First time wipe and reinstall on a MacBook Pro
Hi everyone...
I have a 2007 MBP and the day has finally come to reinstall and start over. The system has become to unstable lately and I need to start from scratch.
I am running 10.7.5 (the latest I can, given how old my Mac is) and have backed up everything to Time Machine as well as Crash Plan.
My question is how do I only reimport certain things, not do a full restore from backup after I am done? I want to reinstall and have a clean, fresh install, then import my iPhoto and iTunes libraries (and maybe one or two other things). Can someone point me in the right direction for this?
Thanks!
Did your MBP come with installation discs? If so, boot from the install disk, use Disk Utility to erase and partition your internal drive and re-install the OS that came with your computer.
Clinton
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How to format HDD and reinstall OS on macbook pro mid 2010 without the installation DVD.
After updated the OS with MAVERICKS becomme my macbook very slow. So I want to format the HDD and reinstall the OS but without the installation DVD - (lost).
Could some one advise me how to proceed? Thank youWelcome to Apple Support Communities
OS X Lion and newer include OS X Recovery to reinstall Mac OS X without the need of a DVD. See > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
First of all, copy your most important files to an external drive, or make a backup of your files. Then, hold Command and R keys while your Mac is starting, open Disk Utility and erase Macintosh HD by choosing it in the Disk Utility's sidebar and going to Erase tab.
Finally, close Disk Utility and reinstall OS X -
Erase and Reinstall on New Macbook Pro
I'm trying to start over. I have a new Macbook Pro, have had to erase the HD and reinstall OSX, and am trying to reinstall the iLife software prior to going through the Startup Assistant again. After reinstalling OSX, it just restarts and go straight into the Startup. How do I get the Applications Install completed first? The instructions aren't clear.
Thanks
Message was edited by: Randy HessNo, I have a second disc that came with my Mac, but there are no promptings to insert that disc after erase and install. The disc with Mac OS X is retained after erase and install and there is merely a prompt to restart the machine. When I restart, the computer immediately launches into the information collecting mode which lets you configure the machine. I called it the "setup assistant" by mistake, sorry. You know the one I'm talking about... that starts up when you first open your new Mac. It won't let you quit this either, until you're done.
I want to install the 2nd DVD applications (iLife) before I go into the new computer setup because, when I bring information over from my old computer using that process, the iLife applications seem to need to be there for the transfer of certain information or it won't let you proceed. I've tried it twice now! Maybe I can go to the Mac OS X Installer after erase and install and see something I could do that would allow me to switch discs.
As a side note, I'm having a conflict regarding the use of my account name. It won't let me use the same name I did on my old computer's account. But if I change it, it moves my information to a second account other than my administrator account! I don't see why it can't just move my info to the account I'm setting up when it automatically fills in your name based upon your Apple information. Anyway, my information ends up being inaccessible to the administrator account because it's in a different account! I don't want to be logging into two different accounts on my own computer!
Maybe I'm making this harder than it should be somehow. I never thought I'd run into so much trouble by just wanting to bring information over from my old computer! LOL -
First time Mac buyer: Buying a 2011 macbook pro or waiting till 2012?
Hey all,
I'm currently a student but I'm graduating in December and my parents said they would help me get a macbook (no time limit on when necessarily). I have been a lifetime Windows user and I still like Windows, but my Toshiba is getting old and really needs to be replaced. Now I know that the new MBP's should be coming out in Feb or something like that. my question is do you think that I should wait to buy it when the new ones come out or should I get one before graduation when I can get my student pricing (only 100 bucks off at most). Also should I go ahead and buy software and other things that I would get the student discount on (MS office, stuff like that)? I'm looking into the 13 MBP, I really want a 15 MBP but its really expensive. My Toshiba from 2007, is a 17in. I love the big screen and full keyboard but it has insanely crappy battery life making it basically a portable desktop.
I definitely will use my MBP for your standard web surfing, word processing, stuff like that. I also will probably start using recording equipment for my MBP, possibly using Logic b/c my school has a nice discount on it. Another side note is I wouldn't mind it being capable of gaming, I haven't had a gaming capable PC in 5-6 years but its definitely not a necessity.
I also want to know what everybody's opinion is on AppleCare, I've heard many different things.
thankssteve359 wrote:
EXTERNAL DISKS
External disks connect to the MBP through either the Firewire 800 or USB 2.0 conector. Self-powered ones also have a wall plug. The general appearance is a "brick" sitting on the desk next to the computer.
These are bonafide HD disks kept in external enclosures instead of being packed inside the computer.
They are overwhemingly the preferred solution to making backups of your computer. You will find few opinions in this forum to the contrary.
One advantage to using these for backup is that thera are not hard-wired to the main system, so if a power surge takes out the main system, your "backups" are safe because they are usually disconnected when the surge hits.
Another advantage is that you have *yet another* copy of the contents of your startup disk.
Another advantage is that typically the HD inside the enclosure typically dies, not the cable connectors or HD interface in the box. So when the HD in the enclosure dies (all HD die eventually), you can sometimes re-use the enclosure by placing a new HD.
macsales.com is a website that has tested parts and peieces for "Mac compatibility". Prices are nice too.
If you ask for recommenations of EHD (external hard disks), please state your budget becuse they can be as cheap as $60 or more expensive than $250. USB 2.0 is the slowest external interface. Firewire 800 is twice as fast as USB .
DISPLAY ADAPTERS
Yes, Thunderbolt port, using mini-display-to-? (you fill in ? with VGA or DVI or HDMI). MiniDVI is for oldermodels, but looks deceptively like MiniDisplay -- be careful.
guess i'm behind on the tech lingo, I already have 3 different external HDD's totallying almost 3 gigs so I'm doing fine in that field (just got to change them to FAT32. And as for the external display I'm not sure what I'm going to do that field... -
I guess you can see how new i am to this, I typed my whole question in the subject. Any way, i bought this macbook pro used, no disks, need to do a complete wipe and reinstall. is there anywhere i can download the install disks to burn to dvd? Or buy either one, or maybe even a later version? Im running 10.6.8 currently. Thanks in Advance! Terry
First determine what system you really have.
Apple menu -> About This Mac.
If it is 10.7, you don't need installer discs, because there is a recovery partition:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4848
If indeed it is 10.6.something then you'll want to call AppleCare for the discs.
http://www.apple.com/contact/phone_contacts.html
If they determine the machine is older than 10.6's initial release (August 28, 2009), you'll want to purchase 10.6 retail, and/or 10.7 retail from the Apple Store.
Regardless, backup your data first*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
And read the benefits of both 10.6 and 10.7:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2455
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2465
and determine which can run on your machine, and decide which you want to have. -
I have a mid 2010 Macbook Pro running Snow Leopard and foolishly upgraded to Yosemite. Now have numerous problems. Is it possible to go back in time with Time Machine and reinstall Snow Leopard? Then upgrade to Lion or Mavericks? Any other ideas on how I can exit Yosemite?
Once you get yourself back to Snow Leopard, if you still want to upgrade somewhat, I would suggest the following:
1. Get an external hard drive that you can use for experiments with new OS versions. You could partition it into 2 or 3 partitions. You could then clone your existing Snow Leopard system to one partition using Carbon Copy Cloner (well worth $40) or SuperDuper ($25).
2. Buy OS X Mountain Lion for $20, through the Apple online store (I don't think it's available through the App Store). Apple has decided to make it very difficult for anyone to get Mavericks unless they have already downloaded it.
You will receive two e-mails from Apple, one containing a PDF with a redemption code, and one with the password you will need to unlock the PDF. Using the code, you will download Mountain Lion from the App Store, where it will appear among your Purchased items.
After ML finishes downloading, its installer app will launch itself. When you see this launch screen, QUIT the install app immediately! Go to your applications folder, find the Install OS X Mountain Lion app, and copy it to a safe location outside of your Applications folder. Keeping one or more copies will allow you to reinstall without unnecessary aggravation if you later need or want to do that. At this point, you can re-launch the Installer in the Applications folder and let it run. You can install it on a clean partition on your external HD, or you can allow it to upgrade the Snow Leopard clone you created on your external drive, or you can do both. This should allow you to test how everything works for as long as you like.
3. If you left yourself a free partition on your test drive, try a clean install of Yosemite and set everything up from scratch (do not migrate anything). This will allow you to see whether your problems with it were related to something in your Snow Leopard system. -
Hi this is my first time use my apple account at Macbook air, but they need to answer the question, the problem is I forgot to the answer and question, how can i know it?
Alternatives to Reset Security Questions and Rescue Mail
1. Apple ID- All about Apple ID security questions.
2. Rescue email address and how to reset Apple ID security questions
3. Start here to find your country, and how you can contact Apple:
Apple ID- Contacting Apple for help with Apple ID account security.
4. Fill out and submit this form. Select the topic, Account Security.
5. Call Apple Support in your country and ask to speak to Account Security.
Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support.
How to Manage your Apple ID: Manage My Apple ID -
I installed Yosemite but it didn't go right, had to get Apple techs to help wipe and reinstall. Migrated apps and files from time machine backup. Thunderbird did work before things got bad enough I had to do something about Yosemite install problem.
Thunderbird lost several folders I sort mail into, and all but one extension. I tried reloading Thunderbird app support from older back up, nothing changed. I re-downloaded and installed Thunderbird. No change.
New extensions show download window with "save as" or "open with options", not the normal install button.There may be one or more large folders in your /Volumes folder that shouldn't be there and are using up your disk space.
/Volumes is an 'invisible" folder at the root level of your internal drive which is supposed to contain only the "mount points" for your attached disk volumes, but sometimes an actual folder can mistakenly get created there, often as a result of a failed copy operation such as you experienced with SuperDuper. Such a "ghost" folder will have a name similar to a real external drive, and can contain data that was meant for the real external drive but never got there. When the real external volume then re-mounts, it can no longer use its own name for the mount point in /Volumes because that name is already "taken", and so an extra number gets appended to the mount point. This may have happened twice in your situation, since the actual drive is now mounting as "Untitled 2".
/Volumes is a hidden folder, but it's easy to peek into it. First you should *eject and then physically disconnect all external drives*. Then:
Finder>Go menu> Go to Folder
enter /Volumes and click Go
You should see an alias to the startup volume. Don't touch this, or any other aliases. Do you also see a large folder named "Untitled, and perhaps another folder named "Untitled 1," which are not aliases? If so, delete them, and restart. -
My back ups are failing, the message I receive is "The backup disk image "/Volumes/Mamma and Pappa's Time Caps-1/Liz Giusti’s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” is already in use. Any suggestions?
I am trying to back up my Macbook Pro to a time capsule attached to my iMac. When I first installed the Time Capsule, all backups went well.Reboot the TC.. it has got lost.. or reboot the whole network.. restart in correct order. .modem router.. TC.. clients.
It suddenly will reappear.. you might need to reboot it again in a few days. .such is apple software today.
Some more info C12. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html -
Had to do hard wipe and reinstall of os and all apps, ipod/itunes question
had to do hard wipe and reinstall of os and all apps on my computer. itunes included. what will happen if i plug my nano in since the new itunes is empty? will it wipe my nano?
Hello stephaniern,
Since you reformatted your computer and re-installed the OS, your iPod will not recognize the new library because it will still be associated with the older one. When you plug in your iPod nano, iTunes will tell you the iPod is synced with another library, and will ask you if you would like to "Erase and Sync." Otherwise, yes, everything on your iPod will be wiped off.
If you did not have your iTunes library backed up, there are several ways you can pull the music off your iPod and onto iTunes. The first link after the Apple support document below provides step-by-step instructions for the direct method if you have a PC as well as a few third party applications (for both the Mac and PC) if you choose to go that route instead. You can also do a simple Google search for "copy music from iPod to computer" and you should receive a number of sites that can help you out.
Just make sure that when you have your iPod plugged into your computer, that you don't hit "Erase and Sync" before completing the task of copying your music over.
Also, if you have any purchased music, you will probably have to re-authorize your computer by heading to the Store drop down menu and choosing "Authorize computer."
[5 Ways to Copy Music OFF your iPod and onto iTunes|http://www.metaphoriclabs.com/articles/5-ways-to-copy-music-off-your-ipo d-windows-mac-os-x>
Here are a few more helpful sites.
[Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide|http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipo d-to-computer]
Or
[How to copy songs your iPod to your PC|http://lifehacker.com/software/ipod/how-to-copy-songs-from-your-ipod-to-your -pc-105256.php]
Lastly, as stated you will need to re-authorize your computer to play any iTunes purchases. Since it's the same computer you originally authorized, I would check out this Apple support document to take care of this issue so you do not have two authorizations on the same machine. [One computer using multiple iTunes Store authorizations|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1206]
Hope this helps.
B-rock -
its almost 10 months,i purchased ipad2 32 3G wifi.itinially i got problem with applications and safari shut off frequently now since last 4 months my ipad starts with a message (connect iTunes)like first time start and going to restore mode and it occurs frequently.plz advise.
If you have followed the standard Apple troubleshooting processes (see user guide )
probably a trip to the local Apple Store Genius bar is called for before warranty runs out
Assuming the iPad has been released in your Country if not you may have to take it to a
neighbouring Country where it is available
This page will tell you ,via the drop down menu Countries that can support iPad
http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_Kingdom&product=ipa d -
The church's iMac was registered by an employee that is no longer at the church. We would like to update the OS to Lion as well as some of the software. Since we do not know the password, is there a way to reset it it? Or do we need to wipe and reinstall the OS, register and then update? If so, how hard is it to reboot?
OK, thanks for that. Look on the original OS X install disc and see if that say Leopard 10.5.x or Snow Leopard 10.6.x. You advised in the last post the system is running 10.6.4, which is Snow Leopard. The most up-to-date version of Snow Leopard is 10.6.8, once we get your password changed we can work on getting it up-to-date.
So to change the administrators password you will do the following:
Insert the Snow Leopard Install Disc into the SuperDrive and restart the computer , when you hear the Startup Tone hold down the Option key.
Choose the SL Install Disc
Choose the language
Select the Utilities Menu - Select Password Reset
Select your Mac OS X hard disk volume.
Select the user name of your original administrator account. (you can change this later!)
Enter the new Password (remember to re-enter in the second box)
Quit the app by hitting the Command - Q keys
Quit the Installer (Command - Q again)
Restart -
I've updated all my software and Itunes on my Macbook Pro but when I went to open iTunes it tells me it's either corrupted or not installed correctly and to reinstall it. Is there anyway to fix it without reinstalling the whole program?
Here's a previous discussions that seems to have solved a similar issue in the past:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/12209861#12209861 -
I try to buy from my iTunes program and I can not buy me a message appears stating that I am the first time Buy and necessary to answer the questions, but I do not remember the answer please help
You are not addressing Apple here we are just users like you.
Security questions
Read this note for information on how to reset the security questions http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5312
This user tip may also help you Security Questions -
I have a 1 TB Time Capsule on a wireless network with my iMac and my wife's MacBook Pro. The TC is almost full. What is the best way/device to increase storage capacity?
Replace the Time Capsule with one that has a larger hard drive. Or erase the one you have and start a new set of backups or backup one of the computers to a different backup drive.
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