the computer starts booting up it shows the apple and the spinning wheel but then the screeen turns blue then after a bit goes gray and the screen has a checker strip in down the middle of the screen.

Can I Erase/Install In Target Disk Mode?

I need to reinstall my Mac OS on my 13" MacBook Pro (Early 2011) but I'm having some issues. This began after a restart and I got the grey Apple Hardware Test Screen. The tests ran, and my hardware "appears to be OK". I haven't been able to start successfully in any of the ways that I normally would.
When I try to start from my hard drive, I get the Apple Logo and a progress bar. The progress bar goes about a third of the way and then my machine turns itself off. Doesn't matter if I hold down the shift key to start in safe mode.
When I try to start from my Mac OS X Snow Leopard CD I get the Apple Logo screen then a black box stating "You need to restart your computer" etc.
When I boot the hard drive in Target Disk Mode, I'm told Disk Utilities can't repair my disk, and I'll have to format my Hard Drive. (Hardly a surprise given the above)
I have the original disks that came with my computer and Mac OS Snow Leopard. I was going to install the OS using the original disks then update to Mac OS Snow Leopard. This leads me to three questions:
Can I erase/install the OS while in Target Disk Mode by inserting the Mac OS CDs into my desktop then selecting my laptop as the disk to install on.
Because I can still access all of the contents of my hard drive in Target Disk Mode, should I just drag and drop everything into the external hard drive I just bought or is there some sort of disk image-y something or other I should be creating. If so, how do I create the Disk Image?
In all likely hood is my internal hard drive just dead?

Easy solution is this: Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery. Update your firmware if needed. Then:
Install OS X Using Internet Recovery
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears on the screen. Wait patiently - 15-20 minutes - until the Recovery main menu appears.
Partition and Format the hard drive:
Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
After DU loads select your newly installed hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Install button. Be sure to select the correct drive to use if you have more than one.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
To answer the question about Target Disk Mode, the answer is if you can connect two Macs that both have Firewire ports, then you can treat your MBP to TDM so its drive will mount on the other Mac's Desktop. If you can boot the other drive from your Leopard disc, then you can do a clean install of Leopard on your MBP from the other computer.

Leopard 10.5 "erase & Install" process repeatedly dies on Mini

Hello-
I am attempting to do a clean "erase and install" of Leopard 10.5 directly from DVD onto my Mini. (10.5.something- but it is NOT 10.5.6 that everyone is having trouble with.) I have done this EXACT same process- same machine, same DVD- before and had NO trouble.
Everything seems to go smoothly, DVD checked, disk checked, software installed, registra

Got a resolution on this from Apple that I will post in the hope that it will help someone else. After the initial lockup on the screen where you enter "computer long and short name":
1. Power off by holding the power button,
2. Leave the install DVD in the drive,
3. Start in "safe mode" by holding the shift key until you see the Leopard installation screen,
4. If you have successfully gotten into "safe mode" (you can't tell), you will NOT be asked to re-install,
5. Humor the system and re-enter the registration information,
6. Create an account again- you will NOT be able to re-enter the one you created a few minutes ago, but this is a throw-away
7. You will now actually boot into safe mode,
8. "Go to System Preferences", then "Accounts",
9. Make sure the screen is unlocked (click on little lock icon) and delete the throw-away user.
You are in business! (At least I was)
Hope this helps someone-

ThinkVantage 4.0 fail after clean Win7 install

Downloaded Thinkvantage 4.0 system update after clean Win7 install on my T500 2081 CTO. Programme did not attach to my ThinkVantage Blue Button and did not even work when I started it from the start menu where it was placed. All I got was the logo. Did an erase and new install with the same result.
There are no clues on the download page at
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-73695

Is this a question of first installing the Hotkey Features Integration? What about the Hot Key Driver, is that included in the Features Integration?

How do I Erase & Install from the Install CD?

It's a long story but I need to do an Erase & Install on my new Intel iMac. I originally used Migration Assistant and my system is running super slow. People have suggested that perhaps I shouldn't have used Migration Assistant. So now I just want to clean the HD and start from scratch. Everyone tells me to just use the Install CD and go to Disk Utility. My question is how to I get to disk utility. When I boot from the Install CD it seems to think I only want to upgrade my system when in fact I want to erase the disk and start over. How to I get to Disk Unility?
Thanks,
Ben

Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disk. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
After the formatting is completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed to install OS X.
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Erase&Install,bypassing Getting Started

I only write as a last resort, my last action before insanity. I am going to sell or give away an eMac. I have done an Erase & Install over several times to see what i have missed but the result is always the same. I want it to be completely clean but it insists that i fill in forms that create a Home Folder name and a password. This seems ridiculous when i won't be using the computer and want it to be a clean slate for new operator, i'm sure i have done this before without a problem but now i can't find how to exit the process, i have even turned it off at the power button and when turned back on its still at the same page and as i go through it insists i fill in all required information. I have pulled the main power but still have to go over the same process around and around..
I have noticed the account it sets up for me doesn't assign Admin rights.. seems curious.
I can give the Home folder a name such as Mine and a basic password but i would prefer it to remain open. I don't know what Apple was thinking.
Am replacing 10.4 with 10.4 ( a downgraded version)
My respondents have had the answers before, i hope you do again.

Hello... there seems always something to worry about, even after i think i understand most of it.... i don't have any knowledge of a Zero one security so i absolutely can't answer the question... under Options offered in the installation i chose Erase & Install which says all data will be lost ( or words to that effect), i had deleted my account before doing the Erase, i have learned through forums and books to have a second ( unused) account set up with admin rights and with that account i deleted my active account.
I must have done the system installation 6 times. watching more carefully each time for anything i might have missed.
One of my books suggested ( but i don't know why) removing the disc after clicking Restart and ejecting it while the computer was black but the eject wouldn't work until the computer had restarted and anyway it carried on asking for a name and password even without the disc .
It said Registration didn't matter, obviously its old and there isn't a warranty but no way could i exit the part where it wanted a name that is then used on an automatically set up Home folder, i did see that a password was optional but without a password nothing could be done by a new user as to setting up an account with Admin rights so i went back and added one.
So ultimately the best i could do was to name the folder Home, rather than my name, and password 1234. There are no admin rights to that account but providing the next person knows the 1234 they can set up their own Admin account.
I would have preferred to set up an installation with a clean slate.
Could it depend on the type of disc used as to the options offered?
Thanks for the mention that data could still be retrieved, of course it is a concern but i didn't have anything of a particularly sensitive nature,( the **** sites are on this computer!) can't even get into my bank account without entering special grid references from a personal Netguard card.
My credit card will have been used on the computer but where possible i select for the details not to be stored.But i suppose that is no guarantee either.
I will check out the links you have sent me later.
I don't want to dump a good working computer, there is still a demand for eMacs. It is with some reluctance i will move forward from the eMac (10.5) i currently use onto an Intel mac but it must be done. Will it last as many years though, i will keep the eMac i now use as a back up but don't need to keep 2 which is why the other needs to go.

How long does erase-install of leopard take?

I have been having major difficulties with my G5; started with kernel panic, then I got a crash screen that said "corrupt stack," etc. Couldn't get the thing to boot up, even in Safe mode. Brought in to Genius Bar. Ran a battery of tests, updated Tiger, everything checked out okay, bought Leopard and came home. Under genius's advice, I tried an "erase-install" of Leopard. It seemed to be going okay at first, but at some point after the "checking the dvd" start of the process, everything just kind of quit. My display says "no signal." I thought maybe it just takes a really long time to erase everything, so I've been waiting. Been about an hour. Now, my fans just kicked in REALLY FAST. I'm afraid my computer is about to get airborne. Anyway, is this normal? Or am I having issues AGAIN? I don't know what it would do to my computer to force shut down in the middle of the install process, but on the other hand it doesn't sound like anything is going on, other than the fan (no typical optical drive or processor noises, etc.). PLEASE HELP! Thanks so much for any advice.

Hi, and welcome to the discussions.
Now, my fans just kicked in REALLY FAST. I'm afraid my computer is about to get airborne. Anyway, is this normal?
No! In fact nothing you describe is "normal".
Can you boot the computer from the OS installer DVD? If you can, go to the Utilities Menu and run Disk Utility. Ask DU to erase the drive. (I am pretty picky about this step, and I often do it twice, especially when there has been an aborted installation.)
Now go back to the installer and see if it will cooperate.
Good luck.
p.s. In spite of the clean bill of health, it is possible there is something more seriously wrong than a problem with the installation. But that type of thing is very difficult to diagnose at a distance, so this is no more than a warning.

Clean Erase Install

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