Reinstalling tiger without losing apps, documents, mail etc

Question

Hi,
I wish to reinstall my tiger operating system on my powerbook g12, I have all the installer discs etc, and wondered if there was a way I could do this so I could save all the settings Basically I bought this computer for my G/friend, subsequently she doesn't use it anymore having bought a mac book, so I want to change the main user id etc, and apparently the only way you can do this is by reinstalling the system...which i'm prepared to do, however i wanted to preserve all the mail, applications and documents...is their an option for doing this?
thank you

Answer 1

Which data did you transfer for the Mail.app?
You need a copy of the Mail folder at Home > Library > Mail and a copy of the Mail.app preference file at Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.mail.plist.
The Mail.app preference file stores all account information and general Mail.app settings and is required along with the Mail folder when moving all Mail.app data from one login account to another or from one Mac to another and the Mail.app should be quit when doing so.
Sounds like you transferred the Mail folder only but doing so will not mess up the operating system.
If all you need to do is transfer Mail.app data and documents, this should be fairly easy and straightforward and nothing needs to be done with existing applications this way.
Re-installing OS X via an Archive & Install will do what you want but this will re-create your girlfriend's login account and you will be right back where you started.
Your only other option is backing up all data and performing an Erase & Install which will require re-installing all 3rd party applications and re-installing all available OS X, Security and Apple application updates, etc and then restoring all data from the backup.
My first suggestion is the easiest by far IMO.