Failed Archive and Install. Unable to restart from CD.

I could use some help solving a tricky problem. Please redirect me if I am posting this to the wrong forum.
My MacBook was having difficulty staying asleep. If I select sleep or close the lid, within a few seconds it makes a sound like it is testing the disk drive and wakes up. Oddly doesn't seem to happen as quickly if it just falls asleep from prolonged inactivity. This was causing severe battery drain so, unable to solve the issue on my own, I made an appointment with my local Genius at the Apple Store.
He told me I needed to do an Archive and Install, which he proceeded to try and do, but couldn't get the drive to accept the new OS. He therefore diagnosed me with a dying hard drive and told me I needed a new one. I groaned a bit since they seem to tell me this every 2 years or so, so they kindly offered to do this one for free.
I took the new machine home today and used Time Machine to restore my old settings/software. Unfortunately the problem was still there. However, this got me thinking. I have two backup clone drives with SuperDuper. One is current and regularly. The other I made 2 years ago shortly after we last replaced the hard drive and never touched. (Paranoid, I know.) When I boot from the current clone, the problem recurs but, if I boot from the earlier clone, the problem is no longer there. Clearly, I think, a software issue.
Happy, at least, that I did not pay for the new hard drive, I thought I might Archive and Install from my original 10.2 disks. Unfortunately I cannot get the system to boot from them.
I held down "C" on start up, but it still started from the HD. I clicked on the "Install" icon from the CD, but the restart again used the HD. I tried to select the CD as a Startup Drive in the System Preferences panel but the CD doesn't show up as an option.
I would be grateful for any ideas. Sorry about the length. Thanks.

It looks like your MacBook is one of these models, and that it shipped with Tiger:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/stats/macbook-core-2-duo-2.0-black -13-specs.html
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/stats/macbook-core-2-duo-2.0-white -13-specs.html
The comment there about RAM is
1 GB of RAM is installed as two 512 MB modules, no slots free.
*Apple officially supports 2 GB of RAM, but third-parties have been "unofficially" able to upgrade it to 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM (it can hold 4 GB but cannot fully utilize the memory beyond 3 GB).
You will not want to run Tiger even if you find the original discs, so I would get Snow Leopard in any event. The original install discs do contain a machine-specific version of Apple Hardware Test which is not available elsewhere, and for this reason it is nice to have them around. Apple will usually send you a replacement set for a nominal charge if you call them with your serial number - you can decide if doing this is worth it, depending on the cost.
I do think it is worthwhile upgrading your RAM to 2GB, though your actual need will depend upon how you use your computer. If you don't do much multitasking or manipulation of of large media files you might be able to get by with your current 1 GB. Since your current Leopard system seems to meet your needs with 1GB of RAM, I guess you first could try running Snow Leopard this way also, and then add RAM if you find you need it. If you want to do it now, I think that a matched pair of 1GB modules would cost about $50.

Similar Messages

Failed 'Archive and Install' - will CLI ditto or rsync save me?

I've done an 'Archive and Install' that ran properly, executed the restart, and then presented a message saying the installation can not be completed because of insufficient space on the target volume. To be clear, the computer restarts in the 'Installer' and displays the error message. I click 'OK' and it does a little loop and reappears. I can't properly quit the installer, force-quit, restart, anything. So I eventually power down.
More info :
I can boot from the install disk and in the system profiler I see 9.5 gigs free on the HD. The SMART status is verified. In fact the 'Hardware' section and 'Network' section seems okay, the 'Software' sections reveal the faults. Here I see no mounted applications, no extensions, no frameworks, etc. It's as if I can see where the install gave up. I have run disk utility and repaired the disk, the permissions, and it returns no errors and a nice green message. I ran DiskWarrior and it found nothing to repair. I was able to see my files in the preview, including my sparse image, but decided not to go ahead with a re-build, because I don't think that's going to save my system folder that's split in two. (From the failed A&I)
I am using FileVault and I am aware that these forums advise that I should have disabled it before trying the installation. Alas, the drive-space overhead was not to be found. I did, however, have room enough for the install, I thought. (And I do have my most critical data backed up, but not the whole system.) When I ran the install from the OS X DVD it indicated 15.6 gigs necessary for installation. I had in excess of 18. I know, I know, too close for comfort, and the FileVault image probably needed more overhead, and...
Chalk it up to knowledge and change.
So now I've got that external FW drive I should have had in the first place and I want to clone my whole HD over so I can start anew with an 'Erase and Install'. (Unless somebody thinks of something better. Bless the previous system?)
I'm not an idiot, but new to the command line (at least since the GUI has existed). I'm wanting to try this :
ditto source target
or
rsync -xrlptgoEv --progress --delete / /Volumes/target
Do I need to be in 'single user mode' (root - which I can access), or should I execute from the terminal via the install disk?
I just want to be sure I get this right, I'm confident that my data is there I just need to finesse it out.
Advance thanks to Kappy, your posts have saved me before...

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.

Failed Archive and Install - Have I lost all my user files?

In another thread I have reported printing problems while running OS 10.4.11 on a Cube http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1401894&tstart=0. Tonight I decided to do an Archive and Install to try to fix the problems. I got a message saying that the installation had failed and that I should try to reinstall. When I did so I was given the option to Archive and Install but the check box for Save Users and Network Settings could not be checked. Rather than trying to reinstall I quit the installer and specified an OS 9 system folder for booting. After booting into OS 9 I examined the Users folder and found no folders corresponding to my two user accounts, only a shared folder. The OS X Applications folder appears to contain all my applications.
It seems that the failed installation erased my user accounts. Is that correct? If so, how can I recover them?
Of course I did a backup of my user files before installing, right? NO!!!! My last backup was eight days ago.
John Link

Yes, an Archive and Install will not erase the disk or your files. If you use the option to preserve user accounts and preferences those will be transferred into the newly created system. However, your existing system is a failed installation so if you do another Archive and Install it cannot transfer your user account because it is not in the existing system. Plus you will need sufficient free space on the hard drive for yet another system - about 6-8 GBs.
Once you backup your personal data and your Home folder, I would suggest you just erase the hard drive, reinstall OS X from scratch, then copy your Home folder backup to the newly installed system. These articles, How to get files from a previous home directory after Archive and Install and Mac OS X- How to recover a home folder (directory), explain the process. Although written for an Archive and Install scenario it is essentially the same procedure you would have to follow.
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
4. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
5. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the startup or source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

Need help with archive and install

I'm doing and archive and install. The first try was with a defective retail version of OS X Tiger, which did part of the job then stalled. Now I've been able to get a good DVD of this and was able to do an archive and install,although I couldn't check the box to save user settings etc., On the screen it gives me 3 options transfer info from another mac, transfer info from another partition on this mac or do not transfer my info. I'm new to all this, because of the first failed archive and install do I transfer the info from another partition or not transfer at all and find the old folder later on in the process?

Hi D,
I couldn't check the box to save user settings etc.
I think that is due to the partial previous install moving things to a Previous System folder, but not finshing.
Let's see if that's what happened... if you have 2 Macs with Firewire this could be a lot easier.
Oh, do you have a Backup?
"Try Disk Utility
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 First Aid 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. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
After quitting DU, look for Terminal in that Menu Bar, open that and type in this...
Wait, let's hear if you have another Mac or Boot Disk first...

When Leopard won't archive and install

I thought I'd relate my experience for those of you that have not yet upgraded. When I first attempted to install Leopard on my daughter's Macbook, the installer wanted to force me to do an erase and install and did not give an explanation as to why. I assumed there was a problem with the disk, so I aborted the install and used Disk Utility to try to repair the disk, but DU could not repair the disk. Next, I restarted in target mode with the MB connected to my iMac, and used Carbon Copy Cloner (file mode - I didn't want to copy a bad block) to clone the MB system to a folder on my iMac. Next, I re-formatted the MB disk and used CCC to reinstall the clone to the MB. Now, with the disk repaired, Leopard allowed me to do the archive and install and all went well.

Well i did once on the new macbook 2.2ghz. When i cannot find the Boot Camp in Utilities, I tried to reinstall it Using restore disk 1. There 3 option to choose 1, upgrade (unable to choose) 2 archive and install (unable to choose) only Erase and Install. When i used the retail pack it let me choose all 3 but then i never proceed. I used terminal to find where is the Boot Camp discover it hidden in the recovery disk. If in that case most of us here facing same problem on different scenario. ;(

Archive and Install vs Fresh Install

I understand what each of these do, and I am just posting to get some feedback on which is recommended. I am leaning toward the Archive and Install to keep me from having to reload everything. Have there been any noticed problems with doing so? I have the latest MBP. Please share your experiences.

My co-worker opted for the archive and install method on a Mac Mini IC2D; I did a clean install on a G4 Powerbook, then used Migration Assistant to import my user accounts, apps and settings.
Both installs went fine. My co-worker had to reinstall Parallels and WinXP, and is having problems with Adobe CS3, whereas I've had problems with FileMaker Pro. I don't use CS3, and don't know the extent of his problems, but FMP 8.5 won't run at all on Leopard, and FMP 9 requires specific regional settings in Internation Preferences (Format) depending on the language you're using (you have to use the US for the English version).
As always, the devil is in the details. Disconnect all external devices, and have a (bootable) backup just in case your 3rd-party apps aren't ready for Leopard. At least then you can revert to Tiger until your apps are updated.
Good luck,
Andrew
Message was edited by: Andrew Penner

TS1394 Can't re-install Leopard. Trying to reinstall the OS because computer locks up. It is a 2008 iMac that came with Leopard. Upgraded to Snow Leopard. Tried to archive and install from original DVD that came with iMac. Installation failed, so tri

Computer locks up, so I want to reinstall the OS. I had upgraded to Snow Leopard.
Tried to do an archive and install from the DVD that came with the computer, but that failed.
Tried to do an erase and install, but the install stops somewhere near the end, 13 minutes to go. Tried several times, same result.
Can't reboot from the install disk, it just ejects the disk and I get the flashing question mark.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.

I think my hard drive is toast. When I boot in single user mode, I get the following text:
CSRHID Transition Driver: start booting in single user... will wait for window server
Then the following text appears, repeating itself over and over, except that the numbers (indicated by "xxxxxxx")
SAM Multimedia: READ or WRITE failed, SENSE_KEY = 0x03, ASC = 0x02, ASCQ = 0x00
SAM Multimedia: READ or WRITE failed, SENSE_KEY = 0x03, ASC = 0x02, ASCQ = 0x00
disk1s3: I/O error.
0[level 3] [READUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [Err No 51] [IDType READ] [PB1kNum xxxxxxxxx] [LB1kNum 0] [FSLogMsgID xxxxxxx] [FSLogMsgOrder First]
0[Level 3] [READUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [FSLogMsgID xxxxxxxxxx] [FSLogMsgOrder Last]
These messages keep repeating with the numbers (xxxxxxxxx) changing with each iteration.
Does this indicate a bad hard drive?
Thanks.

Files missing from library after archive and install

Hi forum folk
any help you could give would be much appreciated.
I can't seem to verify my permissions on HD. I have run disk utility both from finder and from my OSX startup disk and consistently get the error message "Disk Utility has lost its connection with the Disk Management Tool and cannot continue." I then reinstalled the operating system all together making sure to archive and install as well as archive previous network and preference settings. This means I am running 10.3.4 at the moment (and I can't verify any of the software updates at the moment). After reinstalling I still cannot verify my permissions, so now I am trying to back up all my files so that I can reinstall the OSX again, erase everything, and start from scratch. But I'm running into some very strange problems while doing this. select files are missing from ~/library. there is no Safari file, for example. I tried looking in HD/previous systems/library where my library files were saved before I reinstalled the operating system but there is no such folder in there either. this means all of my bookmarks are gone. additionally, under library/preferences (in both the old and new library folders) there is no file named com.apple.itunes.plst. so all of my itunes playlists are gone as well. these are the only missing files I have found thus far and i can't explain why they selectively would not have been saved after the archive and install. Everything else seems to be intact. Any ideas?
thanks
jb
powerbookG4 Mac OS X (10.3.9) running 10.3.4 at the moment - can't verify permissions on 10.3.9

jbeep:
my HD has a capacity of 8.85 GB available. When I reinstalled panther I had little more than 3 GB available (I deleted a bunch of unneeded things since then)
Thanks for this update. What is the total formatted capacity of your HDD? I ask because I suspected that you might be cutting it pretty close. The rule of thumb is that you should have 10-15% of your total capacity available as free space. My personal rule is 15%-20%. This allows for more efficient perfomrance of OS X.
I am in the process of backing up everything on my seagate combo USB 2.0/firewire 200 GB external (I am using the firewire cord)
Having an up-to-date backup is one of the primary rules, often observed more in the breach than not. Since you have an HDD that supports Firewire, I suggest that you make a bootable clone of your entire HDD using SuperDuper. You can then use this backup as an emergency boot drive. However, it must be Firewire, as PPC Macs don't boot from USB devices.
I also have heard that it is advisable to reinstall the OS "every now and again" and I hadn't done this for at least two years. was I ill-advised?
Most experienced Mac users never re-install, except under dire circumstances. Since installing my new HDD in this computer I have never re-installed. Re-installation is the utlimate intrusive measure, and it exposes one to all kinds of issues, from lost data, to flawed installaton, to installations that fail midstream. Re-installation is not an effective maintenace procedure. Here are some helpful links in terms of maintenance:
Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
Maintaining OS X.
I'm going to restart now and try and verify my permissions again using the procedure on the above link. I'll let you know what happens.
Instead of verifying permissions, just go ahead and Repair Disk Permissions. Verifying permissions does nothing, and wastes your time, as it is difficult to tell whether you need to repair, and you have to repair anyway.
Do post back with an update of your progress and any further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

Archive and Install from external DVDROM?

My Dvd-rom is broken so I bought an external optical drive. Lately, my software (such as Word and Powerpoint), have not been opening correctly. Apple Support suggested that I do an Archive and Install.
Will I be able to do this from an external optical drive?
Thanks,
Danielle

Yes, as long as the external drive is bootable. Insert the installer DVD into the external drive then restart the computer. After the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the icon for the external DVD then click on the downward pointing arrow button. The computer should boot from the DVD. Follow these instructions for the Archive and Install:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
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.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported, then quit DU and return to the installer.
2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

Drive crashed-archive and install failed

Intallation of Scanmaker drivers froze. After that my HD won't boot. Ran Disk Utility from the 10.5 install disk. Disk verified as OK. But when I go to verify permissions and/or repair them, I get the message "error: the underlying task reported failure on exit" and I can't do anything else.
Archive and install both with and without saving permissions option fails every time. hELP!
What are my options and what does this error mean?

I wish I could say I had been backing up but I have not. Needless to day, I saw the light! I managed to use Disk Warrior to restore the directory on the disk. Luckily I had a second HD for the MacBook--installed that and from there was able to access all the files (undamaged, thank goodness) and copy them back over to the new HD. It was a slow process but it worked. I have time machine on now and will NOT turn it off!!!

Archive and install failed in process... I need to intgreate old sys files

I did a archive and install and it failed. I got replacement disks but the archive did not copy back. I now have a previous system folder I can not integrate. How can I activate the old users?

If you're an Admin user you can do a Get Info on them & change the Rights & Permissions, or Might try BatchMod, it's much better/easier than the Finder for recursive Permission changes...
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/6440
You might run into some real trouble with Sys>Library though, as it's in use by the OS/Disk you're booted from.
Message was edited by: BDAqua

Tiger upgrade from 10.2.8 - never got "ARchive and Install" option?

I selected the destination. Selected "customize" to add additional software to install. And then clicked whatever was next - sorry don't remember exact button name but it was the next step. AND THEN IT HAPPENED - the install. I noticed that it said "upgrade" for software under the custom install so at least something was recognized. BUT I wanted to select "archive and Install" and "Preserve Users and Network Settings". So am I now hosed? I guess I'll find out in about 10 minutes when its all done but I'm very confused / upset as I read EVERYTHING in advance to make sure this would go smoothly. So why didn't I get that screen as listed in the documentation? GRRRR

Hello rstwohee:
You should be OK. A&I is an option - why you did not see the option is a function of what you did - and neither of us have any way of determining that.
Run permission repair after the upgrade. Also, it would not hurt to run disk repair from yoru software install DVD.
Barry

Can I copy newer system (10.6.8.) from previous system folder after archive and install with (10.5.4)?

Rightyho,
had trouble with extensions in 10.6.8 and had to re-install with original disks 10.5.4.
Did an archive and install.
In my (dated) Previous System Folder are Appl / Library / System / User folders.
Copied my User folder back no problem.
Can that also be done with the newer system? No info in support.
Time Machine won't migrate because of newer system and I have only a disk image of Snow Leopard and can't burn double layer DVDs.
When I tried to order SL DVD from Apple they told me it'll take 3 weeks ...

http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6

Can I Archive and Install From Leopard Up-To-Date Disc?

I'm a Mac newbie, so I apologize if this is an obvious question.
I purchased my iMac this month, so I received a Leopard Up-To-Date disc for $10. The CD says Upgrade on it, and I can't find any options for what type of install I want to run. I've seen things like Erase And Install, Archive and Install, and Upgrade posted here on the forums, but the only options I have are whether or not to install things like Core Services, X11, etc. Can I not perform an Archive and Install with this disc, and if I can't, is there any chance I could request a full CD from Apple?
Message was edited by: AceDew

You should be able to -- when you get to the screen that asks you to choose your installation destination, highlight the drive, then you will see in the lower-left an options buttion. CLick it and you will find three choices: upgrade, archive/install and upgrade install. Choose the one you want and enjoy!
Keep in mind that when you put the disk in, the system will verify that the DVD is OK -- it takes a few minutes, but it is worth knowing that the disk is not corrupt before you start. Also, repairing permissions seems to take awhile -- just let it happen.

Can you do an archive and install from a download update?

I upgraded to Tiger and 10.4.4 came on the disc I bought. I'm running into some problems w/ utilities that I have and would like to do an archive and install from the 10.4.10 download. The only option is an easy install though.

Welcome to the forums!
You cannot Archive & Install from a downloaded update. You need to do an Archive & Install from your 10.4.4 DVD, then download and run the 10.4.10 Combo Updater.

Failed Archive and Install. Unable to restart from CD.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for