Will installing Snow Leopard delete my files?

Hello.
I am currently running 10.5.8, but have Snow Leopard to install. I have heard that I need to "Upgrade" rather than "Install" to keep from deleting files. I have the disk in, but am only getting a prompt to "Install." I have no way to back up my files. Will I lose them if I proceed?
Thanks!

It should not delete them but you should always back up your computer before installing new items.
Archive and Install not available in Snow Leopard - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2677260 - No longer needed in Snow Leopard which does it automatically unless the drive has first been erased.

Similar Messages

How do I install Snow Leopard while keeping files, applications, and settings

I need to update my system, I realized that I need Snow Leopard (quiet late) before Maverick. My question is, how can I install it keeping files and all the data. I found this on Internet, does it work?
Install Snow Leopard while keeping files, applications, and settings
If you follow these steps, the installer will replace your operating system if one is already present, but will preserve your account information and personal files. You may have to reinstall some applications, however.
Insert the install disc (or the first install disc if you have more than one) into your disc drive. Restart your computer while holding down the c key. This causes your computer to start up from the install disc rather than your hard drive. When you see the gray Apple insignia, release c .
The Mac OS X installer should open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts to read and accept the license agreement and begin the installation. When prompted to choose a destination disk, select your preferred location and click Install.
When the Mac OS X installation finishes with the disc, restart your computer. After the installation completes, a configuration program may begin automatically if you are installing for the first time. You will need to supply basic setup information for your computer.
Update your system software to ensure that you have the most recent operating system components. From the Apple menu, select Software Update... , and then follow the instructions on the screen. Often, you will have to restart your computer, and you may have to run Software Update multiple times before it can completely update your system.

That's why you need to back it up. You won't need to restore the backup immediately afterwards unless something goes wrong during the upgrade, but you'll need it later; the drive will eventually fail.
(105428)

Will installing Snow Leopard erase existing data already on my computer

My Software is at 10.5.8 and I'm about to install Snow Leopard (pretty behind on the updates). My question is: Will installing this erase my existing data on my computer? I have a lot of .ai files and such I need for my business that I have to keep. I have an external hard drive that I just backed up on using time machine but I'm not 100% trustworthy of that.

How to Install Snow Leopard Successfully
A. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions:
Boot from your OS X Installer DVD. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
B. Make a Bootable Backup Using Restore Option of Disk Utility:
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4. Check the box labeled Erase destination.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the
      Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the
      Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal
startup drive.
C. Important: Please read before installing:
1. If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it. Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've restarted.
2. You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
3. The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update. While the installation is in progress do not use the computer.
D. To upgrade:
Purchase the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.
Boot From The OS X Installer Disc:
      1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
      2. Restart the computer.
      3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
      4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple
          logo appears.
      5. Wait for installer to finish loading.
E. Update to 10.6.8:
1. Download and install update: Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

I just installed snow leopard, now every file I try to download turns into a .ashx file...when they are pdf's and jpeg's

I was able to download any regular old document yesterday, normally - pdfs, jpegs, tiffs.... Now, when I try to download any file type, it saves as a .ashx....I just installed Snow Leopard yesterday and it's been doing it since then. It also does not even recognize the file name....just calls it "attachment(1,2,3,etc)"

So here is what else I've learned. First of all, the process of saving opened pdf documents used to work fine with Firefox. This new glitch did not occur before I down-loaded acrobat 10.1.6.
I went back and repeated the process of opening a pdf document from LexisNexis File & ServeXpress. When I clicked File > save as, I realized that it was prompting me to save as a text file. I had not noticed that before, and that must be why the saved document would not open, and I would receive a corrupted file message. (Again, this prompt did not exist in the previous version of acrobat).
The problem appears to be solved for me if I change the File > save as prompt to "All files." Saving it in that manner allowed me to successfully open the saved pdf document.
The other work-around is as follows. When the pdf document is opened in acrobat, there is an icon / button in the upper right corner of the opened document window that says "open with different viewer." If I click that, it lets me open in a previous version of acrobat, where the described problem does not occur.

Will updating to Snow Leopard delete my files & prefrences

I just ordered the family pack. And was concerned about losing data while updating to snow leopard. What are general precautions before making such a giant change to my iMac?

I just ordered the family pack. And was concerned about losing data while updating to snow leopard. What are general precautions before making such a giant change to my iMac?
As a general rule it is a very good idea to have a full backup before doing a major upgrade, such as moving to Snow Leopard.
Assuming you have an external disk, SuperDuper (free version) or Carbon Copy Cloner would be very good choices to make that special pre-upgrade backup.
Historicall, you get 3 (and a half) installation options (on Friday we will know for sure), but they have been in the past
a) Upgrade in place, which replaces the operating system and leaves all applications and personal files alone.
b) Archive and Install, which moves the current OS into a saved folder, installs the new OS from scratch, but keeps all your personal files and a few global system preferences, such as your network settings.
c) Clean install, which erases the disk and creates a new clean file system. All your data is removed. Unless you have a backup, you will of course loose your data.
c and a half) Typically used for transferring your data from an older Mac to a new Mac. This allows you to attached your old Mac to the new Mac via Firewire and put the old Mac into Target mode, then the new Mac during system setup, copies over your old system settings, applications, and personal data.
This "c and a half" mode as I'm calling it, can also be used with an external disk containing a backup of your system.
I would only use this "c and a half" if something happened that causes you to loose your original data, and you were then using the backup.
It is always possible that Snow Leopard will have additional installation options, and we will find out Friday.

Clean install Snow Leopard and transfer files from Time Machine?

Hello,
I have a computer that is getting s fresh clean install of Snow Leopard. I know how to go about doing this. However, I want to be able to transfer the files back using Time Machine. The Time Capsule has backups from 3 computers. How do I select the right computer files from the backup? The Mac Pro also has a second hard drive intsalled. Is it best to wipe it clean and then load the data from the Time Machine?
Thanks!

If you have a second HD with nothing on it, why not do the fresh install on that, then use Setup Assistant to bring over all the files from the HD you've been backing up to TM rather than TM itself? That way, you have the most direct transfer and a backup of the original too.

After installing snow leopard excel no longer in correct format

After installing Snow Leopard, my excel files only open in text edit and my powerpoints are scrambled or cannot be opened.
Is there a way of restoring them to at least their original form before the update or do I need to install the latest Word?

Assuming Office is still installed, you can change your Excel files so they open in Excel again. Right click on one of them. Get Info. Change "Open With" to Excel. Change All.
You didn't say if your Powerpoint files are also opening in Textedit. If so,I would expect them to be scrambled. But, then again, so should your Excel files. If they are opening in Textedit, do the same procedure as above with a Powerpoint file so it opens in Powerpoint.
You will have to do the same thing for the different vesions of Excel and Powerpoint files you might have such as XLS, XLSX, PPT and whatever other extensions Office uses. Plus I assume your Word files don't open in Word either so you have DOC and DOCX that would need to be changed to open in Word.
If none of that works, you might have to reinstall Office.

Can I install Snow Leopard on Mac Mini Server hardware?

What I would like to do is buy the Mac Mini Server but I don't need the server OS. I want the desktop OS on the Mac Mini Server. Will installing Snow Leopard on the server hardware be just like installing it on a regular Mac Mini?
Or should I just wait and see how Lion shakes out?

Thanks Indy, I already had proceeded the installation according your tip. Just an objection related to the updates: I was able to install the OS updates only while in target mode, as when I made 2 attempts to update the version 10.6.6 to the current one (10.6.7 - the combo one and the MBP version too) it was not permitted. I had to plug the FW cable into the MBP again and update the Mini's OS (using the special MBP version of 10.6.7) in target disc mode. I want to use the Mini as a media server and intend to install Windows 7 on the other HD which now hosts the server OS. However, according to one poster (Sven G) there are some problems (I don't know exactly what they are) related to Boot Camp software. Have you any information about these problems?
I have maintained both OS (standard and server) living side by side on the Mini, is there any problem with that?
Again many thanks, you were succinct, right to the point, and your tip just proved itself correct.
Cheers
Marola

Am running Tiger 10.4.11; just got Snow Leopard 10.6.3 (regular OS disk, not an upgrade); when I install Snow Leopard, will it wipe everything? overwrite Tiger? Do I need to make backups of applications and files to reinstall after Sno Lprd loads? thx!

Am running Tiger 10.4.11; just got Snow Leopard 10.6.3 (regular OS disk, not upgrade). When I install Snow Leopard, will it wipe everything? overwrite Tiger? Do I need to make backups of applications and files to reinstall after Snow Leopard Loads? thanks!

Hi Donald,
No it doesn't erase anything by default, it does what we used to call an Archive and Install feature, which can give you a new OS, yet preserve your files and settings if you have enough room on your HD...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
But it does it automatically unless you specifically erase the Disk, but will replace Tiger completely for the OS & several Apple Apps like Safari, Mail, etc, yet preserve your old settings for those!
If you think you may need Tiger to run any APPs that do not work in SL/10.6, then clone or backup first.
I would recomend 2 things before installing though...
Make sure you have enough RAM & HD space.
Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...
General requirements
   * Mac computer with an Intel processor
    * 1GB of memory (I say 2GB at least)
    * 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)
If it's a core Duo & not a Core2Duo, then it'll only run in 32 bit mode.
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the new Mac OS X SL/10.6 Install Disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

I want to save important files/programs on an external hard drive, delete EVERYTHING on my computer, install snow leopard, and reload everything i saved on to a clean slate. Is this possible/practical?

I was just thinking that it would be better to wipe the entire hard drive clean and reinstall some programs rather than go through and move certain things to the trash. Basically rebuild my software and file collection from the ground up, omitting what is unnecessary. Then again, I have no idea what i'm doing.
My macbook was purchased in late 2008. 2gb RAM. OS X 10.5.6. It's been going very slow lately so i decided i would look up how to improve. Snow leopard was recommended as well as changing my RAM. And so here I am.
I don't have an external hard drive so i was going to just compress all my files and save them to my emac via ethernet. would they be harmed?
also, i have alot of projects in ableton (a music recording/writing program). Would saving and transferring them be just as simple as finding the song? or are other components of a certain song saved in other locations?
sorry this is so lengthy. i should probably stick with something simple but i just want things to run as smoothly as possible for as long as possible
thanks very much

Here's some info that may be helpful.
Installing Snow Leopard: What you need to know
http://www.macworld.com/article/1142454/install_snow_leopard.html.
You should get a Firewire connected hard drive and backup your MB's HD to it. That way, if something goes wrong during the installation, you can recover your current sytem, apps and files. After the SL install, you can use the external HD for frequent backups.
 Cheers, Tom

Since installing Snow Leopard and Lion two weeks ago, my iTunes program opens seemingly at will. It usually starts playing music, too. What is causing this?

Since installing Snow Leopard and then Lion on my Intel-based iMac two weeks ago, my iTunes program seems to open at will whenever the computer is on. It often begins playing music, as well. What is causing this and how do I make it stop?

There are ways to minimize, mitigate, and help avoid a lot of problems.
Bootable backups.
Zeroing a drive twice before using, and format it with SL DVD Apple Disk Utility for sure.
Even a clean install should import old apps without having to reauthorize.
If you must do an upgrade, do it from the SL DVD, after repairing the drive and be sure to use the SL version of Alsoft Disk Warrior (4.2).
Wait six months before jumping on a new OS.
10% is still too many. Yes, it is more sensitive to RAM and hard drive errors, doesn't like some controllers; most ext hdd cases; and enough software to make for test-only status. And it only IDs some known incompatible applications, drivers, extensions, etc and does not remove even those always in best manner.
Plus, there are problems with the new Rosetta and the cache files it now uses. So some apps and plug-ins will cause more trouble. Not all are ready. Good reason to hold off for the months it takes.
Other devices act different as far as on/off behavior.
(Migrating from G5s to Mac Pro can cause all kinds of problems, weird behavior, sluggish system, and why anyone that went down that road was strongly recommended to NOT use Migration Assistant for any of their applications, and to ONLY do clean/fresh installs of any apps. If you skipped that day, didn't read the Guide to M.A., or didn't want to do fresh installs then, your system could have been on borrowed time. If you did do clean install of applications, great.
Installing SL can result in a corrupt directory - I think and it "seems" to be happening, but no real proof, just gut feeling and instinct (underlying file system problem? weak sectors that pre-existed waiting to happen?).
Remember all the "there just aren't a lot of 64-bit drivers" for Vista and XP? it's come home to roost.
... my guess is not enough incense and offerings. To hop into TimeMachine and SuperDuper backup images and pull the 1TB for another day (week, month, year).

Can't open any excel files after installing Snow Leopard

I can't open any excel files after installing Snow Leopard. Is anyone else having this problem?
I have a standard iWork '08 install. Has anyone experienced? And better yet, know of a fix?

Welcome to Apple Discussions
Most users who have had a problem opening Office files with the iWork apps after upgrading to Snow Leopard have the problem fixed by updating to the latest versions. For iWork '08 that is Pages 3.0.3 & Numbers 1.0.3. For iWork '09 it's Pages 4.0.2 & Numbers 2.0.2. I don't use Keynote, but it should also be updated. If you're not running the latest versions & Software Update says your software is up to date, make sure the applications are where the installer initially put them. The updaters are very picky. If the location is not where the updater is programmed to look or if the folder doesn't have the name the updater looks for, it will not work. The applications cannot be renamed or moved. They must be in the iWork '08 or iWork '09 folder in Applications. That iWork folder must be named iWork '08 or iWork '09. If it doesn't have the '08 or '09 Software Update won't find them & the updaters won't work.

Recently installed Snow Leopard software and now my printer will not respond. Any suggestions?

I recently installed Snow Leopard. Now my printer will not respond. How do I troubleshoot that?

Start by telling readers the make&model of your printer, and what cabling you are using to connect it.
If you were connecting via AppleTalk, it is no longer supported, and you will need a different connection method. Readers can help you with that.
Some printers will need updated Drivers for Snow Leopard. Some printers need to be deleted and re-added.

Optional Install in Snow Leopard -- "Pod Support" files -- What are they?

I posted the below in the Snow Leopard Installation forum but got no answer. (see http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10710170#10710170 ). It was suggested that I post the same question here:
In Snow Leopard, one of the optional files you can install are simply called "iPod Support" files.
iTunes supports iPods etc.
What are these optional "iPod Support" files?
Why would someone install them?
P.S. I don't think the "iPod Support" files have anything to do with syncing. If you choose NOT to install the "iPod Support" files during install, you still can sync your iPod with iTunes.
These files are a mystery to me. Does anyone have an answer?

Well I thought this was the right forum to ask the question. My question relates to an OPTION available when you install Snow Leopard.
I don't think the "iPod Support" files have anything to do with syncing. If you choose NOT to install the "iPod Support" files during install, you still can sync your iPod with iTunes.
These files are a mystery to me. I will try the iPod forums.... Maybe someone there knows...

I accidentally downloaded lion. I did a timemachine back-up and tried to reload snow leopard. It will not accept. How do I re-install snow leopard over lion?

I accidently installed lion on my mac book pro. I did a time machine back-up. When i try to re-install snow leopard, it won't take. Any suggestions on how to install snow leopard over lion?

Accidentally, eh? How, might I ask?
Downgrade Lion to Snow Leopard
1. Boot from your Snow Leopard 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 then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard.
This will erase the whole drive so be sure to backup your files if you don't have a backup already. If you have performed a TM backup using Lion be aware that you cannot restore from that backup in Snow Leopard (see below.) I suggest you make a separate backup using Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.1.
If you have Snow Leopard Time Machine backups, do a full system restore per #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions. If you have subsequent backups from Lion, you can restore newer items selectively, via the "Star Wars" display, per #15 there, but be careful; some Snow Leopard apps may not work with the Lion files.

Will installing Snow Leopard delete my files?

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