How to Backup Apps

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by aCondor, Oct 16, 2011.

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  1. aCondor, Oct 16, 2011

    aCondor macrumors 6502

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    #1
    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?
     
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  2. Matthew Yohe, Oct 16, 2011

    Matthew Yohe macrumors 68020

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    #2
    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.
     
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  3. aCondor, Oct 16, 2011

    aCondor thread starter macrumors 6502

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    #3
    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.
     
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  4. Quad5Ny, Oct 17, 2011

    Quad5Ny macrumors 6502a

    Quad5Ny

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    #4
    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.
     
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  5. satcomer, Oct 17, 2011

    satcomer macrumors 603

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    #5
    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.
     
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