Clean install, backup, recover individual files and applications.

I'm sure this has already been discussed and explained but I'm not quite sure what to look for exactly. If someone can give me a link to the correct thread, that would be fine.
I've had my MacBook for about three weeks now and I never did a clean/fresh install (didn't know that would save a lot of space on the HD). I want to do one now, but how do I go about this?
Sure, first I'll need a backup program (SuperDuper has been reccommended a lot). But what I don't know is whether or not I can choose which files and applications I'd like to put back on the MacBook after the clean installation. I mean, I don't want to recover the entire backup because that would defeat the purpose of a clean installation right?
Also, can I just recover the systems settings separately too?
Yeah, so I hope this makes sense. If not, I'd be glad to elaborate.
Billy
Ps: and what about merely recovering iTunes' library, playlists and such?

One final question: I'm now using my iPod (5G, 60GB) as a bootable HD. Will this corrupt the iPod or harm it in any way? There isn't a real consensus from what I've gathered by swiftly browsing the Internet just now.
Maybe I should've asked this question before starting the SuperDuper procedure
Billy.

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I did a backup from all my files saved in old external hd to time capsule. After that double checked and recover one file from TC to mac air and it worked just perfect. Today went through TC to recover another file and none of them were there?

I did a backup from all my files saved in old external hd to time capsule. After that double checked and recover one file from TC to mac air and it worked just perfect. Today went through TC to recover another file and none of them were there?Anybody has a clue what happened?

renatocremonese wrote:
I want to use it for backing up my Mac.
It's good for that . . .
But also I don't keep all my stuff in my Mac.
But not for that.
This older and not day-by-day usage files I want to store in the time machine.
You can do that (see below), but how are you going to back them up? If your only copies are on the TC, when (not if) it fails, you risk losing your only copy of the data.
Is it possible to split TC in two partitions.
No, but there are some workarounds, including making a fixed-size disk image on it to "reserve" some space. See #Q3 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule.
But you still won't have backups of the stuff you put there.
You don't say what kind of Mac you have. If it's a desktop model, just keep the external HD connected to it, and let Time Machine back it up along with your internal HD.
However, it sounds like you may have a laptop, where that's not going to be convenient. In that case, your best bet might be to copy the external HD to a disk image on the TC as above, then keep the HD in a safe place.
To finish, when i enter the TC and go through the Time line how can I get a file from there and move it back to Mac hd.
Via the "Star Wars" display, per #15 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
You might also want to review the Time Machine Tutorial, and perhaps browse the rest of the FAQ.

Lost all files and applications installed after changing user profile in the registry of windows 8.1 pc

The original user profile on my windows 8.1 pc is C:\Apple\acer sm. I tried changing it to C:\Apple\Apple. After I rebooted my PC, I found out that all my files and applications are lost. What shall I do to recover them?
Your help would save my life. Thank you!

Hi AppleMist,
We wonder if you changed the registry entry or path of user profile.
If you did that in registry please try changing it back.
After changing your user profile and reboot, system won’t read the profile you changed but a new user profile (C:\Apple\acer sm or TEMP) should be created by system. Try renaming this new one as acer sm.old and changing the apple back to acer sm.
It should works fine if you didn’t change file in profile, if it doesn’t work perform a system restore.
Regards
D. Wu
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]

Time Machine 10.5.3 can now recover individual File Vault files?!

I don't know when this happened, but it appears that I can now recover individual files from a FV protected account using TM in Leopard 10.5.3. It works just like it does with an unprotected account;choose a folder, click in the dock, zoomy UI.
What's more, while logged into a FV protected account, I can chose BackUp Now... and it does just that. The only difference is that when I log off of a FV protected account, a backup is performed, which makes sense since individual files cannot be backed up once the FV protected account is logged off.
Am I right? This was such a big user issue I am surprised Apple didn't make a bigger issue about announcing it.

Neither OS X nor QuickTime natively allows the playback of .flv content. However, adding Perian to your system
http://perian.org/#detail
playback. I imagine that at some point in the past, you must have installed Perian on your MBP but not on your Mac Pro.

How to do a Clean Install (Don't preserve users and network settings)

I'd like to make a clean install of Snow Leopard -- but NOT erasing the whole drive and NOT migrating/preserving my users and network settings.
I have a bunch of applications and huge data sets (about 40G) on the boot drive that I don't want to go through the trouble of reinstalling or backing up, and that do not install Application Support folders and the like. I'd like to keep them, as well as migrate files like fonts and preferences over manually. Thus I don't want to format in disk utility and install.
I seem to remember there was the option in Tiger (Leopard maybe?) to Archive and Install Without Preserving anything, such as network settings, users, extensions and preferences. It would leave a completely fresh System, and a Previous System where I could manually migrate over everything I wanted to keep.
Is this possible in Snow Leopard?
Thanks.

Let me clarify.
Snow Leopard does an Archive and Install, BUT it PRESERVES Users and Settings. The default install "upgrades in place".
I have been having all sorts of weird crashes and hangs on my Leopard install and i want a fresh, not upgraded install.
I WANT to keep my old Leopard system so I can manually transfer over fonts, files, and applications.
I WANT an upgrade that DOES NOT preserve Preferences, Application Settings, extensions, etc. etc. etc.
But, I do NOT want to have to completely format and install, because that would involve burning approximately 60G of files and applications to DVD-Rs and copying them back.
Thanks.
Message was edited by: J Law

Hi, I am going to reset my Macbook Pro to factory settings but I would like to back it up first. I have backed it up to an external Hard Drive so if I were to wipe the laptop, would i be able to retrieve all of my files and applications

Hi, I am going to reset my Macbook Pro to factory settings but I would like to back it up first. I have backed it up to an external Hard Drive so if I were to wipe the laptop, would i be able to retrieve all of my files and applications. (Office Mac, Adobe CS6, Logic Pro)

When OS X asks you to restore a backup, it will allow you to select what you want to restore from the backup, Just select the things you need, because if you select everything, you will be in the same status as before restoring the Mac to factory settings. This has nothing to do with erasing the hard drive
It's OK to make backups with Time Machine

I just clean installed maverick on my computer and I have nothing in my iTunes library, how can I get back all the music I have bought?

I just clean installed maverick on my computer and I have nothing in my iTunes library, how can I get back all the music I have bought?

From your backups. By doing a clean install you erased your startup volume. You may have installed OS X, but your personal software was erased. You can restore from backups if your have them. If not, then you've lost it all, permanently.

GUID Partition Scheme - Need clean install: can I restore files from TM?

So, here's my problem. I have an Intel PowerMac (first series after the G5) and when I try to install SL I get the following error message: "Can't Install Snow Leopard Since Disk Does Not Use GUID Partition Scheme". I guess it's something related to the fact thet I previously upgraded from an old iMac with a PPC processor (Apple partition vs. GUID partition).
Anyway, accoding to my understanding, the only solution for me is to do a clean install by wiping the HD and re-partitioning it.
Now, my question is: can I use my current TM backup to later restore apps/prefs onto the new SL system? I believe that TM now has an Apple partition scheme that reflects the one I have on Leopard 10.5. Is that right? Will I encounter any problem because of the different partition type of TM?

"Anyway, accoding to my understanding, the only solution for me is to do a clean install by wiping the HD and re-partitioning it."
Right, except that your drive will automatically be erased when you set up the GUID partitiion.
"Now, my question is: can I use my current TM backup to later restore apps/prefs onto the new SL system? I believe that TM now has an Apple partition scheme that reflects the one I have on Leopard 10.5. Is that right? Will I encounter any problem because of the different partition type of TM?"
Your TM backup should work. But, there are not many guarantees in life. You could tranfer you TM backup temporarily to your internal and then make a bootable clone of your internal on your external. Afterwards, you could transfer the TM backup back. Then, you'd have two sources from which you could restore items.
Message was edited by: donv (The Ghost)

Time Capsule by default backup only data files and excludes program files like Photoshop, Lightroom, and MS Office, etc... right? or do I have to exclude manually?

Time Capsule by default backup only data files and excludes program files like Photoshop, Lightroom, and MS Office, etc... right since if crash I can reinstall and not want to take up disk space for applications that I have CD to reinstall? Or do I have to manually exclude these?

Time Machine will back all files except files like caches, trash or temp files, you can select with file you would like to exclude by going into the Time Machine preferences.http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

I have a 1.5 hour video of a concert from which I need to extract several 'tracks' as individual files, and then join them together in a new video. How do I do this using imovie?

I have a 1.5 hour video of a concert from which I need to extract several 'tracks' as individual files, and then join them together in a new video. How do I do this using imovie?

Adobe has made this process much simpler in recent years.
No need to re-install any version earlier than the current version (CS6). All installers (upgrade or full) contain the full program code. The difference between full and upgrade is in the serial number.
All you need do is download (link below) and install CS6, enter the CS6 upgrade serial number then enter the CS5 serial number (even if that too is an upgrade).
Download CS6 products

What is the fastest way to transfer files and applications from an older iMac to a new MacBook Pro?

What is the fastest way to transfer files and applications from an older iMac to a new MacBook Pro?
I have a Firewire cable and Thunderbolt adapter, but no icons showing either Mac appear on either desktop.

The fastest way is to use Carbon Copy Cloner and a external drive formatted GUID OS X Ext. J in Disk Utlilty, then connecting to the new Mac and using Migration Assistant in the Utilites folder.
Even faster, if you can determine your going to replace all the apps from fresh sources anyway (like if the older Mac's OS X verison is old thus the apps) then just use a external drive and copy just your files to it, then connect to the new Mac and transfer over.
Some apps you can just grab the registration code and install it fresh on the new machine with the old code, talk to the developer about transfering the program, as long as it's deleted on the older Mac in the process.
It used to be Firewire Target disk mode was fastest, but since Thunderbolt came out...
Notice this support doc hasn't been updated since june 2012, no Thunderbolt info
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

How do i recover lost files and documents?

how do i recover lost files and documents?

Way 1. Recover Deleted Text Messages on iPhone with Backups
1) Recover lost files on iPhone from iTunes Backup
As you know, every time you sync your iPhone with iTunes, it will automatically make a backup of your iPhone contents including photos, SMS, reminders, contacts and more. Step 1. Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer. Step 2. Choose "Recover form Backup" option. Step 3. Select a backup you need. If you don't know which one to choose, you'd better choose the latest backup. Step 4. Click "Start Scan". Step 5. Preview contents in details and select lost files you need. Step 6. Click "Recover".
2) Recover Deleted documents on iPhone from iCloud Backup
You should make sure that you have backup in iCloud before recovery. Go to Settings < iCloud. Log in to your Apple ID and toggle the Contacts switch from ON to OFF. Then turn it ON and choose Merge on the pop-up message. Then all contacts in the iCloud backup are back to your iPhone 4S.
Way 2. Recover Deleted files on iPhone without Backups
While if you don’t have any backup files in iTunes or iCloud, the unique way is to recover with iPhone Data Recovery. Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer and Run the software. Step 2. Click "Start Scan" > Scan data on your iPhone quickly. Step 3. Preview and select lost files you need. Step 4. Click "Recover" to recover them.

I am using MS Office 2010 and Windows XP Professional, can I use iCloud for backup of my files and documents?

I am using MS Office 2010 and Windows XP Professional, can I use iCloud for backup of my files and documents? I am planning to transition to a Mac so using the iCloud seems to make the most sence.

No, it is not a backup method at all. If you delete a sync'd file on any device, you delete it permanently from iCloud. That by its very essence is not a backup solution therefore. A backup solution does not automatically and simultaneiously delete the file everywhere when it is deleted from the original source.
iCloud is strictly a syncronization tool for using files on multiple internet connected devices.

A magnet fell on my macbook "late 2007 series black" and it stopped working. When i start my macbook up it sits on the white screen. i tried inserting the snow leopard disk to do a clean install but the disk ejects and all i see is the pointer.help please

A magnet fell on my macbook "late 2007 series black" and it stopped working. When i start my macbook up it sits on the white screen. i tried inserting the snow leopard disk to do a clean install but the disk ejects and all i see is the pointer. i even bought a new hard drive to do the clean install but the same thing happens. Please Help

Your problem is not Boot Camp, in fact, is your optical drive. Win XP requires indeed sp2, but also the internal drive, does not work from external optical drive.
For other possible tricks, please use the appropriate Boot Camp forum, not here. Mac OS X may be installed from both external and internal optical drive and/or internal/external partition of a disk, any disk. Windows is not so generous.

I recently upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard and I noticed that I have more capacity available on the Macintosh HD. I checked my files and applications and they are still on my computer. Can capacity on the HD change after an OS upgrade?

I recently upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard on my MacBook and I noticed that I have more capacity on the Macintosh HD than before the upgrade. I checked my files and applications and they are still on my computer and nothing appears to be missing. Before the upgrade I had around 111 GB capacity with around 10.50 GB available on the Mac HD but now after the upgrade I have 119 GB capacity and 20.92 GB available. Can capacity on the HD change after an OS upgrade?

No, but the upgrade removed unneeded PowerPC code and changed the way free space is determined.
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Clean install, backup, recover individual files and applications.

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