Reinstalling Leopard - Restoring questions

I'm planning on giving my MacBook Pro (Early 2008) a fresh start by reinstalling Leopard. I have my computer backed up on Time Machine. I know I can just either "Restore with Time Machine" during the install process, or use Migration Assistant to restore my stuff. But I don't want to restore everything. So my questions are:
1. Using either of those processes, can I choose which applications to restore and which applications to forget about?
2. My latest backups are from the latest Leopard update (10.5.6), so I assume I should download all software updates before restoring?
3. Will this cause issues with the more "heavy" programs like the Adobe CS4 suite, Microsoft Office 2008, or Final Cut Studio 2? I'll reinstall them from the disks if I need to, but if I can just restore them, that'd be so much better.
4. Is it easy to restore my iWeb data? iPhoto data? What about the wide selection of albums I have in MobileMe through iPhoto? Will those still be listed in iPhoto?
That's all I can think of, thanks in advance!

requieminadream wrote:
3. Will this cause issues with the more "heavy" programs like the Adobe CS4 suite, Microsoft Office 2008, or Final Cut Studio 2? I'll reinstall them from the disks if I need to, but if I can just restore them, that'd be so much better.
The biggest potential problem is if they use activation or a limited number of installations. Things like Apple iTunes (to play any iTunes Store purchases) and Adobe CS suite use activation and this is tracked by system configuration. Restoration may cause the application to think it is on a different or new computer, and might trigger a reactivation request or a loss of one of your allocated activations. The best practice here is to make sure you make a list of all apps that require activation and deactivate them before any type of migration or "restoration."

Similar Messages

How do I upgrade to snow leopard and then restore my files from my time machine HDD backup...without losing any data or reinstalling leopard (10.5)?

How do I upgrade to snow leopard (from leopard 10.5) and then restore my files from my time machine HDD backup...without losing any data or reinstalling leopard (10.5)?

Hello, it's great you have a backup, but 10.6 should just Install 10.6 system files over the top of 10.5 system files, & leave all your data intact on the drive.

Advice on reinstalling Leopard

Okay so the Genius from the Apple store said that I need to reinstall Leopard on my iBook to get it working again. I do not have any of the discs because my family bought a disk with the 5 licenses and now my brother can't find it. Looking on ebay there are people selling the restore discs but they say for iMac or other "intel based."
Does anyone know if this will still work on my iBook or will I have to buy another license?
If I do have to buy another license, is there anyone here, possibly someone that has already upgraded to snow leopard, that can sell me their discs for a decent price?
Thanks in advance.

Welcome To  Discussions sheaitisnotso!
If you know what to look for a Full Retail Version, of the Leopard Install DVD, can be purchased, sometimes less expensively, at some online Apple retailers, Amazon, eBay, FastMac, HardCore Mac, AllMac, etc.
As Lyssa noted, be sure not to purchase grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
Leopard is on DVD.
The disc should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade, CPU Drop-in DVD, or "This software is part of a hardware bundle purchase - not to be sold seperately." on it.
Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?
Caveat Emptor!
If any are presently available, examine these items very carefully, and if in doubt, ask questions of the seller before purchase!
Leopard On eBay
Once Leopard 105.x is re-installed, you can use the Mac OS X 10.5.8 Combo Update to upgrade to the current version.
ali b

URGENT Trying to wipe and reinstall Leopard 10.5 on my 2008 imac8,1 from the disk but my hard drive doesn't show up

So to give a little big of a background on my computer. I got it January 2009 as a graduation gift, because I was going to get a degree in Graphic Design and Animation. I only worked on it [mostly brousing the web, and itunes] for about 6 months because I was taking all of my general courses for college. I then met my boyfriend [late 2009] and moved in with him, my boyfriend has a macbook so I left my mac at my parents house. I was only Using it every now and then and it would be idle/ or shut off the rest of the time.
Fast forward to fall 2011. Me and my boyfriend live in a condo so I brought my computer over because I am now taking graphic design courses and need my computer. I installed a free 30 day trial of adobe cs5.5. It made my computer kind of slow and it froze alot even though I still have over 250gb's of memory in it. After the trial ended I kind of stoped using my computer again, rather installing the free trials of cs5.5 on my mom and my boyfriends macs until I had enought money saved up to buy it.
Here's where it gets tricky.
So now its March 2012 and I tried uninstalling the trial of cs5.5 on my computer since it was just taking up un needed space. I had to uninstall all of the programs one at a time other wise it would freeze up. I have had to hold the power button down to get it to turn off because i couldn't even move the mouse even after waiting a while. Anyhow I get to the last program and it keeps freezing, I tried shutting down my computer via<apple< shut down. But when I start it up again I got a file with a question mark flashing on my screen. So I looked up how to fix that and had to locate where to start up [I selected my hard drive] then I was able to get on to my computer.
So then I go to disk utilitys and do a repair on my internal hard drive to fix if there were any messed up files. After the files are repaired I figure I'll restart it and let everything get up to date. When I do I get the gray screen with the apple and the spinning wheel. This happens OVER and OVER. I tried soft reseting it, manually turning off the computer, you name it. But it still keeps happening. So I figure I'll just wipe it clean and reinstall the whole thing. [I have it backed up on an external drive]
I try to reinstall leopard 10.5 from the disk that came with my computer, all goes well until I gets to the 3rd screen where you select where to save it to, my hard drive doesn't show up. But if I connect my external hard drive it shows up right away. I try seeing if it pops up on disk utility, and it doesn't show up there either.
Is it possible that my hard drive is shot? I haven't really used my computer that much. Its pretty much sat at my parents house for 2 of the 3 years I've had it. So its not like I used it a whole lot.
Help! I'm a college student who needs her mac now more than ever for my design classes!

The battery alone is a $5 to $15 part. Hard drives vary in cost, and depending on the iMac, they may or may not be able to install a third party hard drive, or one resold through Apple.    The resold through Apple drives tend to cost more. This article discusses the varying successes of third party drives on iMacs:
http://blog.macsales.com/10146-apple-further-restricts-upgrade-options-on-new-im acs
The labor costs depend on the store as well as the time to get the parts in stock.    Call around.

Reinstalling Leopard and cleaning hard but can't reload operating system.

In preparation for sale, i'm cleaning off all my data from my G5 and reinstalling Leopard OS.
Every time I insert the original OS Leopard install CD and try and re-boot the computer gos into the start up screen (Apple logo displayed) but just freezes then the CPU fans slowly start to blow harder and harder until my mac sounds like jet aircraft on afterburn. After 20minutes I have to force crash and restart. Without the start-up CD the mac boots up fine and run perfectly.
Any idea what I can launch the start-up OS to reinstall and wipe the HD?
thanks
Ed

If you have been trying to get it to boot from the installer DVD by holding
the C key down on startup, with the disc in the optical drive, perhaps it
may work to use the Option key held down on start up with disc in drive.
+{The original system disc may be able to cope with the firmware setup+
+on the computer, even though it may have been updated over time.+
+So, that machine-specific install-restore disc may be the key.}+
Another way may be to see if the installed system's own Startup Disk
control pane in System Preferences can select the inserted DVD as a
boot volume and then choose to start the G5 from that DVD, then.
There may also be some other issue behind this problematic situation;
and perhaps to reset the PRAM/NVRAM may do something voodoo to
help it get a move on. However, this topic has come up in the forums
and has affected a few different models under odd circumstances. So
some topic like it should exist in the Discussions, and be searchable.
There is also an Open Firmware reset that involves starting in single
user mode to enter command line text and so on, to reset NVRAM:
• reset the NVRAM (non volitile RAM)
Here is how to do it (from OWC):
To boot into Open Firmware, shut down your Mac, then start it up while holding down the
Command, Option, O and F keys. At the prompt, enter the following commands (you may
want to write them down on a piece of paper before beginning this process), pressing the
return key after each:
reset-nvram
set-defaults
reset-all
After which your Mac will restart.
Edit: Actually, on a re-read, (confirm before trying) there are a few mis-steps in the
above; so check that out. I have seen where this path is more likely, along with above...
+as soon as you turn on your machine and you here the chime, hold down command S,+
+this will take to the terminal.+
+then type:+
/sbin/fsck -fy
If it tells you *** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***, type the above again, until it says:
** The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK * (where name is probably Macintosh_HD)
When that is done, type reboot and you should be good.
Other +general symptom matches+ - with some degree of results, may appear in a search using the words:
• *power mac G5 won't boot from disc* - google search:
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&q=powermac+g5+won%27t+boot+fromdisc&aq=2&aqi=g3g-o1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=83f87efc6f926f13
• Apple - Support - PowerMac G5:
http://www.apple.com/support/powermac/
Not sure if that will help, but it's beyond sleeptime here.
Good luck & happy computing!
+{ edited to add voodoo words }+

Uninstall Snow Leopard and reinstall Leopard

Any advice on how to uninstall Snow Leopard and reinstall Leopard. My Epson 3800 Printer just wont work with Snow Leopard. Thanks

Hello Anthony:
There is no "uninstall." If you have a backup (hopefully you do) made before you moved to OS X 10.6, restore that.
If you do not, this article gives you the options:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1545
Barry

IPhoto missing after reinstalling leopard

After reinstalling Leopard on my new macBook, iPhoto is missing from the Applications. Has anyone any ideas how to solve this? I can't find the individual install for iPhoto either on the install disks.
Thanks

Terence Devlin wrote:
so I'm buying my own copy of Leopard
Why?
Because the copy of Leopard she has is unlicensed if she doesn't have the install disc.
Do I have to erase the installed one before I install my new copy?
If 10.5 is working why are you going to re-install?
Well, security for one. I would never, never, never use a pre-owned Mac without completely erasing and reinstalling everything from scratch. Who knows what hacks, security holes, pirated software, or other junk may have been left on it by its previous owner. We already know that the seller included a stolen copy of Leopard. Maya would be doing everything right by buying a fresh copy of Leopard and reinstalling.
And if iphoto is going to be missing, could I install it from the Tiger disk that came with my desktop?
System Restore Disks are particular to the model they come with. Also, it's a breach of the licence.
That's wrong. Software on a system restore disc may be transferred to a different Mac as long as the software is no longer installed on the first Mac. And while some have reported difficulty getting OS X to install on a different model, I think it's likely that the iLife apps will work.
If Maya has no system restore CDs for her iBook at all, she should contact the seller and demand them. If the seller told Maya that Leopard or any other Apple software is included, and then included no install discs, the seller defrauded Maya.

Can't REinstall leopard, and I'm losing my patience

Here's the thing. My computer has been having kernel panics and has been running way too slow. So, what I wanted to do was to erase everything and reinstall Leopard. So, I tried doing it with a copy of the original Leopard DVD that I have. I selected delete and install on my Macintosh HD partition. I let the machine verify de DVD (took half an hour I think) and the process started. Not even One third through I got a message that the media source had an error or something like that. So, everything was erased from my Macintosh HD, but nothing installed. So, I tried again, same error. After about three tries, I gave up and went to my office and brought the original Leopard DVD I have. I tried reinstalling with it and I got the same error twice so I gave up with that.
So, I partitioned an external USB Hard drive, and in a 10 GB partition I restored an image of the original Leopard DVD. To my surprise, I got the same error message, "media source error" etc. So, I restored to a time machine backup date from my external firewire HD. My plan was to partition my firewire HD and do the same thing I did with my usb HD, but only this time it will be a firewire drive and it may work. So, the restore went fine, and I partitioned my HD (all my time machine backups were erased in order to partition the HD), so I told time machine to make a back up now. When time machine was backing up my drive, I got an error, and the drive couldn't be backed up. So, I tried again, and the same error appeared. I don't remember if it said anything about the error (because it was very late last night), but I think it only said that time machine couldn't complete the backup because there was an internal error, something like that.
So now, what should I do? I can't try to install leopard again because I have nothing to restore from, and I can't backup my drive because Time machine encounters errors when it tries. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Resolving kernel panics:
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html
http://www.macmaps.com/kernelpanic.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106227

Backed up whole HD now I'd like to reinstall leopard

Just installed a 500GB in my macbook pro. I used Carbon copy cloner to copy my hd to my new one before i installed it. I now would like to reintall Leopard and snow leopard on my new HD and start all over. I still want all my pictures, music, and movies. So I understand that all i have to do with that is move over those files. As far as applications I've downloaded, I know I can just move the apps over, but what about all the little files you can't find? What's the best way to reinstall leopard and start over. But keep all my apps? New to back ups.

If you were going to start over why did you clone your old drive to the new one. I'm not sure I grasp what your goal is. If reinstalling was the purpose then you should not have restored your old drive's system to your new one. You should have prepped the new drive (did you do that, btw?) and installed a fresh copy of Snow Leopard on it, then used Migration Assistant to restore your Home folder and third-party applications. Now you will just need to start over.
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your SL Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
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.
Upon completion of formatting quit DU and return to the installer. Complete the Snow Leopard installation. When SL restarts to the Setup Assistant follow instructions until you get to the point where you set up your initial admin account. Be sure to choose a short name that is NOT the same as the one you were using for your old Leopard system. Upon completion of the Setup Assistant you will have an opportunity to use Migration Assistant to migrate files from another computer or attached hard drive. You can then migrate your Home and Applications folders, support files, and preferences from the clone on your old drive.

Lost Disk space after Reinstalling Leopard

I upgraded my Mac OS v.10.4.9 to Leopard v.10.5.1 in May and after Leopard was installed I had about 13 GB HD space left. It was lightning quick too. The new OS was v.10.5.1
Since then I've been downloading regular Security updates as they were prompted until the OS reached v.10.5.5 but the whole thing was gradually getting slower too so I figured I would reinstall Leopard and take it back to v.10.5.1 to see if it was back to the high speed it had when I originally installed Leopard v.10.5.1.
After I re-installed Leopard last week and it was back to v.10.5.1 it went back to running superfast again, but yesterday I started getting a notice that said I was running low on Startup disk space and I needed to delete some stuff to gain space.
When I checked available space I have less than 1 GB, about 300MB.
It seems that by re-installing Leopard it has been written adjacent to the 10.5.5 instead of on top of it, which I thought it would do automatically.
I found a file named 'Previous systems' on the HD and deleted that but it screwed it up so I had to restore that and now it's back to normal but I've still got less than 1 GB disk space.
Can anyone tell me how to delete my old operating systems (both the 10.5.5 and the 10.4.9 that I presume is still on there, which I originally upgraded to Leopard.)
I'm a conservative user of disk space and I deleted all my photos and only gained about 20 MB of new space so I'm pretty sure the problem is the OS's are written adjacent to each other instead of on top of each other.

Barry,
Thank you for your help.
When I deleted the Previous Systems file it was about 7 months after the Leopard installation.
You are right, I did do an Archive and Install in order to maintain all my info from v10.4.9.
The problem I encountered after I deleted the Previous Systems file was I then did a Secure Empty Trash and as it was emptying it was showing over 200,000 items and still upticking and that worried me that I had done the wrong thing by deleting the Previous Systems file.
So I stopped the Emptying process, and did a restart, thinking my HD space may be restored if the file was indeed possible to be deleted.
When it restarted that time, instead of the usual boot up process, there was a small flashing square box in the centre of a grey background, the small box had a blue earth in it and that went on flashing for maybe 20 minutes.
It eventually booted up and so I went to the trash, where the now presumably slightly diminished Previous Systems file was, and I dragged that file back into the HD and re-started the machine.
The world sign again flashed on, but this time for maybe only 10 minutes before it booted OK.
I checked and I was back to v.10.5.1 bit still with only about 300MB Disk space.
That's when I deleted all my photos but that only gave me about 20MB so now I'm up to about 320 MB - but as you say that is nowhere near enough.
But I do notice a definite increase in speed using 10.5.1 compared to 10.5.5. Those Security Updates have dragged it down badly.
Now that you have explained that the Previous Systems file may be safely deleted then I will try that again and let it run its course this time.
I'll let you know what happens.
Thanks again,
ann

Syncing after reinstalling Leopard

So I reinstalled Leopard, and for some dumb reason my iPod says that it normally gets synced with another library and that if I want to sync it with this one, I have to erase everything on it (which is problematic because I haven't backed it up in a month).
I'd like to know how I can backup my setting and apps, erase my iPod, sync it with my library, and then transfer music without getting rid of all of my applications and their settings.
Thanks a bunch,
SeanDaBomb

Start itunes, disable automatic sync. Connect your ipod, backup manually by right click on "ipod" in left itunes media window. This backup will contain all settings but no music or videos and you can use it to restore after your ipod was wiped the first time you synced. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
and http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414.
Transfer your purchases als well (File>transfer purchases)
As you still have your itunes library on your mac, you can sync content afterwards. You can download your apps again for free http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519 and http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1977

Reinstall Leopard on Mini that came with Tiger

I have a Mini that came with Tiger installed just before Leopard came out and I got the disk to update it to Leopard through the up to date program. I updated it to Leopard and have been using this Mini to load and test a lot of different programs.
I want to re-install Leopard doing a erase and install to start again clean but am wondering if I can do it form the update disk or will I need to install Tiger first and then run the update to Leopard like I did after I received it?

put in the install disc, and when you're at the screen where you select which disc to install to, click options, and it gives you the option to erase partition and reinstall leopard without needing to upgrade. did i word that confusing? it says that you need v 10.4 *or higher to do the upgrade, BUT if you don't click options and choose the reformat (last option) then it will upgrade and keep your old system folder on the drive. any questions, i'll be checking back at this post.

Epson Printer 890C drivers done, can I reinstall Leopard

The printer I have-890C- has plug and play (no need to install). After SL, it is gone. Plug and play i not even plug and pRay. Epson says they will not have a driver until the winter. Epson's fault, not Apple's I guess. Apple's Gutenprint works, but not as well. Question-is it possible to put in my original leopard disk and reinstall leopard. I find the lack of a printer driver a big pain.

You said they have it, Saxaphone?
Where do you see it?
After many mails to and from--Japan, Canada and UK, they admitted they were not ready and would be ready in winter. And then they said i should have asked them before installing 10.6. But even if I had asked them, they would not have given me the correct answer since their answer until now has been to tell people to install Rosetta, which will do nothing for them.

If I reinstall leopard will I lose my windows partition?

I am new to mac, and this may be a silly question. I want to reinstall leopard, but I am afraid that in this case my windows partition would be erased. If I reinstall leopard choosing "archive and install", will my windows partition be damaged?

Just one more question, is there any option to copy my existing applications and data to the "previous system" folder WITHOUT keeping my network preferences?
No. The options you see are the only ones available.
(38446)

Issues with Finder - reinstalling Leopard???

Hi,
I'm having some issues with Finder. Sometimes, when I restart the computer, it takes a long time to start Finder. Besides that, every time I want to eject my Time Machine external HD, I need to relaunch Finder. If I don't relaunch it, it never ejects the TM HD.
Would you recommend reinstalling Leopard, but using the feature to erase everything? When I installed it, I didn't use that feature because I wanted my files/previous programs the way they were before. With a new installation (erasing everything), I'd have to install and configure so many things again and I didn't want that. But now, because of the issues with Finder, I'm thinking about reinstalling Leopard.
Any suggestions?
Cheers,
Mike

Before you do anything drastic, repost your question in the Finder/Dock forum.
No, I am not being sarcastic - but you might find that it's a common problem and others over in that forum have a solution or else it might simply be an "issue" that a reinstall will not fix.
It would be annoying if you reinstalled Leopard and it didn't install properly.
Until you are sure about the Finder "issue" leave it alone for now.
Here's the Finder/Dock forum location:
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1221
And good luck.

Reinstalling Leopard - Restoring questions

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