How to Backup Apps

[aCondor]

I'll be doing a fresh install of Snow Leopard soon, and need some advice.

I have an external hard drive that I am going to save my music/media files, documents, and apps before I format the drive.

When backing up an application, do I simply drag the application from the ~/Applications folder onto the hard drive? Or do I need to backup the actual .dmg file?

 

[Matthew Yohe]

When backing up an application, do I simply drag the application from the ~/Applications folder onto the hard drive? Or do I need to backup the actual .dmg file?

Depending on the application, it may need more than just a simple drag from applications.

Just do a reinstall from your original discs or whatever.

 

[aCondor]

Just do a reinstall from your original discs or whatever.

The applications in question were downloaded and, in some cases, are quite large files. It would be a hassle for me to re-download all of these after the format, enough of a hassle to make me wait and re-think this process .

Basically, if I copy and paste my ~/Applications folder to an external HD, then format internal HD, then move ~/Applications folder back ... will the applications still work or need to be completely re-installed with original .dmg file?

Edit: Eh, I'll do it anyways and update this thread on whether it works or not.

 

[Quad5Ny]

NO NO!!!! Do not copy the entire Applications folder!!! Only copy your Apps.

If you copy the entire applications folder over, your going to screw up the stock OS X Apps.

 

[satcomer]

Just clone your Mac to external (I use Carbon Copy cloner and clone to your current state of OS X to the external, plus it will be bootable. Then instal the newer version of OS X and use the Migration Assistant part of the install (or after using /Applications/Utilities/Migration Assistant) and move you settings back to your fresh install.