Snow Leopard HD being replaced; my files are on external HD; can I run them off of MBA Lion?

My Mac issues .... bad seagate hard drive .... , finally being replaced as of today by Apple store per the warranty. The MBA? All sorts of issues(el cheapo version--only $999 <insert evil smirk>; 2011 11-inch, measley 64G flash drive; memory keeps being eaten alive by some kind of "other" mystery files). Whatever. It's not like I'm not used to all the problems with this machine anyway ... so I'll hang on to it and try to work with it till Thursday.
I've got both of my Macs backed up on a 1T Seagate external HD. With the 27-inch Mac in the Genius Hospital getting a new hard drive, I'd like to try to do one or both of the following:
1. Work off of the iMac Snow Leopard stuff saved on the external hard drive (backed up ON the seagate external as well as on Time Machine--yes, it's journaled, whatever that means). Is that possible? There were very confusing issues with permissions that I was not able to resolve on my own before I took the Macs to the Apple store, so .... that brings me to Number 2.
2. Since the idiot MBA has to have its hard drive wiped out for a fresh install on Thursday, can I wipe it out myself, OR just access the Snow Leopard files somehow off of the Seagate external drive? But they are only backed up via Time Machine, so it's what? Impossible to work with just one file, plus I've got those issues with disk permissions.
I guess what I'm wondering is, can I use this MBA sort of as a temporary machine to run the Snow Leopard? I don't need everything off of the iMac, because I'm only talking about using it like this for today and tomorrow. I'm more than happy to wipe out the entire contents of this MBA (it's backed up on the seagate external also) and just use it as Snow Leopard until I can get the iMac back and reinstall it all on there. Is that possible?
I've googled until I'm blue in the face and my eyes have glazed over. I cannot figure it out. Obviously, this being the 11-inch MBA, there is no CD drive, so no way to boot off a Snow Leopard disk.
Anyone? Buehler? Anyone? Can I work with my own files on that external drive, even if it means I wipe out the MBA?

Can I do this?
Only if your computer shipped with Mac OS X 10.4. Use the 10.4 package that shipped with it.
How?
Install it normally, considering the point above.
Snow Leopard won't let me install an older version of OS.
It's not Snow Leopard that won't let you. It's the computer itself.
(52089)

Similar Messages

Hello. My mac can't connect to my time capsule. There is no response and I can't put it back to the originals definitions because all my files are there and I can´t loose them. (sorry about my bad english, but I really need help!)

Hello. My mac can't connect to my time capsule. There is no response and I can't put it back to the originals definitions because all my files are there and I can´t loose them. (sorry about my bad english, but I really need help!)

Your files are unaffected by a reset.. no reset via the reset button on the TC harms, deletes or does anything to your files.
The Factory Reset universal
Unplug your TC/AE. Hold in reset. and power the TC/AE back on.. all without releasing reset and keep holding in for about 10sec. The time is not important.. it is the front LED rapid flashing that indicates you are in factory mode.
Release reset.
If it doesn’t flash rapidly you have released reset at some point and try again.
Be Gentle! Feel the switch click on. It has a positive feel.. add no more pressure after that.
TC/AE will reboot after a couple of minutes with default factory settings and will wipe out previous configurations.
No files are deleted on the hard disk.. No reset of the TC deletes files.. to do that you use erase from the airport utility.
Here is how to do a fully manual setup for TC which is sometimes necessary with Mavericks in particular.
Airport Utility shows "unexpected error - please try again" when connecting to Time Capsule

My Macpro Intel Core Duo-running OS 10.6.8 has been crashing pretty much with everything I try to open. I find the last resort will be to boot from Snow Leopard system disc. Has anyone experienced this? I can only run Google Chrome.

In the last few days, it seems that my computer has all of a sudden caught a virus. I have never had that happened to a computer, but I have surely heard about it. I can't think of any other reason it is behaving like this. I know that Macs have been pretty much impervious to viruses, but that was before they were the majority of users.
Anyway, what is happening is, my computer keeps crashing whenever I try to open a program, app, document, folder, file, etc. I tried to boot from Drive Genius to establish the problem, but Drive Genius crashed too. I know the last ditch effort (after cleaning and maintenance of disc verification and permissions and repairs, is to reboot from the system disc.
Before I go there I was hoping someone in the community would have a suggestion to help me avoid that ultimate last resort. The tech support guy at Drive Genius told me that probably would have to be the way to go (as in reboot) and if that doesn't clear it up, it's repair time.
Thank you for your consideration in advance;
Lorain R

In the last few days, it seems that my computer has all of a sudden caught a virus.
As others have pointed out, this isn't malware. That should not be your first (or even fifty-first) thought when your Mac starts misbehaving. For more on this topic, see my Mac Malware Guide.
I know the last ditch effort (after cleaning and maintenance of disc verification and permissions and repairs, is to reboot from the system disc.
You mention "cleaning and maintenance." Have you been running utilities claiming to do those things? If so, you may be the victim of an overly-zealous cleaning job, which has removed important files and damaged your system.
If I'm understanding correctly, you're unable to open any applications at all... is that right? Do you have any backups? If you don't have backups, you're in a sticky situation, as it will be difficult to make backups in your current state, but you shouldn't try any kind of repairs without them. (Actually, you shouldn't do anything with your computer without backups, but this is especially important when something is going badly wrong.)
If you have backups, reboot from your Snow Leopard install disc. From there, first, repair the hard drive with Disk Utility. Once that is done, assuming repairs were successful, reinstall the system. You can simply reinstall it on top of your current system, and it will replace any damaged or lost system files with new copies. (You'll also need to update the system via Software Update after reinstalling.)
If you don't have backups, or if Disk Utility can't repair damage, or if the problem continues even after a reinstall, post back with those details.

My files are there but itunes can't 'see' them.

I recently relocated my itunes library using itunes own settings for where to put the ibrary, then running Conslidate.
Several random files are unable to be played, giving me the 'I can't find that file' message.
I looked into the XML file for two examples:
This is the XML for a song that iTunes CANNOT find:
<key>22379</key>
<dict>
<key>Track ID</key><integer>22379</integer>
<key>Name</key><string>Flamingo</string>
<key>Artist</key><string>Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass</string>
<key>Album Artist</key><string>Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass</string>
<key>Composer</key><string>Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass</string>
<key>Album</key><string>SRO</string>
<key>Genre</key><string>Latin</string>
<key>Kind</key><string>AAC audio file</string>
<key>Size</key><integer>3533983</integer>
<key>Total Time</key><integer>141190</integer>
<key>Disc Number</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Disc Count</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Track Number</key><integer>12</integer>
<key>Track Count</key><integer>12</integer>
<key>Date Modified</key><date>2010-01-20T20:42:20Z</date>
<key>Date Added</key><date>2010-01-20T20:42:16Z</date>
<key>Bit Rate</key><integer>256</integer>
<key>Sample Rate</key><integer>44100</integer>
<key>Part Of Gapless Album</key><true/>
<key>Comments</key><string>24-bit conversion from 33 rpm LP</string>
<key>Play Count</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Play Date</key><integer>3347294248</integer>
<key>Play Date UTC</key><date>2010-01-26T02:57:28Z</date>
<key>Persistent ID</key><string>1ECF1829851D272F</string>
<key>Track Type</key><string>File</string>
<key>File Type</key><integer>1295270176</integer>
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/1TB/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Music/Herb%20Alpert%20& #38;%20Tijuana%20Brass/SRO/12%20Flamingo%201.m4a</string>
<key>File Folder Count</key><integer>5</integer>
<key>Library Folder Count</key><integer>1</integer>
</dict>
And THIS is the XML for a song that iTunes CAN find:
<key>22357</key>
<dict>
<key>Track ID</key><integer>22357</integer>
<key>Name</key><string>Our Day Will Come</string>
<key>Artist</key><string>Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass</string>
<key>Album Artist</key><string>Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass</string>
<key>Composer</key><string>Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass</string>
<key>Album</key><string>SRO</string>
<key>Genre</key><string>Latin</string>
<key>Kind</key><string>AAC audio file</string>
<key>Size</key><integer>3778576</integer>
<key>Total Time</key><integer>142437</integer>
<key>Disc Number</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Disc Count</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Track Number</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Track Count</key><integer>12</integer>
<key>Date Modified</key><date>2010-01-20T20:41:21Z</date>
<key>Date Added</key><date>2010-01-20T20:41:16Z</date>
<key>Bit Rate</key><integer>256</integer>
<key>Sample Rate</key><integer>44100</integer>
<key>Part Of Gapless Album</key><true/>
<key>Comments</key><string>24-bit conversion from 33 rpm LP</string>
<key>Play Count</key><integer>2</integer>
<key>Play Date</key><integer>3352045542</integer>
<key>Play Date UTC</key><date>2010-03-22T02:45:42Z</date>
<key>Persistent ID</key><string>62E6584021054038</string>
<key>Track Type</key><string>File</string>
<key>File Type</key><integer>1295270176</integer>
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/1TB/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Music/Herb%20Alpert%20& #38;%20Tijuana%20Brass/SRO/01%20Our%20Day%20Will%20Come.m4a</string>
<key>File Folder Count</key><integer>5</integer>
<key>Library Folder Count</key><integer>1</integer>
</dict>
The relevant file path information from both seems to be:
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/1TB/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Music/Herb%20Alpert%20& #38;%20Tijuana%20Brass/SRO/12%20Flamingo%201.m4a</string>
AND
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/1TB/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Music/Herb%20Alpert%20& #38;%20Tijuana%20Brass/SRO/01%20Our%20Day%20Will%20Come.m4a</string>
Both file paths are valid - both real files exist in the listed folder.
I SUPPOSE I can go through my entire 12,000+ track library searching for randomly lost media links within iTunes, then use the 10+ clicks it takes PER TRACK to tell iTunes where the file is. Even though the path in the XML look accurate.
Any ideas? And please don't tell me to dump my iTunes library itl and xml files and start from scratch. I have dozens of playlists, layers smart playlists, etc. I can't even imagine getting all that setup again.

OK, here's what REALLY doesn't make sense.
After manually fixing a lost file, NOTHING in the XML changes. Not one single character changes in the XML file. I diff'd the whole file before and after - no difference. So, basically, it goes out and 'finds' it and updates something that we can't see to repair the connection, meanwhile we are left to think that this XML file has the library data in it.
Mind you, the media file(s) are present and accounted for in the file system - correct name and path and everything - before and after I go Locate the file when iTunes complains about it being missing..
iTunes is so overbloated, we can't even fix stuff when we see precisely how it is broken.

Trash thinks files are in use and can't empty them

I was cleaning up some old files today. I had the System folder from an OLD Quadra 610 archived and made it a disk image. I threw the originals in the trash and now these items (all extensions) cannot be removed:
Disinfectant INIT (extension from MacLink Plus)
Apple Built-In Ethernet
Apple Ethernet NB
Apple Token Ring NB
The system thinks they are in use. They are not locked. I tried dragging them out for a rename and they remain in the trash. When I put the new files back in the trash I ended up with three copies of all the files. One problem is that when I was archiving them (some years ago), I put the System Folder in a folder called "System" and now I think the current System sees a conflict. Note: the original files were on a back up drive WITHOUT an OS X system on it. How can I get rid of these files?
G5 dual 2.7 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, the link does not solve the problem because I can move the offending folder to the desktop but it does not leave the trash.
I really think it is because I have a folder named "System" in the trash, which was generated way before OS X came out (these were archived files). It is strange, many of the files were deleted fine when empting the Trash except the four mentioned above. I tried a safe boot but it did not work.
G5 Dual 2.7 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

ITunes music files are too large, how can I compress them?

So yeah today was my first day using iTunes and buying some songs. I got 12 songs and it came out to 80.6MB, I really want to know if there is a converter in iTunes for this or if there is a trusted software I can use to convert them?

I think you might be a little confused, html5 documents use the <video> tag to display videos online, .mp4 is one of the video types used by the <video> tag...
HTML5 Video
HTML video Tag
Since not all browsers can see .mp4, you also need a .ogg or .webm video so those browsers have something to look at. That secondary source is added to the <video> tag in html5 pages so a browser can latch onto the first source it understands.
To make your video smaller, you would need to reduce its actual pixel dimensions (if they're full screen HD videos, dropping them to 640x480 or similar will reduce the file size) or framerate.
Here's a converter for .ogg format...
http://video.online-convert.com/convert-to-ogg

My files are locked and I can't edit them!

What is happening? I have DW CS4. I am trying to edit a site have used for years - my own site! Every file I try to open, I'm told it is locked and is View Only! This has never happened before. What is going on? Help!

If I try to download a file from the server, I get this message:
/martypics.html - error occurred - An FTP error occurred - cannot get martypics.html. Access denied. The file may not exist, or there could be a permission problem.
File activity incomplete. 1 file(s) or folder(s) were not completed.

Reset my Ipod and all my songs are gone - and I can't get them off itunes!!

I recently reset my ipod because it was frozen. Now I find that most of my music - the stuff I purchased from itunes is no longer on it. Even though my laptop is authorized - and the only computer I have that's authorized - it won't let me update my ipod with all my purchased music. Please help I am freaking out because all this music is for my reception at my wedding!!

OK, you need the iPod 101 course.
But....if you connect your iPod to your laptop, things should be back to normal.
If you want to hook your iPod up to more than one PC you have to set it for manual update....which is not the default. The default is automatic update.
Using iPod With Multiple Computers

Running Snow Leopard and having issues syncing. Are there any donwload/upgrades that can help?

...besides Lion, which I am unable to download because it is telling me I don't have enough memory on my Mac. I am looking for a way toset up iCloud on my desktop. I still get the mobileme logo oin my system preferences???

Running Snow Leopard and having issues syncing. Are there any donwload/upgrades that can help?
Yes. iCoud requires Lion v10.7.2
Read here > Apple - iCloud - Learn how to set up iCloud on all your devices.
am looking for a way toset up iCloud on my desktop
It can't be done with Snow Leopard.

Why is Mac OS X 10.7 so much slower than Snow Leopard? It isnt smooth, applications are slow and most dont respond, and dowloads take hours, minutes.

Why is Mac OS X 10.7 so much slower than Snow Leopard? It isnt smooth, applications are slow and most dont respond, and dowloads take hours, not minutes.

Something is seriously wrong with your installation or you are critically low on RAM, like below 2 GB.
How much RAM is in your machine?
Have you tried a Recovery?

Why am I not able to install snow leopard on a new hard drive for my macbook pro, which at one point was upgraded to Lion?

I've just had my hard drive go caput and after purchasing a new one was inclined to install snow leopard but received an error message when attempting to do so.
I did not create a back up or restore file before I decided to upgrade from snow leopard.
I'm wondering why am I not able to simply install snow leopard on a brand new hard drive. What would clue it into me having had ran lion before and why can't I simply delete that kernel or said file. It makes completely no sense to me. I come from a pc world where if I choose to format a hard drive, I can do a clean install of whatever OS I choose. After all I only paid for my laptop as should be able to do with it what I wish.
Any suggestions or insight would be greatly appreciated

1. Was Lion on the machine and trying to downgrade?
2. If so this might be an issue. Newer machines are done for current OSX.
3. If you have Lion on your machine try to install Snow Leopard on another partition or portable HD
4. After you format and install SL on the other partition or drive Try to boot from this machine retarting and holding the Option key at boot up.
5. See if that work.
This is a trial and error way but Mountain Lion is right around the corner and Snow Leopard is 2+ yrs old.
Brian

Before I install snow leopard, I tried to move tiger into the external harddrive. My mac says it can't do because it is the OS X. So I installed snow leopard without removing tiger. After that, my computer often freezes. How can I remove tiger?

Before I install snow leopard, I tried to move tiger into the external harddrive. My mac says it can't do because it is the OS X. So I installed snow leopard without removing tiger. After that, my computer often freezes. How can I remove tiger? Or How can I prevent my mac from freezing?

McHagihara wrote:
Before I install snow leopard, I tried to move tiger into the external harddrive. My mac says it can't do because it is the OS X. So I installed snow leopard without removing tiger. After that, my computer often freezes. How can I remove tiger? Or How can I prevent my mac from freezing?
When you installed Snow Leopard, Tiger was replaced, leaving your programs and files intact.
What is causing your freezing problem is unknown, you can take Kappy's advice and remove everything, but you lose your files and free iLife programs that came with Tiger/new machine.
The 10.6.3 disk you "upgraded" with has the full 10.6.3 on it, but no free iLife suit, so a erase and install will remove what you already have installed.
You can try to locate your problem without the erase and install method by running through this list of fixes.
Step by Step to fix your Mac
But before you do anything, backup your personal data off the machine to a extenal drive and disconnect.
Most commonly used backup methods
Because if you have to follow Kappy's advice and wipe and install 10.6 fresh, it will cure your problem in nearly 99% of cases, but you have to rebuild everything. All programs and files.
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
If this is all too much for you, then STOP and call a local PC/Mac service or competant friend to assist you.
Yuo might need to install more RAM into the machine to make 10.6 run better as well.

Since installing Lion I keep getting the error message 'there was a problem connecting to the server. URLs with the type 'file:" are not supported"' How can I fix this?

since installing Lion I keep getting the error message 'there was a problem connecting to the server. URLs with the type 'file:" are not supported"' How can I fix this?

A Davey1 wrote:
Not a nice answer!
Posting "Check the 'More like this'" area and not simply providing the answer is a great way to make these groups worthless.
You're ignoring context. On the old Apple Discussion Groups I never posted replies like that, instead giving people relatively detailed answers. The new Apple Support Communities made things worse by introducing certain inefficiencies. Then came Lion. The flood of messages that came with Lion required a painful choice for any of the people who had been helping here: (1) Give quality responses to a few questions and ignore the rest. (2) When applicable, give a brief answer such as the one that you found objectionable. (3) Give up all the other normal activities of life and spend full time trying to answer questions here.
People who needed help with Lion problems seemed to have trouble discovering existing message threads that described how to solve their problems. I never posted the suggestion of "Check the 'More like this' area" without verifying that the help that the poster needed could be found there. Even doing that, what I posted saved me time that I could use to help someone else.
The people helping here are all volunteers. None of them is being paid for the time they spend here. They all have a life outside of Apple Support Communities. It's arrogant of you to demand that people helping here spend more time than they already do.

Does anyone know where the iWeb data files are located or what they are called? I can't find them. I looked in Finder for files named the same as my website, but found nothing. Any help would be appreciated.

Does anyone know where the iWeb data files are located or what they are called? I can't find them. I looked in Finder for files named the same as my website, but found nothing. Any help would be appreciated.

If you erased or replaced your hard drive since iWeb was cancelled, then they are gone. Otherwise, if you have maintained backups then check those.
Usually such files are in the /Home/Library/ folder or a sub-folder.
Exposing the /Home/Library/ Folder
Pick one of the following methods:
A. This method will make the folder visible permanently. Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder and paste the following at the command prompt:
chflags nohidden ~/Library
Press RETURN.
B. Click on the Desktop, press the OPTION (⌥) button, select Library from the Finder's Go menu.
C. Select Go To Folder from the Finder's Go menu. Paste the following in the path field:
~/Library
Press the Go button.

I've Snow Leopard and the App Store does'nt start. What can i do ?

I've Snow Leopard and the App Store does'nt start. What can i do ?
I wanna load from the App Store the new LION OS.
But i think without the App Store is it not possible.
In the Application folder is just the file App Store.app, but when i wanna start it it show the following message.....
"you cannot open the app, cause it's damaged or not complete"
this is an translation from italian.
Please help me.

Hi Jennifer, there is no digital copy of Mac OS X Snow Leopard presently available on the Mac App Store. Click here if you wish to purchase a copy from Apple.
P.S. - It also seems to have free shipping

Snow Leopard HD being replaced; my files are on external HD; can I run them off of MBA Lion?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for