Formatting my hard drive and installing leopard question

[SandersHokie]

I think I'm going to format my hard drive to delete everything from it and start fresh with leopard. I already have leopard installed, but I think I should just format my hard drive (after backing up what I truly need like my music and other files) and then just install leopard.

Question, I have read that I go to disk utility to do this (format and install leopard), is this correct? If so, what else do I need to know before I do this? thanks!

 

[SandersHokie]

anyone?

 

[invasian]

just put in your leopard dvd and click install leopard...when the option comes up, click on new install or something like that (it will say wipe data and install or something similar)

I did this the other day, cause office 2004 was crashing on me.

 

[SandersHokie]

just put in your leopard dvd and click install leopard...when the option comes up, click on new install or something like that (it will say wipe data and install or something similar)

I did this the other day, cause office 2004 was crashing on me.

oh so i wouldn't need to format my hard drive?

i thought i would need to format my hard drive, restart with the Leopard CD in, and then it would install that?

 

[Cave Man]

You will need to initialize your new hard drive. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you need to use the Partition:Options:GUID function of Disk Utility. It's best, IMO, to do the install on your new drive in an external enclosure, then boot from that enclosure and use Migration Assistant to move your files over to the new drive. Once this is done, do the drive replacement. This way, you know your installation worked.

 

[heads up]

You will need to initialize your new hard drive. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you need to use the Partition:Options:GUID function of Disk Utility. It's best, IMO, to do the install on your new drive in an external enclosure, then boot from that enclosure and use Migration Assistant to move your files over to the new drive. Once this is done, do the drive replacement. This way, you know your installation worked.

i don't think he's using a new hard drive here.

just insert the leopard dvd and select "fresh install" or whatever it's called. that will format your hard drive and install leopard. i just did it last week.

 

[SandersHokie]

i don't think he's using a new hard drive here.

just insert the leopard dvd and select "fresh install" or whatever it's called. that will format your hard drive and install leopard. i just did it last week.

and that will delete everything? For some reason i just don't remember seeing it the first time i installed leopard, maybe i'm just blind!

 

[invasian]

Yea, dude...it wipes everything...clean slate. if you want to take the long route, then do format it with disk utility when you are in the leopard install screen...although i see no reason for that...it's like doing it twice.

 

[Neil321]

and that will delete everything? For some reason i just don't remember seeing it the first time i installed leopard, maybe i'm just blind!

Boot from your leopard disc, go to disc utilities (top left in toolbar)click on erase tab) click on the drive you wish to erase, name & format
the drive (hfs+journaled) click erase, close window carry on with install
look out for a option tab click on erase & install button and continue
with the install.

 

[mvMcfly]

I have a question regarding formatting.

I just got a new drive installed (WD 320 if it matters) and am trying to install 10.5 on it. I booted up from the disk and went to Disk Utility > Selected the Drive (which is called media for some reason) > selected Erase and then nothing

Everything is greyed out. I can't partition in that tab, I can't erase. Anyone have any clue as to what is going on?

This is a Macbook Pro which originally had 10.4 on it. I have the original drive if that matters. I have tried booting up attached via firewire to another mac but the drive does not appear at all. When the computer starts up the drive (I assume it's the drive) makes a series of 3 dings/buzzes about 4 times in a row about every 10 seconds or so. Could it be that my drive is bad or not connected properly? I had it installed at a shop that has done all my upgrades for the past 15 years so I'm thinking if it's anything it's a bad drive.

Thanks again for the help

 

[pitts2282]

I'm about to do a fresh install of leopard on a new HDD as well (can't decide between 320gb 5400 or 200gb 7200, have both, want FASTEST, don't need the space..). I don't want to "mirror" my existing drive, I want a new, clean install. But I want my music/photos/documents. Do I just do the install then drag the entire "user" folder to the new system? I don't mind re-installing the programs, but I don't know how to just transfer the photos/music. Thanks.

 

[whyrichard]

... and is superduper the easiest way to do this?

-super duper makes a bootable copy onto an external
-do a clean install on internal hard drive
-use migration assistant to migrate your bootable copy hd to your new installation of leopard....


would that work?
can you use migration assistant to migrate your date from an external hd with a bootable copy?


thanks,
r.

 

[TheScotsman]

You will need to initialize your new hard drive. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you need to use the Partition:Options:GUID function of Disk Utility. It's best, IMO, to do the install on your new drive in an external enclosure, then boot from that enclosure and use Migration Assistant to move your files over to the new drive. Once this is done, do the drive replacement. This way, you know your installation worked.

Thanks man you saved me, I didn't realize that you could just pop in the disc and let it do everything for you so I formatted and kept getting an error when trying to install. Your post solved the issue for me since I have an Intel based MacBook 2.4ghz. I just upgraded to 4gb ram and now adding a new 500gb hd, thanks again for posting this!