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How will YOU install Leopard?
- Thread starter thesdx
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So what, exactly does Archive and Install actually do? Because people on here give conflicting accounts. Some say it keeps all your stuff, others say it puts it in a different place and you have to manually put it all back.
Do I click Archive and Install and end up with essentially my current setup (files, setting and apps) but with Leopard instead of Tiger? And isn't that what an "Upgrade" does?
PC habits die hard in the soul of this good man 
so i'll be backing up everything i'll be needing and doing a clean install
so i'll be backing up everything i'll be needing and doing a clean install
the main diff b/t update vs archive and install is that upgrade will write over your current system files, whereas archive and nstall will place everything in a separate "previous systems folder" and then do an clean install of Leopard on the available disk space.
You'll need more than the advertised 9 GB for an archive and install.
Clean Install
In my opinion upgrades can often lead to problems later on. Yes it's quick, but is quicker always the best option? For me clean install is what I always do and will of course with Leopard. If I have to troubleshoot a future problem, I can count out that the OS was upgraded.
In my opinion upgrades can often lead to problems later on. Yes it's quick, but is quicker always the best option? For me clean install is what I always do and will of course with Leopard. If I have to troubleshoot a future problem, I can count out that the OS was upgraded.
I'll probably do a archive and install.
To be safe, I backed up my important files (user folder, iTunes, documents, iPhoto,etc) to my external 20GB USB 2.0 drive, just in case I do want to fresh instal of Leopard.
Or I might do a fresh install (as I've collected a lot of unnecessary files since I got my Mac mini last June) to gain more space-and for faster performance.
To be safe, I backed up my important files (user folder, iTunes, documents, iPhoto,etc) to my external 20GB USB 2.0 drive, just in case I do want to fresh instal of Leopard.
Or I might do a fresh install (as I've collected a lot of unnecessary files since I got my Mac mini last June) to gain more space-and for faster performance.
So if I have the space it's a better option? I suppose I can back up with SuperDuper first and see what happens...
archive and install for me. i don't think it's really necessary to go through the trouble of reinstalling from scratch. i don't know, we'll see.
Backing up is kind of a bitch for me. I don't have an external hdd so I guess I'll just back them up to DVDs.
Fresh install.
If I do an Archive and Install, or an Upgrade, if some problem comes up, I want to be sure that I did choose the most clean option for my system. Otherwise, I would be tempted to do a clean install at a later date.
Besides, A clean install makes you get rid of items that are on your system, but you don't really need them. Your system feels much cleaner.
However, I won't be buying Leopard before 10.5.1 or 10.5.2 release.
If I do an Archive and Install, or an Upgrade, if some problem comes up, I want to be sure that I did choose the most clean option for my system. Otherwise, I would be tempted to do a clean install at a later date.
Besides, A clean install makes you get rid of items that are on your system, but you don't really need them. Your system feels much cleaner.
However, I won't be buying Leopard before 10.5.1 or 10.5.2 release.
Always a Fresh install.
I see new OS releases as a good time to clean out all the junk thats collected up since the past release
I also don't want any of the 3rd party junk i may still have hanging around giving the installer any problems.
I see new OS releases as a good time to clean out all the junk thats collected up since the past release
I also don't want any of the 3rd party junk i may still have hanging around giving the installer any problems.
Then go buy one! Seriously, not backing up your data is absolutely foolish.
When you do Archive and Install, the mac does keep aside a folder of your old system files. This is sort of a backup copy in case you need to retrieve some system files from the old system. Most of the time I just delete the folder after a week if nothing goes wrong.
The bottomline is, after doing a Archive and Install, you would not notice any difference (other than the new functions of Leopard) at all. iTunes would open like before, your photos would still be in iPhoto. Address book entries all there, your emails would remain intact. The only thing that might occur is that keychain dialogs popping up asking if you would like to move the keychains over which you can just click yes. Keychains, incase you are unsure, are the passwords you stored on your mac for stuff like WiFi wep passwords, safari login passwords and stuff.
You can even try this option now using your restore cd to see what I mean.
One thing to note though, if your mac now is slowing down or experiencing some glitches here and there, its best to do a erase and install as not to duplicate the problems over.
I hope this clears any doubts you have on this option.
When you do Archive and Install, the mac does keep aside a folder of your old system files. This is sort of a backup copy in case you need to retrieve some system files from the old system. Most of the time I just delete the folder after a week if nothing goes wrong.
The bottomline is, after doing a Archive and Install, you would not notice any difference (other than the new functions of Leopard) at all. iTunes would open like before, your photos would still be in iPhoto. Address book entries all there, your emails would remain intact. The only thing that might occur is that keychain dialogs popping up asking if you would like to move the keychains over which you can just click yes. Keychains, incase you are unsure, are the passwords you stored on your mac for stuff like WiFi wep passwords, safari login passwords and stuff.
You can even try this option now using your restore cd to see what I mean.
One thing to note though, if your mac now is slowing down or experiencing some glitches here and there, its best to do a erase and install as not to duplicate the problems over.
I hope this clears any doubts you have on this option.
Very good explanation, much appreciated. My Mac seems fine, I've only had it since May so there's not too much rubbish on it.
Archive and install it is for me!
I see lots of people here without backup drives. For $200+ you can get a 500GB Firewire Drive, and SuperDuper for around $28. I think this is not something to be lackadasical about.
It already saved me once in the past month.
It already saved me once in the past month.
You absolutely need a backup, regardless.Ok...so when you do an Archive and Install, it creates a fresh install of Leopard...with everything from Tiger backed up into a folder? Does it simply keep system files in case of a problem? Does it literally leave everything in place? I'm still confused.
I want the clean feel of a fresh install (no random files from apps and other unnecessary stuff), but I also don't want to go through the hassle of backing up my important data and reinstalling apps. If I'm understanding it correctly, Archive and Install seems to be the perfect solution...I think.
I probably asked this somewhere but I forget. So if I do a fresh install my windows partition will disappear is that right? But if I do an archieve and install everything should still be intact?
I got a MBP SR and I want to do a fresh install. Fresh installs go super fast. I have a question about Apple apps (iTunes, iCal, Address Book, etc).
I've spent countless hours setting up my iTunes (song metadata, playlists, album art), iCal, and Address Book. Is there a way to do a fresh install but just manually transfer the app data via external HD? If not, I'm going to have get out the old pencil and paper and copy down all my contacts and events (yea, that's going to suck).
I've spent countless hours setting up my iTunes (song metadata, playlists, album art), iCal, and Address Book. Is there a way to do a fresh install but just manually transfer the app data via external HD? If not, I'm going to have get out the old pencil and paper and copy down all my contacts and events (yea, that's going to suck).
Fresh install, hands down. I'm putting all my movies on my external hard drive this weekend. I already have all my iTunes music on an external HD over the wireless network. I'm just trying to write down all my serials and get all my installation disks together.
One thing I'm wondering though... how is the iPhone going to handle the fresh install? It's not going to tell me to activate my phone again will it? Since my iPhone syncs with Address Book for my contacts, once I hook up my iPhone to the Mac, it should load all my contacts in Address Book right?
One thing I'm wondering though... how is the iPhone going to handle the fresh install? It's not going to tell me to activate my phone again will it? Since my iPhone syncs with Address Book for my contacts, once I hook up my iPhone to the Mac, it should load all my contacts in Address Book right?
I'm interested in doing a fresh install, but it removes everything from my computer? I've only had it since the end of June, but it already needs some cleaning. I just don't want to lose all of the applications I've paid for. That'd be a real bummer. No safety for those?