Erase/install - backup first question

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

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

Similar Messages

Clean erase install, backup question

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

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

I need to reinstall my original factory disc and reset my computer to the beginning. It currently has lion. Do I need to erase my HD first to clear and make new room for the install disc.

I need to reinstall my original factory disc and reset my computer to the beginning. It currently has lion. Do I need to erase my HD first to clear and make new room for the install disc.

Prepare Your Mac for Sale
Boot from the OS X Installer Disc One that came with the computer. 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. After DU loads select the startup volume from the left side list then click on the Erase tab. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then click on the Options button. Select the one pass Zero Data option and click on the OK button. Then click on the Erase button.
Note: You can skip the Zero Data option if you are not concerned about removing sensitive personal data from the hard drive. If you choose to skip this part of the process then it is possible for others to recover data from the hard drive. The Zero Data procedure will prevent others from getting access to your personal information.
This process will take 30 minutes to several hours depending upon the size of the hard drive. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete the OS X installation. At the completion of the installation do not restart the computer. Instead just shut it off. The next user will be presented with the Setup Assistant when they turn on the computer just as it would if new out of the box.

Erase & Install Question

I'm doing an "Erase & Install" with Panther on my G4 so I can sell it but it's insisting that I complete registration information before completing the installation. Is there a way to bypass this so the new owner can use his info?
Thanks

Provide the information, and then either follow the instructions in this FAQ or perform another Erase & Install, and upon restart press the Command and S keys followed by entering 'shutdown -h now' into the prompt without the quote marks.
(40363)

Backing up Users folder for Erase Install

Hi,
I need to do an Erase Install because of a disk error that Disk Utility cannot fix. I've backed up my iTunes Library and some other files, including Mac OS X combo update, to DVDs. My question is about the advice at this site:
[http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106941] concerning backing up and restoring the Users folder manually. It recommends enabling and using root user for this and Step 5 says: "+Copy the User folder to your backup storage location."+ Does that mean I can drag the User folder to the backup DVD in root user mode? Or could I drag and drop the User folder without going into root user, and then after reinstallation restore the User folder the same way? I am the owner/administrator and there is one other user. I don't have an outside drive or cloning software and anyway, cloning a faulty hard drive might not help much.
Regards

Or could I drag and drop the User folder without going into root user, and then after reinstallation restore the User folder the same way?
Ahem, that +may work+ as I've done it, but then I've always had Root User enabled first thing after disabling Spotlight & Widgits!
So, I wouldn't count on it.
I'd get an external drive and DiskWarrior, which handles most of these problems with a breeze... asap!

HELP! Stuck in a Loop after Erase & Install Tiger 10.4

Here's what happened:
My old G4 PPC PowerMac suddenly started running everything (including on startup) very slowly. A weird sound was coming from the HD? (not sure) but it sounded like it was constantly doing something. The sound was a regular: chik, chik, chik...glikglik.
*Did a Verify for Disk Permissions & HD Volume, found a load of problems & tried to fix from my Tiger CD/DVD Install disc on startup.
*No luck...as there was an "Incorrect number of thread records" & Volume could not be fixed.
*Backedup everything onto external HD
*Did Erase & Install Tiger 10.4
*Everything seemed fine (the weird sound stopped) so I started installing all standard Updates- Java etc & my iTunes music.
*Weird sound returned but not as constant, so I did a Verify & fixed Disk Permissions and HD Volume from my Tiger CD/DVD Install disc on startup again. Successful this time. Volume was fine.
*Used Onyx to do verify Volume. Volume fine.
[Bare with me;)]
*Started to import all my backup files. The weird sound returned with a vengence! Argh! Everything slowed down even worst than before.
*Decided to Erase & Install again. Done, but now I'm stuck in the Welcome to Tiger loop: Welcome Tiger animation which crashes halfway through, then takes me to settings for language, location, Mac sign in...loops back again to Welcome.
I am a complete dummy when it comes to computers, so have tried to follow instructions/advice to the T. I don't have a clue what is going on. Please anyone out there, help!

Best to ask about hardware questions on the appropriate hardware forum. That said...
Unless for some reason you want to keep hold of an old computer for specific features not present in a newer computer it is almost always cheaper to buy a newer used computer rather than upgrade hardware in an old one. Since you're talking upgrading multiple features that is almost certain.
A consideration: Snow Leopard is now out. This is pushing pre-Intel Macs towards into obsolescence. I already see a number of software vendors who say they do not support Tiger any more. Some may soon start saying they no longer support pre-Intel Macs. Although I find my G4 and Tiger to still be perfectly usable, if my G4 were to die today and I was interested in a used computer I might seriously look at a used Intel Mac. There's a bit of a jump at the PPC + Tiger to Intel + Leopard-plus boundary and it will become more noticeable soon. If you can afford it I would suggest not being more than one big generation behind in terms of software and hardware, and in this case maybe not even one major generation in terms of hardware. To summarize, if it were me I would be looking for a used early Intel Mac running Leopard currently so I could ensure there still being support for the next few years.
Message was edited by: Limnos

Puzzled by erase & install

by doing an erase & install before installing tiger, I take it that I will lose everything I have on my mac 5, including OS9 and ical and sherlock and calculator and backup and so on.
but do all these and more return with the installation of tiger, including OS9 and its explorer and the rest?
or is it just a matter of backing up all to cds or external drive and then dragging them back in. and is there an easy way of finding out what is missing and needs to be reinstalled before pulling out the remaining 8 hairs on myhead?

If you use the Erase & Install method, it completely erases the hard drive first and then installs Tiger and only what is included on the Tiger retail install package.
OS 9 is not included with the Tiger retail install package but the Tiger version of iCal, Sherlock, Calculator and Backup are included.
Internet Explorer is not included with the Tiger retail install package and no longer pre-installed or included with the Tiger OS pre-installed on a new Mac purchase but you can download the OS X version of IE from Microsoft's Mactopia website. Microsoft hasn't provided an update to IE for OS X since well before Safari was introduced by Apple - 4 years or so and they probably won't be anytime soon if ever. IE is a bloated browser and there are much better OS X compatible browsers such as Safari, Firefox (a new Firefox version was recently released) and Opera to name 3.
Check the following link to see what is included with a Tiger retail install package.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs/
If you perform an Erase & Install, you can install OS 9 afterwards from an OS 9 install disc or via the install package that shipped with your Mac purchase which should include an OS 9 installer.
Unless there is a particular reason you want to install Tiger via an Erase & Install, you can install Tiger using the Archive & Install method selecting preserve user and network settings. When doing so, the Tiger OS is installed new and all user and network settings, user data and most 3rd party applications will be transferred to the new system including IE and OS 9.
After confirming all user and network settings and user data was successfully transferred to the new system, you can safely delete the archived previous system folder.
I installed Panther over Jaguar and Tiger over Panther via the Archive & Install method selecting preserve user and network settings on my TiBook without any problems either time.
If you use the A&I method and after creating a backup of all data, be sure to check the hard drive for any directory problems using Disk First Aid repair via Disk Utilities when booted from the Tiger install disc. If any problems are reported and successfully repaired, run repair again until no problems are reported and then repair disk permissions from the same location before proceeding with the install.
You should also disconnect all external peripheral devices except for a keyboard and mouse before beginning the installation.

System file corruption-alternatives to erase&install?

To make a long story short(er) I restored from (SuperDuper) backup after the HD failed and Apple gave me a new one. Then problems occurred with the system being slow (hesitating a lot) and having trouble connecting via wireless and finally not connecting at all, and then the machine ended up in "limbo" (according to the Mac Genius.) Now I've been told to erase and install, but I'm reluctant... There's a years worth of tweaks, updates, and installs on my MacBook! (After all, that's why I was so fervent about backing up...) And Boot Camp too.*)
Evidently "some" corrupt system files made their way into my backup before the old drive failed. (There was no warning; one day it was just gone.)
My question is, is there a way to figure out/diagnose which system files are corrupt and to replace only those? Or, alternatively, is there a way to "erase and install" only the system? Please forgive my "lack of Mac," I come from many years with Windows.
*)I'm assuming I can use Winclone to restore Windows (if I really have to erase the drive) once I repartition using Boot Camp. Um, all I have to do is remember how big I made that partition...

I suggest that you start with an Archive and Install (checking the box to preserve settings). The last time I did this was in an upgrade from 10.2 to 10.3 on our little iMac G3, and after it finished, everything was just exactly the same as it had been under 10.2, except for one thing: those little pictures were gone by the users' names on the login screen (it was trivial to reconnect those pictures with the names). So I would try that, and see if your issues are fixed. If they are not, then there is another step you can take, which is to delete your preference files that are associated with the problem (i.e. wireless, airport). and if these things are not effective, then I would proceed with the full erase and install. I haven't done the Archive and Install with Tiger but I don't think it gives you a lot of options about what setting to save ... I think it's either all or none.
By the way, before doing any of these things, you should make at least one complete backup or clone of your entire disk.
Also, before doing Archive & Install or Erase & Install, create a new user and login as that user to see if the problem goes away. If it does, then there is not much point in doing a new system installation because the problem would have been pinpointed to your local user files/preferences, not the system-wide software.
I am not surprised that the Apple Genius suggested Erase/Install versus Archive/Install. The Erase/Install is guaranteed to fix any software issue, so the Genius won't need to deal with you in a follow up anymore. They have people lined up and want to just get you on your way, even though it might cause you a lot of work to recover all your settings and installed software (that's your time, not his). The Archive/Install is also highly likely to fix almost all software problems, but if it's something corrupted in your user settings, then it might not, in which case you'll be back and he'll have to deal with you. So he's suggesting killing a fly on a window with a sledgehammer, when maybe a flyswatter would work just as well (and cause less collateral damage to your house). I understand the motivations of a busy Apple Genius, but from your point of view, it would be better to try the other things before finally going to the erase and install.
Remember to do that backup before trying any of these things.
In general Macs do not need to have system software reinstalled. In fact I have never had to do it as a repair/diagnostic step on any of my machines using Mac OS X (except that one Archive and Install I did, but that was on a healthy system to go from 10.2 to 10.3).

Can I Erase/Install In Target Disk Mode?

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

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

How can I restore my iTunes library via Time Machine after an erase/install and upgrade to Snow Leopard?

Actual problem:
I reinstalled all my programs that I need without a hitch. Meanwhile, I've been trying to recover the few files (mostly music) I actually store on my computer's hard drive as opposed to on my external HDs. I use one external HD for my graphic files and the other is strictly for Time Machine backups. I tried to recover my iTunes music, but I got a message that says: "The file: "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes." I restored (I thought) my iTunes library Username/Music/iTunes." Additionally, I was going to upgrade to Mountain Lion, but I have seen that there were issues with Lion and iTunes libraries so I'm a little wary of this.
Excuse the long explanation, but I figure the problem may possibly be in the details of the weeks prior this problem:
I have recently been having issues with my iMac. I brought it in to see a Genius twice within the past month and they couldn't seem to find the problem. (It would restart Finder of it's own accord while I was using Adobe CS programs) I figured it was worth backing everything up via Time Machine and doing a complete erase/install/factory reset. I did so and had a problem again, and brought it in again, third time. The Genius did another diagnostics tests and found nothing and said my erase/install probably did the trick, but time will tell. I am, after the erase/rewrite and upgrade running Mac OS X 10.6.3 and previous to this was still running Tiger.

So, I didn't update iTunes and the rest of it after installing Snow Leopard. My stupidity, I figured that the OS was more up to date than the one I had previously so that all the programs that come with it probably were more current than the ones I was using. However, now that I have updated all my software, I am still getting the same message from iTunes that I was previously. I cannot open iTunes at all, same "The file: "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes." message. I'm confused again. Checked a few other threads and whatnot and cannot seem to figure this out.

OS won't load after Erase & Install

my computer decided to take a crap the other day, and after trying to restart a few times, only to have it just stop on a blue screen, i decided to re-insall the OS. I tried doing an archive and install first, but both times i got a message saying that there was an error and i shouldl try again. I then decided to do an erase and install, and it gets through the installation process with disc 1, but without asking for disc 2, it restarts, only to stop on the gray apple screen for about 10 minutes, at which point it restarts again and gets stuck in this loop. If i catch it at a restart point, i can boot from the disc again, but then i'm back at the install screen. Trying to quit the installer and change the boot disk to the internal drive ends up back in that loop, so there's obvioulsy an issue with the installation not being completed correctly.
This is the second time i've tried the Erase & Install with no success and the same result. Any thoughts? Perhaps it would work if i installed it on another drive? i have one coming in a few says...
thanks

What computer model are you installing on? Are you trying to install Tiger or Leopard? Have you tried re-prepping the drive?
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder. If you need to reformat your startup volume, then you must boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
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. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.)Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. 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 can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

Erase & Install OS X, how to restore my original settings

So my 12" PB G4 was having some issues the past couple of months. After reading through many posts on this board, and a couple of Apple articles, I decided to erase and install OS X again.
My system is 4 years old (came with Jaguar), I bought a copy of OS X Tiger two years ago and installed that on my system. I backup my system daily with an external hard drive (LaCie silver keeper software).
So the other day I did a full "erase & install" of OS X, to clear the system completely. I then dragged my "user" from my backup drive to my internal drive. Most everything is the same. My desktop folders, wallpaper etc... are back to normal.
BUT, my iTunes is a complete mess. I do not have any of my playlists, ratings, play counts. I had to update a lot of programs, such as iTunes, Quicktime, iLife apps. Because Quicktime was not updated, iTunes could not play video, so now none of my videos are in my iTunes player.
I thought EVERYTHING was backed up. What am i doing wrong? Have I gotten over my head, do I need to go to the Apple store and have a genius take care of this?

Did you try using Tiger's "Migration Assistant" application? I have mixed reactions suggesting this to you because it caused me a LOT of headaches when I upgraded from Panther to Tiger.
So as long as you keep the backup data intact (meaning, don't automatically throw it out and delete it once you've migrated the data), you can always start over again.
The thing is, not everything will be exactly the way it is unless the applications installed on your system match what was on your previous system. So before running any software updates, install a "bare bones" installation of Tiger onto your system.
In fact, if you want and have the time and patience (since you have a complete backup), completely ZERO OUT your hard drive and install a fresh copy of Tiger onto your system.
Then, startup and let the system go. Don't opt for Migration Assistant at startup. Do that later. When it goes through, do not do any automatic software updates.
Next, create a secondary account with administrator privileges. Restart.
When you turn on again, choose your secondary account, and run Migration Assistant. (I forgot to say, make sure the account name on the secondary account matches your backup data's account). Restart, then do any Software Updates.
Now that you've got everything in order, try out to see if all your files/setting/etc. were the way it used to be. Migration Assistant does everything for you, but it isn't without its faults. But more times than not, it works.
The only caveat here is that your external drive needs to be FireWire. So if your LaCie drive is USB 2.0, you'll have to clone and/or copy over the data from that drive onto a FireWire drive before you can use Migration Assistant.
Though some like to drag and drop, OS X is not built like Mac OS 9 where you could simply replace the new with the old by dragging and dropping and throwing things out. OS X has hidden files that you can't see, etc. Simply dragging and dropping a user account folder to replace the old won't work like it used to.

Just updated to iOS 6, then iTunes auto synced and erased my backup. Is it possible to restore my backup from yesterday's Time Machine?

I have an iPhone 4, and waited a long time to update my iOS because I heard the new ones were buggy. Finally I had to update to iOS 6, but then iTunes automatically synced with my new phone and erased my backup. I lost everything on my phone.
1) I have a Time Machine backup that I completed yesterday. If I take my phone to the Genius Bar tomorrow, will they be able to use it to recover my content?
2) I have heard of this happening to a ton of people, how can Apple sit by and let this happen? (More of a rhetorical complaint than a question, feel free to ignore...)
Thanks,
Sarah.

Hello rustyfeathers,
The backups certainly can be restored from Time Machine, and here is the location where they are:
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
From: iTunes: About iOS backups
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946
And in case you need some assistance with restoring from Time Machine, here is the article for that:
Mac Basics: Time Machine
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
Regards,
Sterling

First question - I have Acrobat 9 on my desktop and the license seems to have been messed up. I tried to download and fis but I asked me for a disk. I don't have any idea where the "disk" is. Can I get the license update without that disk?

First question - I have Acrobat 9 on my desktop and the license seems to have been messed up. I tried to download and fis but I asked me for a disk. I don't have any idea where the "disk" is. Can I get the license update without that disk?
Second question - In anticipation of not being able to do that, I bought (at University bookstore) Acrobat XI Pro - do I need to uninstall the 9.0 Pro version before I try to install the XI version?

If you still have your serial number for Acrobat Pro there is a link to the installer here: Download Acrobat products | 9, 8

Fan makes noise, even after erase-install?

I have an iMac running tiger 4.5. The other day, I had kind of a bluescreen-scenario while to find a USB memory-plug on the desktop. The macine wouldn´t restart properly, not even in Safe Mode. While trying this, the fan started roaring, and never stopped.
I started the iMac up as a firewire-item, which allowed me to make a backup of important files. Then i booted from install disks, running disk repair on Disk Utility until it said no repairs necessary. That didn´t help my startup issue, and the fans were still going. Tried archive install, didn´t help either. Finally, did erase install. The iMac then started up with a "brand new" desktop - but the fans are still noisy like an airplane from the second I push the startbutton.
Called Apple Support, they suggested the running fan was a hardware thing, but I find that hard to believe, as the fan-problem occured while I was solving what I found to be a software issue. Any suggestions on this one, or should I bring the machine to professionals right away?

Have you tried running hardware test?
(Install DVD/CD...hold option key as mac restarts)
...Just to rule out the possibility that there may have been an underlying harware issue that caused you sofware challenges.

Erase/install - backup first question

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