How can I revert to "Previous Systems"?

[keowee]

I was having a problem and so reinstalled a system from the OSX DVD, saving the old one ("Previous Systems" folder was created). New instrall didn't help the problem I was having, so I would like to go back to the old system. How can I make the "Previous Systems" active, or restart with it?

Restoring with Time Machine will erase the entire volume, so I do not want to do it. Just start with the Previous Systems. Please help!

 

[vniow]

Can't do it. Its an incomplete system so there's not much of a chance it would boot anyway. Your best bet is to fix the problem you are having on your current system.

 

[keowee]

What's the use of Previous Systems?

If we cannot revert to the Previous Systems, why is there such a choice? What's the use of saving "Previous Systems"????? I'm puzzled.

 

[aristobrat]

IIRC, when you setup your current system, if there's a previous system on there, even though you can't boot from it, there's enough information left there for Migration Assistant to reconfigure your current system with settings from your previous system.

 

[vniow]

If we cannot revert to the Previous Systems, why is there such a choice? What's the use of saving "Previous Systems"????? I'm puzzled.

I don't know the reason as was envisioned by Apple when they included it, but I can infer that its everything left over that wasn't replaced or transferred over to the new system when you do an archive and install. I've noticed when doing an A&I, OS X doesn't transfer any application which is already being installed by the new system, leaving the core OS X apps in the previous systems folder. I imagine everything else in that folder are remnants as well.

 

[keowee]

No use to save old system?

Thank you for the info. So, there is no use to save old system, or archive and install? How odd to have the option that is useless!

 

[aristobrat]

FWIW

After installation

You might wonder "What do I do with the Previous System folder?" It may contain items that you need. To determine this, once you've finished configuring, installing, and updating your applications, you can compare the Previous System to the new System. If there are things in the Previous System folder that aren't in the new System folder, copy them over or reinstall. If you're not sure what some items are (and don't seem to need them), leave them in the Previous System folder. Once you're comfortable that you've got everything you need out of it, you can delete the Previous System folder (or leave it around if you have enough free disk space).

You can’t start up your computer using the Previous System folder, but settings, preference files, fonts, plug-ins, and other items remain available in case you need to access them (which you probably won't, if you use "Preserve Users and Network Settings").

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301270