Erase and Install.. Is it now ready for new owner?

1 )   Hello, i think i saw the answer to my question in a previous post but as it is the first time i have installed a system i would like to make sure i understand properly. I am preparing a computer for sale or giveaway. At the end of the installation it carries on to the Welcome /Registration process, i presume it is at that point i stop, which i did, what baffled me was that there was no way to exit the page and no way to shut the computer down. I turned it off at the power button, is it ok now to pull the plug? And when it is turned back on will it start at the Welcome page and the new owner go on from there?
2 ) Before doing the Erase and Install i had a play around with removing my account. I deleted all private data and browsing history and anything i could find to delete, disabled auto login then i set up a fictitious account and used the admin rights given to that account to remove my proper account. That was all good except when the computer started again it still displayed my name on the panel that comes up saying e.g Joe Bloggs computer.   Is there a way to remove my name from that panel ?   The reason i ask is that a computer can be given away with the OS still in it ready to use with previous details removed but the new owner wouldn't want to see a previous owners name come up.( It didn't appear on the accounts page)
The name must have been put in during the configuration process, how or at what point do i avoid it or perhaps choose just to enter something general such as " my computer" ?    Thanks .

Gidday or i should say good evening.. i didn't leave a computer behind(?)... Before i did the Erase and Install i had as i described it a "play around". I think it was at that point my name still appeared on the start up pane. Then i put the disc in and yes the first time it was just an Upgrade ( i didn't realise) 10.3 to 10.4. I had a look and found the option to Erase and Install which has been done, it will have erased my name but that wasn't the first question... there was no way to exit the Welcome process so do i just pull the plug (its currently just been turned off at the machine itself) leaving it at that point of Welcome/ Registration, and is it now ready to go to a new owner?
As to the other query i am just curious to know if is there a way to remove the name from that pane? I presume i filled in the name somewhere during the Welcome process.
Yes i am aware that recovery can be done and that Erasing etc is the safest way but there was nothing to be of concern on the computer. I wasn't even doing internet banking back on the 10.3. I have 3 eMacs and will be keeping the other two.

Similar Messages

Just done the 'Erase and Install', I can't find the Hard Drive I backed up my files on?

I have just done the 'Erase and Install' process, but before I did, I backed up my files to an External Hard Drive using Time Machine. I have now restored my Mac and gone through the Erase and Install process, but now, when I plug in my external hard drive, I cant find it anywhere? I've tried quite a few things, but no luck! Also, what has happened to iMovie and iPhoto and all those Applications?! They have dissapeared!

GeorgeRollo wrote:
I have just done the 'Erase and Install' process, but before I did, I backed up my files to an External Hard Drive using Time Machine.
That should mean that all of your data on the MBP is backed up to an external HDD.
- Yes, should be. But when I plug it in the Mac, no menu or pop up comes up. Showing what to do next.
I have now restored my Mac and gone through the Erase and Install process, but now, when I plug in my external hard drive,
If you restored your internal drive with Time Machine, did you then ERASE and install? What did you erase and what were you installing? What is on the external HDD that has the Time Machine backup on it?
- I talked to the Customer Support and they said just erase the Startup Disk or something? So I did. Because I basically just wanted to restore my Mac.
I cant find it anywhere?
What is it?
- The External Hard Drive when I plug it in.
I've tried quite a few things, but no luck!
What are 'quite a few things'?
- Things that I have researched like going into 'Finder' then going into 'Preferences', 'General', then ticking 'Hard Drive' under the option of 'Show these items on the desktop:'
what has happened to iMovie and iPhoto and all those Applications?! They have dissapeared!
I would think that they should be on the Time Machine backup (assuming the external HDD has not been erased) if not the internal HDD.
- Hopefully if I can figure out this.

Erase and Install 10.2.8 -- Now I Can't Listen to Radio Online

After watching my hard disk space dwindle to almost nothing, and after trying unsuccessfully to repair disk permissions, etc., I did an erase and install. Things seem much better, except now I can't listen to radio/music online. I guess I need a plugin such as Flip4Mac, only they don't work with 10.2.8. Any ideas how I can get this to work again?
Thanks in advance.

Ok. It does work for me. It launches the Quicktime player, and the name of the stream is "streamasx_WAAF.asx", which is a container for Windows Media audio files. What I'm thinking is that maybe your Mac doesn't know what to do with asx files any longer -- that the link between file type and application has been broken. Have you tried allowing Quicktime to play all the file formats that it knows about? You could also snag the Preference pane MoreInternet and set up the association between asx and Quicktime that way. If that fails, you could try reinstalling Quicktime, or whatever other programs you have that play streaming media (like RealPlayer or Windows Media player). One of those should work.
HTH,
~FifthWheel

I saved my "users" folder to an external HD. I did erase and install on my imac. Now how do i get the accounts to open up on the fresh installation?

I saved my "users" folder to an external HD. I did erase and install on my imac. Now how do i get the accounts to open up on the fresh installation?

To move a home folder, create a new home folder, copy the contents of the old home folder into the new home folder, and then delete the old home folder. Take a look at this link, http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/UserMgmt_v10.6.pdf

Maybe it's time for an Erase and Install???

Things were getting a bit sluggish (like 90% speed drop, and beach balls every few minutes) on my main HD (MacHD), so I created a new backup on my external HD (MacBkup). This is a cloned, bootable copy, created via Carbon Copy Cloner. Sluggishness was especially prevalent in Safari and Apple Mail, but at some point would effect almost everything. First noted this after updating to 10.6.7 and Safari 5.0.5.
Some specs:
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
• 250 GB HD, about 100 GB not used
• 10.6 (or above)
I've tried a number of options, some of which worked for an hour or a few, but it wasn't long before the bad behavior returned.
First I tried all the basic stuff, like Repair Disk Permissions and Repair Disk in Disk Utility. Everything gets repaired. I used Reset Safari in the Safari menu and cleaned up a number of options there (caches, histories, and the like). Removed Safari extensions and similar, especially those from pre-Safari 5 days. Did the PRAM.
Did an Archive and Install of 10.6 on MacHD. Did Software Update to bring everything up to date. Worked somewhat well until Safari 5.0.5 was installed. Sluggishness returned big time. Did another Archive and Install of 10.6, but no further Software Updates. No matter. It's sluggish again.
Ran quite a few tests using Disk Genius (DG). Did repair disk and repair disk permissions using DG. Scanned for bad sectors. Found none. Did a Defrag. Supposedly never needed but did it anyway. The MacHD is still sluggish, sometimes even more so than before. Ran DiskWarrior. Created a new directory structure, which was only a slight modification from the existing one. Returned to MacHD, still sluggish. While doing all these tests on MacHD, MacHD seemed to be responding normally. No sluggishness. Only when booting from MacHD would there be a sluggishness problem.
Booted from MacBkup. The bootable copy on MacBkup is only 3 days old, so it's > 99% identical to MacHD. It runs fine. No sluggishness.
So here's where I am today...
• All hardware tests tell me MacHD is fine.
• MacHD is only sluggish when booted from. When accessed by utilities on disk or MacBkup, it seems to run fine.
• The cloned version, 3 days old and > 99% identical to the one on MacBkup runs fine, so that tells me my software is in good condition.
• All other tests run fine, except for small problems that get fixed, like permissions.
The only two options I can think of is reclone MacBkup back to MacHD. But the sluggishness was happening before this clone was made, so I don't what that will accomplish. Or I can Erase and Install, with all the resultant headaches that go with that.
So all you Mac Gurus. Any other ideas on this?

OK, well things are back to normal. As mentioned above, the backup I had made earlier this week, one that was already displaying problems, seemed to be working relatively normally on disk MacBkup. So I figured what the heck. Just copy it back to MacHD and see what happens. And it's working.
Anyway, the maintenance (Disk Utility, Drive Genius, DiskWarrior) I did on MacHD obviously did something. I thought that I would just copy the problems back, but no. I'm back to 10.6.7 and Safari 5.0.5 (although 5.0.5 definitely seems slower than 5.0.4).
Just another reason to keep not only a backup, but a bootable one.

Backing up user information (passkeys etc...) for erase and install.

I know this a question that is probably better suited for the mac os x section, but I like the advice everyone gives in this forum and you are all fellow macbook users. Okay to my question the 60gig is just a little too small for my needs and there is a lot of pre-bundled progs on the macbook i dont use. I want to do an erase and install but I would like to be able to back up my user information (bookmarks, passkeys etc.).
Help will be greatly appreciated thanks,
EAH22

Assuming you have enough space on the drive (6-8 GBs free) and assuming the hard drive has been repaired and is verified OK, you can do an Archive and Install and select the option to preserve the user files and network settings. This way you do not have to erase the disk and all your user files will be moved to the new system installation.
Or you can simply delete the pre-bundled applications you don't want. This is a lot less extreme than erasing the hard drive and starting from scratch.

Cant erase and install cleanly. some type of hijack itseems.

m trying to erase and install cleanly. i know the procedure, done it many times due to the fact some very malicious and tech savvy individual has a beef with me for some reason. the attacks are worse and worse. its debilitating actually. not a game anymore. i was able to save a piece of all messages log during install. much different than previous install logs. the system works although i have very limited authority. and oddities re: preference panes,( its shows it as locked yet i ca change security setting even in std user account. only some terminal commands are operable even under sudo. (error message"command not found") e.g.: env, open, history, rm, ls -A, etc..... no function.
PLEASE NOTE : I UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THIS AND REALIZE THERE MAY NOT BE ANY RESPONSES OR RESOLUTIONS. IN ANY CASE THANKS A MILLION FOR YOUR TIME.
SORRY BOUT THE LENGTH....ALLMESSAGESLOG:
4/20/09 1:20:37 PM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] BootCacheControl: could not open /var/db/BootCache.playlist:
4/20/09 1:20:37 PM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] No such file or directory
4/20/09 1:20:38 PM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist
4/20/09 1:20:38 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cupsd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
4/20/09 1:20:38 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.ntp.ntpd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel npvhash=4095
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kextd[10] 394 cached, 0 uncached personalities to catalog
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel hi mem tramps at 0xffe00000
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel PAE enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel 64 bit mode enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0: Thu Oct 11 19:23:39 PDT 2007; root:xnu-1228~3/RELEASE_I386
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel vmpagebootstrap: 973843 free pages and 74733 wired pages
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel migtable_maxdispl = 79
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel devfsmakenode: not ready for devices!
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel AppleACPICPU: ProcessorApicId=0 LocalApicId=0 Enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel AppleACPICPU: ProcessorApicId=1 LocalApicId=1 Enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Loading security extension com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Loading security extension com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel calling mpopolicyinit for TMSafetyNet
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Security policy loaded: Safety net for Time Machine (TMSafetyNet)
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Loading security extension com.apple.security.seatbelt
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel calling mpopolicyinit for mb
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Seatbelt MACF policy initialized
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Security policy loaded: Seatbelt Policy (mb)
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel MAC Framework successfully initialized
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel using 16384 buffer headers and 4096 cluster IO buffer headers
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel IOAPIC: Version 0x20 Vectors 64:87
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel ACPI: System State [S0 S3 S4 S5] (S3)
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel mbinit: done
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Security auditing service present
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel BSM auditing present
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 1E76D942-E07B-3808-B155-B129A649A793
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel FireWire (OHCI) TI ID 8025 built-in now active, GUID 001e52fffe48209e; max speed s800.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Got boot device = IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0/AppleACPIPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleAHCI/PRT0@0 /IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDrive r/ST9500325AS Media/IOGUIDPartitionScheme/Untitled@2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel HFS: created HFBT on untilted
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Jettisoning kernel linker.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Resetting IOCatalogue.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel GFX0: family specific matching fails
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 1
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:41 PM kernel ath_attach: devid 0x24
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel Override HT40 CTL Powers. EEPROM Version is 14.4, Device Type 5
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel NVDANV50HAL loaded and registered.
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel GFX0: family specific matching fails
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel CSRHIDTransitionDriver::start []
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel GFX0: family specific matching fails
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel athdescdmasetup: tx dddescpaddr = 0x165a3000, length 0x46500(288000) bytes
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel athdescdmasetup: beacon dddescpaddr = 0x1507a000, length 0x90(144) bytes
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel mac 12.10 phy 8.1 radio 12.0
4/20/09 1:20:43 PM kernel CSRHIDTransitionDriver::switchToHCIMode legacy
4/20/09 1:20:43 PM kernel USBF: 9.152 CSRHIDTransitionDriver[0x6ddda00](IOUSBCompositeDevice) GetFullConfigDescriptor(0) returned NULL
4/20/09 1:20:43 PM kernel CSRHIDTransitionDriver... done
4/20/09 1:20:44 PM bootlog[60] BOOT_TIME: 1240258834 0
4/20/09 1:20:44 PM fseventsd[51] log dir: /.fseventsd getting new uuid: 1C2B66FB-7F36-44AC-82E6-865CFF20B0A8
4/20/09 1:20:44 PM rpc.statd[42] statd.notify - no notifications needed
4/20/09 1:20:45 PM kernel E:[AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController][FindInterfaces] mInt0InterruptMaxPacketSize = 16
4/20/09 1:20:46 PM DirectoryService[55] Launched version 5.0 (v514)
4/20/09 1:20:48 PM kernel yukon: Ethernet address 00:1b:63:bd:6c:4c
4/20/09 1:20:48 PM kernel AirPort_Athr5424ab: Ethernet address 00:1e:52:73:57:e4
4/20/09 1:20:48 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow[47] Login Window Application Started
4/20/09 1:20:50 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[72] SFLSharePointsEntry::InitializeSPNode: dsOpenRecord returned -14136
4/20/09 1:20:50 PM mDNSResponder mDNSResponder-162 (Oct 15 2007 16:31:59)[46] starting
4/20/09 1:20:50 PM configd[58] New network configuration saved
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM airportd[86] Launching AirPort updateprefs
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[43] Entering service
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM Apple80211 updateprefs[87] updateprefs launchd..
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM Apple80211 updateprefs[87] Changing version to 6 (6)
4/20/09 1:20:52 PM airportd[86] Error: ACInterfaceGetPowerPreference() failed
4/20/09 1:20:52 PM /usr/sbin/ocspd[92] starting
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM kextd[10] writing kernel link data to /var/run/mach.sym
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...Generating key pair...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...creating certificate...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Serial Number : 3F EF 8A D8
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Issuer Name :
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.systemdefault
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Subject Name :
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.systemdefault
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Cert Sig Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 05 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not Before : 20:20:53 Apr 20, 2009
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not After : 20:20:53 Apr 15, 2029
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub Key Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 01 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub key Bytes : Length 140 bytes : 30 81 89 02 81 81 00 BD ...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] CSSM Key :
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Algorithm : RSA
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Size : 1024 bits
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Use : CSSMKEYUSEENCRYPT CSSMKEYUSEVERIFY CSSMKEYUSEWRAP
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Signature : 128 bytes : 37 79 EA DB 34 6B A9 7D ...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 17 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 16 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Extension struct : OID : < 06 03 55 1D 25 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Critical : FALSE
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] purpose 0 : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 63 64 04 04 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..cert stored in Keychain.
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..identity registered for domain com.apple.systemdefault.
4/20/09 1:20:55 PM kernel E:[AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController][StartInterruptPipeRead] there is alredy a pending read, skipping.
4/20/09 1:20:55 PM kernel [InterruptReadHandler] Received kIODeviceNotResponding error - retrying: 1.
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...Generating key pair...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...creating certificate...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Serial Number : 54 E2 19 7F
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Issuer Name :
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.kerberos.kdc
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Subject Name :
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.kerberos.kdc
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Cert Sig Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 05 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not Before : 20:20:56 Apr 20, 2009
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not After : 20:20:56 Apr 15, 2029
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub Key Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 01 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub key Bytes : Length 140 bytes : 30 81 89 02 81 81 00 D1 ...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] CSSM Key :
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Algorithm : RSA
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Size : 1024 bits
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Use : CSSMKEYUSEENCRYPT CSSMKEYUSEVERIFY CSSMKEYUSEWRAP
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Signature : 128 bytes : 8F EF 0E C8 B8 76 3B A5 ...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 17 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 16 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Extension struct : OID : < 06 03 55 1D 25 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Critical : FALSE
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] purpose 0 : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 63 64 04 04 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..cert stored in Keychain.
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..identity registered for domain com.apple.kerberos.kdc.
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.kdcmond
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] /usr/sbin/kadmin.local-q add_principal -randkey afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] WARNING: no policy specified for afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C; defaulting to no policy
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Authenticating as principal root/admin@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C with password.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Principal "afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249 D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C" created.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] /usr/sbin/kadmin.local-q ktadd afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Authenticating as principal root/admin@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C with password.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Entry for principal afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C with kvno 3, encryption type Triple DES cbc mode with HMAC/sha1 added to keytab WRFILE:/etc/krb5.keytab.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM
log disappeared soon after

thanx. i took your advice, and though the passwords were different the account with apple and mobile me and email and such were the same. so i started with a new hd and took it to apple and they installed os x and all the updates THEN i made a completely new id ,address, passwords and thought how simply brilliant that was. unfortunately i need a little more advice if you could be so kind.
so i got this person messing with me. i know this because he/she is taunting me with emails sent from "me" with subject "you looked at me today" and "i am going to bad today" and other personal messages one could only get from reading my mail.
but i dont want to pester you with trivial matters. i have been researching what is happening and i have a ypbind that i cant seem to unbind. at least not as admin using the GUI in directory utility. i can unlock the active directory and change some of the options but the ones that matter remain grey. and the ones i do change return to their original value by the next time i open it. the directory server help apple provides is pretty thorough but the procedures just arent jiving with the machine. is there a way to unbind or delete these automatic connections for good with the command line. i disabled the root user immediately following the fresh install so that is still intact but im afraid to open it with the password. perhaps with the sudo kill?
* ACTIVITY MONITOR ALL PROCESSES *
Active Memory: 755.22 MB
Free Memory: 2.76 GB
Wired Memory: 438.53 MB
Used Memory: 1.24 GB
Inactive Memory: 71.50 MB
Total VM: 38.07 GB
Number of processes: 58
ID Process Name User CPU RSIZE VSIZE
0 kernel_task root 3.5 74.77 MB 1.74 GB
1 launchd root 0.0 556.00 KB 586.74 MB
10 kextd root 0.0 1.28 MB 586.19 MB
11 notifyd root 0.0 476.00 KB 586.17 MB
12 syslogd root 0.0 460.00 KB 587.24 MB
14 ntpd root 0.0 864.00 KB 586.12 MB
15 usbmuxd _usbmuxd 0.0 944.00 KB 587.46 MB
16 update root 0.0 288.00 KB 585.57 MB
17 SystemStarter root 0.0 680.00 KB 585.61 MB
20 securityd root 0.0 2.16 MB 587.43 MB
23 mds root 0.0 13.52 MB 64.70 MB
24 mDNSResponder _mdnsrespo 0.0 1.21 MB 587.49 MB
25 loginwindow ianmac 0.0 5.92 MB 787.90 MB
26 KernelEventAgent root 0.0 652.00 KB 585.68 MB
28 hidd root 0.0 600.00 KB 586.12 MB
29 fseventsd root 0.0 1.38 MB 592.71 MB
31 dynamic_pager root 0.0 608.00 KB 585.61 MB
33 diskarbitrationd root 0.0 1,016.00 KB 585.69 MB
34 DirectoryService root 0.0 3.93 MB 21.80 MB
36 configd root 0.0 1.89 MB 587.20 MB
39 autofsd root 0.0 672.00 KB 585.62 MB
41 socketfilterfw root 0.0 2.29 MB 585.93 MB
44 distnoted daemon 0.0 792.00 KB 585.59 MB
45 portmap daemon 0.0 360.00 KB 585.62 MB
46 coreservicesd root 0.0 16.61 MB 38.91 MB
49 blued root 0.0 1.96 MB 596.99 MB
55 WindowServer _windowser 16.6 68.21 MB 864.35 MB
76 launchd ianmac 0.0 532.00 KB 585.74 MB
93 hpusbmond root 0.0 784.00 KB 586.77 MB
101 HPIO Trap Monito root 0.0 1.43 MB 588.07 MB
106 AirPort Base Station Agen ianmac 0.0 5.35 MB 2.75 GB
110 Spotlight ianmac 0.0 3.98 MB 731.96 MB
111 UserEventAgent ianmac 0.0 3.19 MB 598.84 MB
112 Dock ianmac 0.0 9.99 MB 782.59 MB
114 Finder ianmac 0.0 38.39 MB 322.15 MB
115 ATSServer ianmac 0.0 5.17 MB 638.64 MB
116 pboard ianmac 0.0 588.00 KB 586.61 MB
119 coreaudiod root 0.0 2.39 MB 588.91 MB
123 HP Event Handler ianmac 0.0 2.91 MB 721.91 MB
125 iTunes Helper ianmac 0.0 2.43 MB 730.67 MB
136 AppleSpell.service ianmac 0.0 3.63 MB 601.72 MB
306 Console ianmac 0.0 23.08 MB 847.61 MB
572 Safari ianmac 5.8 159.05 MB 1.11 GB
704 Terminal ianmac 0.0 6.18 MB 797.03 MB
798 Activity Monitor ianmac 15.7 21.17 MB 867.06 MB
799 pmTool root 1.4 1.39 MB 595.69 MB
988 SystemUIServer ianmac 0.1 12.73 MB 233.25 MB
1159 TextEdit ianmac 0.0 9.45 MB 814.12 MB
1418 cupsd root 0.0 1.91 MB 586.87 MB
2226 Mail ianmac 0.0 41.83 MB 850.06 MB
2361 helpdatad ianmac 0.0 8.14 MB 603.46 MB
2718 Photosmart _lp 0.0 25.29 MB 689.89 MB
2719 usb _lp 0.0 764.00 KB 586.62 MB
2804 Network Utility ianmac 0.0 8.91 MB 798.14 MB
2815 pppd root 0.0 1.62 MB 587.00 MB
2859 Directory Utility ianmac 0.0 15.32 MB 822.47 MB
2868 Help Viewer ianmac 0.0 9.70 MB 798.31 MB
3118 mdworker ianmac 0.0 2.04 MB 598.43 MB
* DIRECTORY SERVICE LOG *
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xA050D720] -
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xA050D720] - DirectoryService 5.7 (v514.25) starting up...
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Cache>, Version <1.0>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Configure>, Version <3.0>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Local>, Version <1.1>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <LDAPv3>, Version <3.1>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Search>, Version <3.1>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <BSD>, Version <2.0>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB030B000] - Registered node /Configure
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB030B000] - Plug-in Configure state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB040F000] - Plug-in LDAPv3 state is now inactive.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB038D000] - Registered Locally Hosted Node /Local/Default
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB038D000] - Registered node /Local/Default
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0513000] - Registered Locally Hosted Node /BSD/local
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0513000] - Registered node /BSD/local
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0513000] - Plug-in BSD state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB038D000] - Plug-in Local state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Registered node /Search
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Registered node /Search/Contacts
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Registered node /Search/Network
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Plug-in Search state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0420000] - Local Plugin - index passed integrity check
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0289000] - BSD Plugin - index passed integrity check
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0289000] - Registered node /Cache
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0289000] - Plug-in Cache state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin "Active Directory", Version "1.6.5", is set to load lazily.
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin "PasswordServer", Version "4.0.3", is set to load lazily.
2009-07-05 04:12:10 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 04:12:11 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 04:16:03 PDT - T[0xB0103000] - Plugin "Active Directory", Version "1.6.5", loaded on demand successfully.
2009-07-05 04:16:03 PDT - T[0xB0103000] - Plug-in Active Directory state is now inactive.
2009-07-05 07:54:25 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 07:54:25 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 08:22:22 PDT - T[0xA050D720] - Sleep Notification occurred.
2009-07-05 08:53:59 PDT - T[0xA050D720] - Will Power On (Wake) Notification occurred.
2009-07-05 09:03:31 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 09:03:31 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
i dont know if these logs help. BUT THANKS A MILLION. REALLY.

Erase and install with SL with Time Machine Back up the right way

Ever since I upgraded to SL last year my MBP has had issues. After going round and round with Apple Care which is now expired it is clear that I need to do an erase and install. Most of the Apple Care guys don't know jack and you get a lot of answers but the one guy who seemed to know something said you have to first go back and reinstall Leopard then run through all of the updates then install the SL upgrade and then run through all of the updates. Now you are ready to install back all of your apps and documents from Time Machine. This is where I have a problem and I just want someone to give me a step by step way to best do this. Should I use Migration Assistant or is there something in Time Machine Utilities that I can just load all the apps and documents on top of my newly loaded OS? When I tried Migration Assistant the first time it created a new directory and did not get rid of the old directories just eating up disk space. Thanks.

Hi J,
I don't know if the upgrade would do a full install, I think it will not. Get a retail version. I did that and it got me very satisfied as in 40 days I reinstalled the system 8 or more times.
In my new experience I would tell you to do a full carbon copy of today's state in a bootable disk only for safety matters.
Then insert installation disk;
Shutdown;
Press OPTION key;
Press Power button;
Choose installation disk;
After choosing language >Utilities>Disk Utility;
Apply a partition scheme if you don't have any data to use from this disk AND/OR;
Erase disk - a simple erase would be better here, no zero out or anything*;
I like to shutdown here, install asks for a startup disk and itself is the one;
Power button, language, install with or without customizing.
About Migration Assistant, I would only use it to transfer personal data without any applications. For applications I would reinstall all of them right after install all updates one by one chronologically if you have downloaded them or till software update tell you are up to date.
Only after these updates and any other applications updates is that I use to bring up my personal files using Time Machine.
About the * above: I also have noticed that two zero out erases got me a longer time setting up the system again, is that possible that a simple erase enable the system to recover data and recomposing system files?
Thank you and good luck.

IMac still broken after 10.5.7 problems and Erase and Install

I had written the following at the end of a "solved" post when it was suggested that I start a new post instead. So here is what I had...
Ok. I think my iMac was turned into a giant paper weight by 10.5.7.
Here's what happened with the Archive and Install. The screen said "Calculating Time Remaining" and stayed there for over an hour. I searched the boards and found that I should try to create a partition with Disk Utility and then try again.
So, I hard reset the computer and reboot off the Leopard DVD. I tried to make the partition but couldn't figure out how. Turns out I needed to click on the actual hard drive icon, not the existing Volume icon (which I discovered later). So, I checked the drive for repairs and it still checked out ok. I decided to erase the drive and go from there.
While tinkering in the Utilities I noticed the Restore from Backup option. So, I plugged in my Firewire Time Machine drive and began a restore from the last time my System was using 10.5.6. The restore completed successfully and I was hopeful that things would be ok.
I restarted the machine and it immediately went in to Open Firmware and the fans start spinning at full. So, I shake my head and decide to reset NVRAM. It tries to reboot and I have to hard restart it 3 or 4 times (as usual lately) and was able to reboot again off the Leopard install DVD.
That's it, I thought. I'm going to erase and install OS X.
I go back to Disk Utility and figure out how to partition the drive. I create a single partition and begin the process of Install OS X. It says starts fine and in about 40 minutes it is complete.
Restart with fingers crossed! New OS, wiped drive... it HAS to work, right?
Nope.
Same problems... freezing on boot, fans loud, etc. I reset PRAM and SMU(SMC).
Luckily I don't have any pressing work on my computer - someone who did would be quite angry with Apple that this was happening.
For my part... I now have a wiped hard drive... all iTunes content, iPhoto content, all my apps, games, docs... GONE. I do have the Time Machine backup... but did it really have to come to this? I suppose my hard drive could be failing... but wouldn't the multiple disk checks have shown something?
If there are any suggestions I'm all ears. I have reached the limits of my troubleshooting knowledge.
Thanks,
Jon
Follow-up:
After the computer had been off for several hours over night I decided to start it up again to see what would happen. At first it looked encouraging... got the startup chime, the Apple logo, the progress wheel.... then kernel panic.
Several hard restarts later (to get the Leopard DVD out of the drive) and the iMac now sits, packed in it's original box, ready to go to the Apple Store.
My question is this... does anyone think this might be a power supply issue?
The reason I ask is that I exhausted ALL troubleshooting procedures that I can think of. These include:
Replacing RAM, both DIMMs
Reset PRAM and NVRAM and SMC
Check hard drive using install DVD - OK
Restore 10.5.6 from Time Machine drive - did not resolve issues
Erase and Install OS X - did not resolve issue
Plug iMac in to wall outlet versus power strip
Removed all peripherals
etc, etc
I just can't believe that upgrading to 10.5.7 would hose my hardware. The iMac was working fine until 10.5.7 except the occasional crash of Halo on the larger maps.
Totally stumped.
Thanks,
Jon

Hello Joanne:
A suggestion - reset the SMU:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767
If that does not help, let me try to answer your questions.
Wondering if I should roll back to 10.5.4 which is what I had, and, if so, how to do it?
If you have Time Machine, use that (a copy before the problem). If you do not have TM (or a bootable clone) the way to go back is to do an archive and install:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710
Also, I've downloaded the Safari update, which I know won't run on that, so would I even be able to get the old Safari back?
The archive and install will do that. By the by, Safari 4 should run just fine on your system. It is faster than Safari 3.
Barry

Intel iMac G5, black screen during erase and install -- PLEASE HELP!

My sister's Intel iMac G5 seriously has been a lemon, it has had SO many issues. It's now 2 years old, and has been rather slow for the maybe the last year, but over the last month or so it has gone way downhill, and it literally takes an hour to boot up, and 4-5 minutes to do anything (open an application, look at a photo in iPhoto, etc.). So, we've been trying to "erase and install" with her install discs to hopefully give the computer a clean boot and see if it helps at all. She has already backed everything up.
She started the erase and install last night, and it was going ridiculously slow. This morning when she woke up, the blue progress bar had gone about half way across. Then she went to get her kids ready, and when she came back in it looked like the computer was rebooting itself (gray screen with apple), but then the screen turned black and she can't do anything on it. Has anyone seen anything similar to this before?
We have had so much trouble getting this to work (we tried an archive and install a few days ago, but it gave her an error at the end). For about a day we couldn't even get the computer to boot up at all, but then miraculously yesterday morning it booted! Please help, I've converted her to Macs but if I can't get hers fixed she may never get one again!!

Does she have the Apple Hardware Test CD/DVD?

Serious issues with iMac, black screen during erase and install-PLEASE HELP

My sister's Intel iMac G5 seriously has been a lemon, it has had SO many issues. It's now 2 years old, and has been rather slow for the maybe the last year, but over the last month or so it has gone way downhill, and it literally takes an hour to boot up, and 4-5 minutes to do anything (open an application, look at a photo in iPhoto, etc.). So, we've been trying to "erase and install" with her install discs to hopefully give the computer a clean boot and see if it helps at all. She has already backed everything up.
She started the erase and install last night, and it was going ridiculously slow. This morning when she woke up, the blue progress bar had gone about half way across. Then she went to get her kids ready, and when she came back in it looked like the computer was rebooting itself (gray screen with apple), but then the screen turned black and she can't do anything on it. Has anyone seen anything similar to this before?
We have had so much trouble getting this to work (we tried an archive and install a few days ago, but it gave her an error at the end). For about a day we couldn't even get the computer to boot up at all, but then miraculously yesterday morning it booted! Please help, I've converted her to Macs but if I can't get hers fixed she may never get one again!!

I'm afraid that it's a contradiction in terms to talk about an intel iMac G5. What your sister has is an intel machine, and she will find good advice by posting to the [intel iMac Forum|http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1110].

Trying to do an erase and install on an IBook with original Tiger Disk

Hi, I just bought a used IBook from a friend, got for super cheap and knew I was taking a risk since it wouldnt start up.
I'm not even sure if its a G3 or G4 IBook, its white and it all it says on the laptop is IBook Model number A1007.
Anyway, it didnt come with any disks so I took my Install disk from my G5, the main Tiger disk and ran disk repair and permissions and all of that, it didnt find any issues with the disk.
So I chose to do a complete erase and install which appeared to work fine, but when I start it up it starts the setup process where you enter in your name, address and all that and I get to the part where I go to enter my apple ID and thats right about where the laptop freezes every time. The screen kinda flickers for a second and then it is seized up completely.
any ideas on how to resolve this?
Do I need to track down an original install disk for an IBook G3 or G4 or is it the same thing as I am using now? If I need an install disk for my specific model where can I get one?
Thanks,
Brown.Recluse

Hi brownrecluse;
You can't use the G5 install media on the iBook because they are hardware specific. You will need to get the retail Tiger install media to do that provided the iBook meets the mimimum requirements of Tiger.
Besides that installing again would be illegal anyway.
Allan

Erase and install?? a few problems...

Hello. This is going to be a long one, so you might as well get a fresh cup.
A little history. I started with a G4 Powerbook (10.4.11) some number of years ago. In November of last year I got a 24" iMac. Turned it on, set it up with a new user named "swank" (the same as on on powerbook.) After this, I realized I wanted to bring my old user over from the lappy. Using migration assistant, I tried to do this. I can't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure that because there was already a user named "swank", I had to change the one I was bring in. So, I changed it to "swanks." I also made a user for my girlfriend.
So, for a long time I used m$ office 2004 on the lappy. Then I upgraded to 2008. Everything worked fine and dandy. Then I moved over to the iMac. Not so fine and dandy anymore. Word works just fine, but PP and Excel have issues with saving documents. If I email a doc to myself from school, I can open it and view it just fine.
(on edit: actually, this is not true. I'm going over the details below and realized that I can access a file from a thumb drive, etc, but not email)
BUT, if I save it afterwards or save it from the email BEFORE opening it, it disappears somewhere into the ether. I eventually found out where this "ether" place is, but that will come later. I tried to reinstall office a couple times, to no avail. So I went to the local Mac store (non-corporate) the other day and talked with one of the techs about it. He told me about some files that needed to get deleted along with the uninstall. I did that a couple times, did a repair disk from the install disk (per the techs request as well), restarted between doing everything, etc, etc. Once convinced all was clear, I reinstalled office 2008. AAAAHHHHHH. SAME THING!!!! I don't get it. I don't want to talk with m$. I tried that once. It failed.
Now I am wondering about starting ALL over from scratch. I'm not sure how to proceed from this point though. I have a time machine backup (250 gb of stuff from myself and my gf) and I have a bootcamp partion (that time machine has NOT been backing up.) So I guess my questionS are:
1. can I do an erase and install on JUST the mac partition?
2. once reinstalled, will I be able to pick and choose stuff off the time machine disk? Or do I have to simply restore completely from it (which at this point I would rather not)?
3. is step #2 a good idea (bringing in individual files, if possible)? Or will this possibly bring in the corrupted-ness that I am currently experiencing?
4. is there a way to do this without a clean install?
Details of office problem:
1. I open a document (new)
2. Type anything
3. Save
4. Right click on file name at top of window
(this is what I was referring to as the "ether." *WHY IN GOD'S NAME WOULD SOMETHING GET SAVED HERE?* Even though I specified that it get saved in "Documents"?????
5. Bang head against wall
1. I ATTEMPT to open a document saved when office worked
2. 1 of 2 things will happen:
OR
(No matter WHAT file I try to open, only the last document I made will open, AND it will be called "juan")
2. Bang head against wall
Anyway, if you've made it this far, your are brave. Maybe you have advice. Thanks for listening.
Dave
Also, now, after erasing the m$ stuff, when I open a finder window in the user "swanks", the one I mainly use, the window for "swank" shows up. You know, with all the little red circle with white line through it things on the bottom right corner of a folder?? What the heck?

Before erasing the volume and reinstalling, there are a few things you might want to try first, which are less disruptive:
1. Force Office to generate new preference files. Go to /Users/swanks/Library/Preferences. Create a folder called "Microsoft_old". Drag the folder /Users/swanks/Library/Preferences/Microsoft into the new Microsoft_old folder. Drag all files in your preferences folder which begin with "com.microsoft" in there as well. Relaunch PowerPoint and test it out. You may find it was just a wonky prefs file causing the behavior. If you aren't seeing it in any other application, this is pretty likely.
2. Test the opening/saving behavior of powerpoint in the new user account. If it is fine, then you can just move your files over from one user to the other. There are a few ways of doing this, but the simplest is probably to put everything you want into the /Users/Shared folder and change ownership to your new user account via the Get Info window or the Terminal, if you are comfortable in the command line (using chown -R is usually faster and more reliable than using the Sharing & Permissions section of the Info window, in my experience). Also, you can use your girlfriend's account to test this - does PowerPoint work as expected when she is logged in?
If a new user account behaves the same way, then you probably have deeper issues than just preference problems. At that point you may want to consider rebuilding the OS.
To answer your questions directly:
1. can I do an erase and install on JUST the mac partition?
Yes. You do not have to touch the Boot Camp partition when reinstalling Mac OS X. When booted from the install disc, you will have
2. once reinstalled, will I be able to pick and choose stuff off the time machine disk? Or do I have to simply restore completely from it (which at this point I would rather not)?
Yes. When you browse your Time Machine Backup (with the fancy space-warp background), you can select individual files/folders to restore. It will prompt you to select a location where you want to restore the files.
3. is step #2 a good idea (bringing in individual files, if possible)? Or will this possibly bring in the corrupted-ness that I am currently experiencing?
I don't think you are dealing with actual file corruption, more likely broken preferences or damaged defaults. I wouldn't be worried about bringing over any non-OS files.
4. is there a way to do this without a clean install?
See above. Those are the things I would try first, before you do a clean install.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, post and I'll try to answer.
Message was edited by: Duncan Wright

Restore files from last Time Machine backup after HD erase and install

I just had to do an "erase and install" ... trying to restore files from my last Time Machine backup but after completing the Airport Utility setup / configure steps, it says "waiting to restart" for a few minutes and then says it cannot find TIme Capsule after restart (though TC never restarted). I'm pretty desperate to get my files back as it's Sunday night and my business needs to be up and running by morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated ... even if it's saying I need to take TC into a Mac store to have them retrieve my files.

While in Time Machine, press the key combination shift-command-C. The front window will show all mounted volumes. All snapshots should now be accessible. Select the one you want and navigate to the files you want to restore.

I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to erase and install 10.4 on my iMac G5

After running into various bad experiences (apps quiting and app installers refusing to complete the task) I tried the usual fixits. I began with the Disc Utility and it repeatedly told me "1 HFS volume checked - Volume needs repair". After a little digging online, I opted to make the $100 purchase and got DiscWarrior. DiscWarrior said the volume and the hardware are fine now All is repaired. Soon after the problems reoccured. discWarrior again. All is fine. Problems soon follow. After a little more digging, I went to the last resort. I backed everything up and attempted an erase and install from the os disc that came with the computer. Now I'm getting a message telling me the installation was unsuccessful and to restart. I've gone throgh this hoop several times. Any thoughts?
I was running the 10.4.5 downloadable upgrade previous.

Although not definitive open Disk Utility, select the hard drive entry (the one with the mfgr.'s ID and drive size), then click on the First Aid tab in the DU main window. In the DU status bar note the reported SMART status. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing and needs replacing. If it does say "Verified" then it's highly unlikely that the drive is bad. However, the drive may have developed a bad sector. If you're willing to continue the journey then try the following:
1. Boot from your Tiger DVD. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your 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.
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.) 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.) 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 has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now proceed with the OS X installation. After selecting the destination device click on the Customize button. Deselect items you don't require such as additional language localizations, Asian fonts. Only select the printer driver families you require for your printers.

Erase and Install.. Is it now ready for new owner?

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