Erase and Install without Disk?

Is it possible to reinstall the OS X without the CD? You see, my father lost it before he gave me the laptop.
And if it is not possible, is there any way that I can get another copy of the CD? Perhaps if I had proof of purchase?
Thanks

Only if you have a retail installer disc that can install a version of OS X compatible with the hardware. Otherwise you will either need the original software discs that came with the computer or purchase a retail copy of OS X. If the the computer is not a Late 2008 MacBook then you can install Leopard by purchasing a retail copy from an Apple Store or Apple retailer.
You can purchase replacement discs for the computer by calling AppleCare.

Similar Messages

MBP Freezes (have erased and installed, ran disk utility, and inc fan speed

Hi Guys, Any advice on this issue would be very much appreciated please.
Have had an original mbp for about 2 and a half years. Last few weeks it's been freezing between 1 and 5 times a day. By freezing I mean that the screen freezes and there's no cursor or keyboard fuctionality. Sound stops too. This happens using World of Warcraft, Pages, Office for Mac, and Safari, sometimes also the finder. Main culprit though is Safari and WoW. For comedy value, I'm a priest in WoW and it froze during a raid which resulted in the whole group wiping out! Great timing! lol
So far I have:
Ran disk utility, repaired permissions and verified disk.
Did a complete erase and install.
Downloaded Fan Control and set to 3400 base speed, left fan @ 3503 RPM and Right fan @ 3508 RPM - temp reads 46.9 oC (118 oF)
I'm guessing that since my erase and install, that it is very much a hardware issue as the problem has happened again.
Since I've done the fan thing, nothing has frozen so far but I only did it about an hour ago.
If anyone could offer any other suggestions in case it does freeze again I'd be very grateful indeed :0)
Oh - one thing I don't get is that only about 4 hours after my erase and install I did the disk utility once more (Repair permissions and verify) and it came up with the below list - which is huge given it was a fresh install. Not sure if the below info will help (not really sure what it's for tbh - but there it is.
Many thanks,
Vizzy
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/CoreVideo.framework/Versions/A/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agent.app/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/lanArrow.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/lanCheck.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/lanDisabled.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/wanArrow.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/wanCheck.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/wanDisabled.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Components/CoreMediaAuthoringPrivateComponents.component/Conten ts/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaAuthoringPrivate.framework/Versions/ A/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/Resources/AVC.plugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/Resources/IIDC.plugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/Resources/MPEGAudioDecoder.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/Resources/MPEGLayer2AudioEncoder.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/Resources/Tundra.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions /A/Resources/VDC.plugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaPrivate.framework/Versions/A/CodeRes ources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/DVD.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/FRSettings.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/FRSources.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/Movies.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/Music.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/Photos.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/Podcasts.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents/PlugIns/TV.frappliance/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/BackRow.framework/Versions/A/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/AnnotationInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResources ", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/AudioSettingsInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResour ces", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/DataRefInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/HintTrackInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResources" , should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/NetworkInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/SettingsInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/PlugIns/VisualTrackInspector.propPane/Contents/CodeResource s", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeComponents.component/Contents/CodeResources" , should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTimeJava/QuickTimeJava.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTime3GPP.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeFireWireDV.component/Contents/CodeResources" , should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeH264.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeIIDCDigitizer.component/Contents/CodeResourc es", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeImporters.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeMPEG.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeMPEG4.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeStreaming.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeVR.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/QuickTime Plugin.plugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/QuickTime Plugin.webplugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/QTKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/QTKitIBPlugin.i bplugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Spotlight/QuickTime.mdimporter/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL/iSightAudio.plugin/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/QuickTime.framework/Versions/A/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTAdvance d.prefPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTAdvance d.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTMediaKeys.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTAdvance d.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTMime.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTAdvance d.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTTransport.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTPlugIn. prefPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTRegiste r.prefPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTRegiste r.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTAbout.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTStreami ng.prefPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTime.prefPane/Contents/Resources/QTUpdate. prefPane/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Frameworks/InternetUtilities.bundle/Contents/ CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Resources/iTunesHelper.app/Contents/CodeResou rces", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are -rw-r--r-- .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Info.plist", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Info.plist", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are -rw-r--r-- .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/MacOS/JavaPluginCocoa", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/MacOS/JavaPluginCocoa", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/MacOS", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/MacOS", should be drwxrwxr-x , they are drwxr-xr-x .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Localizable.strings", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Localizable.strings", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are -rw-r--r-- .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources", should be drwxrwxr-x , they are drwxr-xr-x .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/version.plist", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/version.plist", should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are -rw-r--r-- .
Group differs on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents", should be 80, group is 0.
Permissions differ on "Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents", should be drwxrwxr-x , they are drwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Components/AudioCodecs.component/Contents/CodeResources", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on "private/var/spool/cups/cache/rss", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x .

According to Mactracker, your Mac could recognize 3 GB of RAM:
http://www.mactracker.ca/
One thing to check is your RAM usage while playing WOW. I am not a gamer, so I don't know if you can play with your Dock visible, but if you can, here is an easy way to keep track of your RAM usage.
Go to Activity Monitor (in your Utilities folder in your Applications folder) and put it in the Dock. Then while in Activity Monitor, go to View (in the menu bar)>Dock Icon and select "Show Memory Usage".
You want to see a lot of green in the pie chart. If you don't, you are running out of RAM and then the computer turns to your hard drive to fulfill the functions of RAM. This process is much slower, and I could see it resulting in freezes. If you find that the green virtually disappears while gaming, you could well benefit from upping the RAM by another 1 GB to 3 GB total.
Good luck!

How can I reformat my hard drive if erase and partition don't work in disk utility and I get an error when I try to erase and install from the Leopard install disk? I have had several kernel panics, but the volume shows up in startup disk.

I have had several kernel panics on my iBook G4; the panic message shows up just after the desktop appears. Although the startup volume shows up in Startup Disk, the installation disk reports an error when I attempt an erase and install. Disk utility is unable either to erase or partition the hard drive. The hard drive shows up in disk utility, but the startup volume doesn’t HELP!!!

Do you have the original system discs that came with the iBook when it was new?
Which exact iBook model is it?
You can choose from this list:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/index-ibook.html
Erasing the disc and installing Mac OS X 10.5 will result in loss of the other applications (such as the iLife applications) which came pre-installed on the iBook.

I had iPhoto as part of iLife 11. I recently did an erase and install on my Macbook Air and without a CD drive I'm unable to reinstall. How can I install without having to repurchase all of the apps?

I had iPhoto as part of iLife 11. I recently did an erase and install on my Macbook Air and without a CD drive I'm unable to reinstall. How can I install without having to repurchase all of the apps?

Do you have access to another Mac with a disk drive? If so you can do it in one of two ways:
1 - on the Mac with the optical drive launch Disk Utility and make a disk image of the iLife 11 disk. Connect the two Macs together and transfer the disk image to your MacBook Air. Mount the disk image and install from it. I have my iLife disks saved that way for quick and easy reinstall when necessary.
2 - connect the two Mac together so you can access the MBA from the Mac with the disk drive. Insert the iLife disk, and install from the second Mac to the MBA.

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

How do I erase and install iMac to factory settings using Install disk?

Once in a while I like to do an erase and install to boost performance and get rid of extra unused files/applications on my computer that are inevitably slowing things down. I have already tried disk repair and that isn't helping.
The problem is now that Lion/Mountain Lion no longer support PowerPC applications, I can't figure out how to use the Install Disk that came with my computer. My computer came with 10.4 (Tiger). I have been unable to erase and restore my computer to it's original factory settings.
I have read a bunch of threads that say to hold down the "C" key, but nothing happens when I do this. The computer just starts up like normal.
The reason I want to do this is because my computer is going slower and slower all the time. I have the "Free Memory" app and I can see my memory decreasing slowly day by day. It goes from about 3GB to less than 1GB in a few days. If I restart, I'm back up to 3GB again.

You had to use Snow Leopard to install Lion or Mountain Lion, so you can downgrade to Snow Leopard:
Downgrade Lion/Mountain Lion to Snow Leopard
1. Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears 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. 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. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard.
This will erase the whole drive so be sure to backup your files if you don't have a backup already. If you have performed a TM backup using Lion be aware that you cannot restore from that backup in Snow Leopard (see below.) I suggest you make a separate backup using Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.1.
If you have Snow Leopard Time Machine backups, do a full system restore per #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions. If you have subsequent backups from Lion, you can restore newer items selectively, via the "Star Wars" display, per #15 there, but be careful; some Snow Leopard apps may not work with the Lion files.
Booting From An OS X Installer Disc
1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.

Which is the Start-Up disk when doing an 'Erase and Install'?

Basically I am doing the 'Erase and Install' process now and It says in the Support online that you need to erase the Start-Up disk on the left side. But I do not know which is the start-up disk? Is it the Macintosh HD option? or Disk 1 (that is a external hard-drive with all my back-up files on). Please Help!

The start up disk is the one with the OSX. Usually it is the internal HDD, gray in color, and usually called Macintosh HD.
Ciao.

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.

SuperDrive - Archive and Install/Repair Disk/Permissions Unavailable

Was told by an Apple "Genius" that an Archive and Install would fix the problem I am having with my MBA (shuts down while booting after performing the 10.5.4 update), but that it would take at "least a day or two" for them to fix it so I took it home.
Tried booting to the MBA System Discs and a Leopard disk from the Superdrive, and with both clicking the "Options" button before the install, which on every other Mac displays the "Erase and Install" and "Archive and Install" options, the MBA goes straight to "How would you like to format your drive, Extended or Ext. Journaled" and that is all. The other options do not even appear even though there is at least 40gb available on the drive.
Tried running the DiskUtility from both discs and they only let me Verify Disk and Verify Permissions, both Repairs are greyed out. Both verifications fail without the ability to repair.
I purchased the SD for exactly such a situation thinking it would be easier though it seems that it is for convenience only and of no other actual assistance.
I haven't checked out the Remote Disc though I would not at all be surprised that these features (Archive/Repair) are only accessible through it. Can't wait to try it through my B network.
Anyone know if anything like this is normally possible through the SuperDrive?
Verify Disk reports:
Invalid Node structure
Volume Check failed
Verify Failed
And while typing this, the drive is no longer mountable and reports, "Try running First Aid on it".... how lovely.
Well, I would like to know, at least, if anyone else has experienced any similar problems. Erase and Install is the last thing I want to do, but if that doesn't work than I'm taking it back in. Sounds like the drive itself is damaged.
Message was edited by: Mikey U.

Have you tried booting from single user mode and running a fsck command?

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

Unknown User Permissions - Erase and Install Backup Plan

Hi everyone,
I upgraded from Tiger and therefore have the unknown user permissions problems. I'd like to erase and install my system and am writing to verify the following:
If I copy my data (with the funny permissions) to a Powerbook in Firewire Disk Mode, reinstall Leopard on my new iMac, then copy the data back from the Powerbook in disk target mode, will the permissions be fixed?
Thank you, Tom Bertram.

Thomas,
If you are talking about the "unknown" group problem seen in the permissions portion of Get Info, be aware that Apple is in the process of putting out a Knowledge Base article to address this and it may be wise to be patient a little longer.
The user accounts inherited from Tiger belong to a "group" that has a missing piece of information -- a group name that Leopard wants. The installer should have dealt with this but it didn't. Anyway, a couple of simple Terminal commands can fix this for each such account. Once the Group description is proper, there will no longer be any need to change the group membership of your files.
Unfortunately the first couple tries Apple made of describing how to do this appear to be in error. See the following thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1280472&tstart=0
The correct commands should be posted by Apple shortly and then you can resolve this without having to do a whole re-install.
--Bob

How to erase and install new version os Mac Os X?

Can someone tell me how to erase and install new copy of Mac OS X 10.5.8 ?? IS there a way to do this without CD?? I no longer have the disks and I cant find a way to get this done.. The reason I want to do this is because a 12 year old was using this computer for a long time and there is a lot of junk stuff on the disk, so I want to start from fresh.
Thank you in advance.
Yani.

Hi Yani,
Your out of luck without an Install Disc, & on dangerous ground also.
2 ways to go...
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
   2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
      *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
   3. Click the Erase tab.
   4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
   5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
   6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, select the Security Options button, choose Zero Out Data, Erase... after completion do a new install.
Or...
Open System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.
In the same pref pane highlight your old account, click the little minus icon, then use Disk Utility to Secure Erase Free Space.

HD not an option to erase and install on

I have been working through a problem with my 1.5 year old Powerbook over the past few weeks. I was first told I had to archive and install but when I tried that an error message told me that the disk was too damaged. I got my hands on a copy of the disk warrior boot disk and was able to retrieve all the files I wanted to save, but the program was unable to rebuild the disk.
Now I am prepared to erase and install, but when it comes time to select a volume to install to, nothing shows up. (this is the third step of the install process, before I actually choose erase and install vs. archive/install). does erasing through disk utility make it possible to install OSX again without taking up all my space? are there any other options to look into before taking my computer to a store or something and getting the hard drive replaced?

Can you start/boot the computer from your hard drive boot volume?
If so, after the startup process is complete, go to Application > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Launch Disk Utility and select the hard drive at the very top of the drives and volumes window.
Under the First Aid tab, what does the S.M.A.R.T. status indicate at the bottom of the window?
If anything other than Verified, your hard drive is failing or has failed and needs to be replaced.
If the S.M.A.R.T. status for the hard drive is shown as Verified, quit Disk Utility and boot the compute from your Tiger install disc.
Select your language and at the Installer screen/prompt, navigate to Disk Utility via the Installer menu bar.
If you are unable to boot the computer from your hard drive boot volume, select the hard drive at the very top of the drives and volumes window and under the First Aid tab, check the S.M.A.R.T. status. If shown as Verified, you need to erase the hard drive using Disk Utility. Be sure HFS+ (or extended) is selected as the format with Journaling enabled.
When completed, quit Disk Utility and the focus will return to the Installer.
Try performing an Erase & Install again.

Archive and install or Erase and install

Gee!!! it is nice to be off of the Quicktime topics and moving towards a solution !,
After a disastrous attempt to down grade from Quicktime 7.4, it has become necessary for me to reinstall my system from my original D.V.D, which I have done before but it has been over 2 years. I am wondering how best to reinstall the numerous updates already on the system, which is Tiger 10.4.11 on a G4 power book.
I have and will reinstall the system using the Original D.V.D, thenI will install Tiger , and then iLife six ( without iMovie six), so far so good ? Then do I use Software updates to do the rest stopping at Quicktime 7.2 ?
The condition of the current system is as follows,
I can use safari, and Mac Mail, and a few of the apps that I had in the dock when every thing went crazy. Omni Disk Sweep is one of them, which I can use to see all of my system files and what is in the trash, I can also see all the system files and home folder browsing for attachments in mac mail.
What I cant access is Finder, it is gone, as well as my Desktop, the menu bar at the top where airport is shown only opens if an app is open and I cant open the trash to retrieve the files I ditched from the System files.
In preparation for a system reinstall I used target disk mode to move all of what I want from the G4 powerbook to my iMac using copy and paste (something always goes wrong with back up ), my iTunes Library ,Photos, Users library, Documents ,Desktop folder, Movies , about 54 Gigs.
With all of this done Couldn't I just do an erase and install and have a fresh new system? and are there any other files it behooves me to add to the ones I already have saved ? I still have previous system folders from past archive and installs, should I save those to?
I care a lot about my third party apps for iMovie editing and also saved my Users /Library/Preferences/iMovie folder where all the plugs are.

Doesn't really sound like archive and install would be of much benefit to you, with as fubarred as everything sounds. However, you would at least have what you had before, just in case there's some unixy or other obscure thing that you did in the past that you need to reinstall because of the reversion to an OEM state. After 10.4.0 is reinstalled from DVD, then apply the OS 10.4.11 combo ppc update to get you up to the latest and greatest in one fell swoop. I believe that QT7.4 came out later than 10.4.11 release so that should be okay. Don't know about QT7.3, though.

Want to erase and install + upgrade to Snow Leopard and remove virus.

Hi,
I'd like to do an erase and install after all these problems on my computer here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2751511&tstart=0
I'd like to upgrade to Snow Leopard at the same time.
I was thinking of making a clone with Super Duper to an external hard disk.
I was also thinking of making another clone to this Strato 500GB online storage offer here:
http://www.strato-hosting.co.uk/online-storage-hidrive/index.html
That way I'd have two backups if one went wrong.
Is there anywhere I can get step my step instructions on how to go ahead with the upgrade and how to import the files I need afterwards without importing any previous nasties?
Primarily I need to import:
1) Various files on my desktop, which consist of Adobe files, Word, Text, PDF and JPEGS etc. (easy, I can do this)
2) Data for the following applications: (I don't know how to do this and NEED to keep the files)
My iPhoto Library
my iTunes library
my Mail history
iCal
Photobooth pics
my Skype history
my aMSN History
"Things" data
Safari Bookmarks
Firefox Bookmarks
Address Book
Any tips on how to proceed would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.

Drag your home folder in /Users/ or elsewhere to another location, restart from the Mac OS X 10.6 DVD, use the Disk Utility in the Utilities menu to erase the drive, install the OS, and drag the items back from your old home folder as desired.
(56883)

Erase and Install without Disk?

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