Moving the System Folder

Dear Readers,
I need to move my entire system folder (OS, Apps, etc) over to a new internal hard-drive. How can this be accomplished? Can I simply duplicate the system folder, move it to the new drive, and set it as the startup disk?
Many thanks. =)
- David

Hi David,
first of all: WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSIONS!
No, you cannot drag&drop copy MacOS X. You have to use a backup utility such as Carbon Copy Cloner or Synchronize! X Plus.
MacOS X consists of more then 30,000 files and folders, most invisible and many linked to each other.

Similar Messages

Question about Removing Permissions from the System Folder with chmod

Hi
I have a question about the removal of permissions from the System folder (and sub directories and files).
Background
Since installing a new HD, clean install of 10.6, application of updates and moving over backed up user directories I have had several issues with permissions.
I have read several threads on this and using disk warrior and other tools I have been able to fix most of the issues.
The Problem
The issue that remains is a permissions check using Disk Utility keeps reporting
ACL found but not expected on "System".
followed by an extensive list of sub directories and all.
Attempts to repair take hours and the same errors are reported.
Found Solutions
I have read about changing and/or completely removing the ACL from the permissions from the System using two different commands:
sudo chmod -R -N ./System/* ( to remove all ACLs)
or
sudo chmod -R -E ./System/* ( to replace all ACLs )
My Question is ( to the UNIX gurus):
What is the difference between the usage with -E and -R and which is the best approach for a Systems directory and (subordinates)?
Many thanks!!

OK
So I misread on the your instructions about the PW reset, did it, no harm in that. I did also select the options to reset all the permissions for all the accounts and the ACL issues were not resolved. My bad, I forgot to note that.
You do suggest getting and expert opinion but alas these are rather elusive. In most cases the Apple solutions is to do a complete reinstall... I have found that unless you completely wipe a drive and rebuild everything there are often artifacts left behind. Since I have full and redundant back-ups I would rather explore and hack a little instead of a dull old system reinstall. The irony is the system issue I had was it was the result a reinstall and combo update on a new drive. I recognize the risks of entering the realms of the System folders but I am willing to explore knowing full well that I have a path to recovery.
Thanks again for your insights. I come to the forums looking for insights and ideas but not a lecture...

Is it possible to reinstall Symbol dfont into the system folder?

Since updating to Snow Leopard, there is no Symbol dfont in the system folder. I have been relying on this font for sometime now to avoid special character issues.
I use InDesign and this font has become essential for my work. The Symbol font now supplied with the OSX ver.6 (Symbol.ttf) is noticeably different.
Is there a way of reloading Symbol dfont into the system folder without it becoming a nightmare? Or, can I replace the current Symbol font?

This is one of those infamous Apple "invisible" fonts that are not removable.
Other than those in the ProtectedFonts folder (not invisible, just difficult to find), their are no "invisible" fonts on the hard drive.
The only Symbol font installed by Snow Leopard is the Symbol.ttf font in the /System/Library/Fonts/ folder.
You can try removing it, and it will seem to go away, but somehow it keeps showing up.
What did you do after removing it? How did you remove it?
If you simply dragged it to the trash, that won't work. Only a copy of the font will go in the trash, or desktop, or wherever you drag it. To delete any font from the System folder, you must choose Delete and enter your admin password.
After that, it's still not gone. Even in the trash, any font from the System folder remains active (you can't even empty the trash) until you at least restart the Mac.
You may still have issues after installing Symbol.dfont from Leopard if the OS, or applications use the cached data for the .ttf version instead of creating fresh data for the replacement font.
Close all running applications. From an administrator account, open the Terminal app and enter the following command. You can also copy/paste it from here into the Terminal window:
sudo atsutil databases -remove
This removes all font cache files. Both for the system and all user font cache files. After running the command, close Terminal and immediately restart your Mac.
Once the Snow Leopard version of Symbol is truly off the drive, you should have no trouble using the .dfont version from Leopard.

I took the system file out of the system folder on os 9.2 can't boot to put file back in machine also has osx 10.2 but won't let me boot to either need os 9 compatible boot disk I think?

I took the system file out of the system folder on os 9.2 can't boot to put file back in machine also has osx 10.2 but won't let me boot to either need os 9 compatible boot disk I think?

If the OS X 10.2 on the hard drive is/was bootable, try this -
Restart or boot, then immediately press the X key, keep it held down until you know the machine has started to boot using OS X. This is a hardware instruction to the Mac to boot using the first usable instance of OS X it finds.
Once booted to OS X, you should be able to move OS 9's System file into OS 9's System Folder.
Note - in general, unless you know for sure what you are doing and that the results are desired, do not relocate or rename files in OS 9's System Folder or in OS X's System or Library folders.

Taking Fonts out of the systems folder! Will not start up HELP!!!!

My wife took the fonts out of the system folder and did not put them back and restarted!!! HELP!! only have Panther CD's

I replied to your other post in Installation & Setup here.

Save Oracle Report Output as PDF format in the system folder

Hi,
Is it possible to Save Oracle Reports Output as PDF(file_name.pdf) format in the system folder(say C:\temp\file_name.pdf).
I am using Repors 10g R2.
Note : i dont want to open the report preview as PDF, just i want to save the PDF file in the a specified location.
Regards,
Suresh.V

Hello,
Yes, it is possible.
Execute the Reports passing the parameters :
DESFORMAT=PDF DESTYPE=FILE DESNAME=C:\temp\file_name.pdf
Regards

Cannot see the system folder(private work area) in the dependency manager

Hi
I am not able to see the 'system folder'(private work area) in the dependency manager tool.
I have captured the user schema in this folder, and want to see dependency information of objects in it.
Please Help.
Thanks

Hi Guru,
Please go through SAP note # 1333684 and configure accordingly.
Also, follow the note # 1042993, if problem is not getting resolved.
Thanks
Pavan

Changing the system folder icon

this is a 2 part question;
1st, how do you change the system and user folder icons? i have been able to change all the other ones...
2nd, in my vain attempt to change the system folder i made a copy of it, i now wish to delete the copy but the trashcan wont empty it because it has "locked files" what do i do?

Select the folders whose icon you wish to change and do GetInfo. Expand the "Sharing & Permissions" section down at the bottom. You'll notice that the owner of those folders is "system" of the group "wheel" and that "everyone" (which includes you) only has Read privileges, not write. That's why you can't change the icon. Click the little padlock at the bottom and give your password (obviously you must be logged in as an administrator), click on the little double arrows in front of the "everyone Read only" entry and give everyone "Read & Write"--you can now select the little icon at the top and paste in your replacement icon. BE SURE TO CHANGE EVERYONE BACK TO READ ONLY before you close the GetInfo window!!
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

I have a fairly elderly I Mac 7.1 (2.47 Ghz Intel Core Duo) operating OSX v 10.9.5. At the core level I find two Library folders, one within the System Folder and one by itself with the other core level folders - mostly same content. Is this right?

iMac 7.1 (2.47 Ghz Intel Core Duo w/2GB memory) operating OSX v 10.9.5. At the core level I find two Library folders, one within the System Folder and one by itself with the other core level folders - mostly same content. Is this right or do I have a duplication problem?
The system is slow.

TS1926 "Monitors cannot be used bcz a required extension, System Monitor Plugins, is disabled or not installed. Make sure System Monitor Plugins is in the Extensions folder in the System folder then restart your computer" Anyone have experience with this

"Monitors cannot be used bcz a required extension, System Monitor Plugins, is disabled or not installed. Make sure System Monitor Plugins is in the Extensions folder in the System folder then restart your computer" Anyone have experience with this issue?

Try this app: http://tyorex.com/iWorkConverter
Batch convert Pages files to doc and pdf.

No warning before moving the ~/Library folder...

OSX 10.7.3 on Macbook Air 13.3' i5 1.7Ghz 128GB.
Yesterday I was working on a Finder window opened on my ~/Library.
As I accidentally dragged the icon displayed in the Title area, the OS lost my user settings...
I quickly realized that my action caused my ~/Library folder to be moved to my ~/Desktop.
Since the ~/Library is a hidded folder in Lion, it may not be so trivial to figure out what happens whn you move it.
I had a CCC backup from the day before, so I restored the system with no damage.
(I didn't try to move the Library back, and opted for the safest way)
I wish that moving of critical system folders were signaled with a warning message, at least.

My own Lion system did not allow this.
I just created a new admin test account, opened a Finder window to its library, and tried to drag the library "proxy icon" at the top of that window onto the Desktop. Dragging produced only the "green plus" copy pointer, and so I could copy the Library folder but not move it, which is as it should be.
Looking in Terminal, I found that the home Library carried a protective "everyone deny delete" ACL, as do the other default subfolders of a new user account:
2010-Computer:~ t1$ ls -ldeO@ ~/Library
drwx------@ 29 t1 staff hidden 986 Feb 27 14:01 /Users/t1/Library
com.apple.FinderInfo 32
0: group:everyone deny delete
I then removed that protective ACL:
2010-Computer:~ t1$ chmod -N ~/Library
2010-Computer:~ t1$ ls -ldeO@ ~/Library
drwx------@ 29 t1 staff hidden 986 Feb 27 14:01 /Users/t1/Library
com.apple.FinderInfo 32
Now I could move the Library folder onto the Desktop by dragging its proxy icon (as mentioned, this was a temporary disposable test account!).
Had you previously altered any permissions on the Library folder or on your home folder?

Moving Previous systems folder

I have just upgraded my OS to Tiger on a G3 Tower that only has 12 Gig. I did an archive and install, which I now regret, but I did it. Now I am out of disk space. The "previous system" folder is 2.75 gig and I have been trying to move it to my external drive. It takes forever to "prepare to move" roughly 33,000 files. Then, when it actually starts to move them, I get a "permissions" error and a choice of skipping them. I choose to skip them and the "move" terminates. How can I move this folder to my external drive?"
Thank you.
G3 Tower Mac OS X (10.3.9) Turqoise

It is not necessary to move the entire Previous System. First delete the Apple apps and utilities from the Previous System, this will give you some space. The other Third Party apps and utilities have already been moved. Those found in the Previous System are not compatible.
The entire old System folder can be trashed. Drivers for your hardware have been upgraded or moved to a current location.
What you are most interested in are located in your Home folder. The Preferences for the Third Party applications can be moved from User/Preferences (previous) to User/Preferences (new).
Do the same for the Preferences located in Library/Preferences
Be sure to Fix Disk Permissions along the way.

Moving the iTunes Folder

Hi All:
iTunes stores its XML library in the following folder on my C:\ Drive:
\Documents And Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Music
I have copied the iTunes folder and all its XML library documents to my E: drive. Does anyone know how to get iTunes to look at the folder on my E: drive rather than in the default location?

1) See: What are the iTunes Library files?
2) See my answer in your other post: Buegie, "Moving the iTunes Library / Databases" #1, 12:16pm Nov 9, 2005 CDT

Moved the system to another hd and partition - cannot create root dev

hi,
i moved my arch system from one hd to another one, also to another partition. now the system does not come up, complaining it could not find the root partition. it still expects the old one, even though grub does have the right kernel option.
is this inside the initrd? how can i change it there?
is chrooting an option to rebuild the initrd?
thanks for your advice,
das.t

First, make sure your GRUB entry is pointing to the correct partition, if you use UUID entry then you must update it exactly to reflect the new partition ID. Use "ls -lhF /dev/disk/by-uuid" to find it.
Second, you must edit the fstab, look above.
Third, try to boot with kernel-fallback.img
Fourth, when sucessfully booting, rebuild the initrd image with "mkinitcpio -p kernel26", after that you can boot with standard initrd.

Moved the "Connections" folder, now Dreamweaver CS3 can't find MySQL connection...

Hi,
Dreamweaver creates a "Connections" folder in the site root
where all database connection files are stored. I want to move this
folder to another path but then DW can't find the connection (for
example in admin/includes/Connections).
How can I tell DW the new path of the "Connections" folder so
I can still use DW extensions to find all available database
connections?
Thanks!
Regards,
Checo

_Checo_ wrote:
> How can I tell DW the new path of the "Connections"
folder so I can still use
> DW extensions to find all available database
connections?
Answered your duplicate post in the AppDev forum. Please
don't post
identical questions in multiple forum.s
David Powers, Adobe Community Expert
Author, "The Essential Guide to Dreamweaver CS3" (friends of
ED)
Author, "PHP Solutions" (friends of ED)
http://foundationphp.com/

Moving the System Folder

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for