Format but retain certain things

[KettyKrueger]

Hi All

I want to restore my iMac back to factory settings, I like a fresh installation!

The only things I want to keep are my e-mail settings, mails, ical events, itunes library [is it the .xl file or something?] and safari bookmarks.

Everything else that I need is backed up on an external. I do have a back-up of the entire internal drive [with OSX] so I intend to to a back-up, then a fresh installation then pick the little pieces of info that I need to restore my ical, itunes, mail and safari.

Soooo, which files do I need to copy over to the new installation?

Cheers in advance.

 

[irishgrizzly]

This is from macjack on the Leopard upgrade thread, but it should work for you;

If you want to do it the long and difficult way (migrate by hand) Here is a list of where your important data is stored
("~" stands for "Home"):

Your data in ~/Documents
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iCal(copy the whole folder)
Also in ~/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need)

~ /Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.

~ /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/Safari (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iMovie (copy the whole folder)
~/Pictures/iPhoto library
~/Music/iTunes
~/Movies/iMovie

If you want cookies:
~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
~/Library/Application Support/Webfoundation/HTTPcookies.plist

For Entourage users:
Entourage is in Documents/Microsoft user data
Also in ~ /Library/Preferences/Microsoft​

 

[macjack1]

Hi All

I want to restore my iMac back to factory settings, I like a fresh installation!

The only things I want to keep are my e-mail settings, mails, ical events, itunes library [is it the .xl file or something?] and safari bookmarks.

Soooo, which files do I need to copy over to the new installation?

Here is a list of where your important data is stored
("~" stands for "Home"):

Your data in ~/Documents
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iCal(copy the whole folder)
Also in ~/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need)

~ /Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.

~ /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/Safari (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iMovie (copy the whole folder)
~/Pictures/iPhoto library
~/Music/iTunes
~/Movies/iMovie

If you want cookies:
~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
~/Library/Application Support/Webfoundation/HTTPcookies.plist

For Entourage users:
Entourage is in Documents/Microsoft user data
Also in ~ /Library/Preferences/Microsoft

-mj

 

[macjack1]

This is from macjack on the Leopard upgrade thread, but it should work for you;

Thanks for passing on the advice, irishgrizzly. Your post wasn't there when I replied. It took a few minutes to format and when I came back, for a second I thought I double posted ;-)

-mj

 

[KettyKrueger]

Thanks a lot guys for the super-speedy, super-useful replies!

Party on.