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How will YOU install Leopard?

How will YOU install Leopard on your Mac?

  • Fresh Install

    Votes: 279 48.0%

  • Archive and Install

    Votes: 100 17.2%

  • Upgrade

    Votes: 168 28.9%

  • I'm buying a new Mac that will have Leopard pre-loaded

    Votes: 24 4.1%

  • Not getting Leopard/Other

    Votes: 10 1.7%
  • Total voters
    581
katielb said:
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?
Click to expand...

You would have to reinstall all those files. So you have:

1) Find your installation disks to reinstall programs. (i.e. iLife, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Studio, Microsoft Office 2004, Parallels or VMFusion, etc.)

2) Keep a record of serials for downloadable programs. I got a free version of DivX and it came with a serial, I have that serial saved so that when I download the program again, I'll be able to register it.

3) Download and install. (i.e. VLC, Adium, QuickSilver, GoogleEarth, etc.)

It just depends, I've had my MBP for a year almost, it's time to fresh install, I want Leopard to run as fast as possible. I really want to see what a difference there is with 64-bit, better multi-core support, etc.
 
i always do a fresh install. not only will you have less chance of little weird problems, but that clean fresh feeling is nice. a clean computer is good for the body, mind, and spirit!
 
jakk2809 said:
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).
Click to expand...

Yes you can actually manually transfer the songs, emails and address book entries back to your mac after the install so everything would work before. However it is not a simple process and it requires you to have some form of patience at least.

A brief idea of what you have to do is to transfer out the itunes folder, your email folder...which are located in the library folder. Another important thing to transfer is your preferences folder which contains how each of this app is going to function with your previous data. After doing all of that, just replace those folders in the new OS with the one you backed up.

Alternatively, if you have a external HD you can use, use SuperDuper! to duplicate your old HD over. Then when you erase and install, you would be given an option to "migrate your data from another mac". Select this option, and plug in your external HD (which acts as 'the other mac') and let the assistant do everything for you. Ta-Dah! you have all your stuff back on the new system.

Hope this helps. :)
 
KT322 said:
Then go buy one! Seriously, not backing up your data is absolutely foolish.
Click to expand...
Not for me, it isn't. Everything I have on my computer can be replaced. It's basically music, movies, wallpapers, and old useless homework assignments. The apps I have are basically freeware too.

I might buy one when I begin to run out of space though. :)
 
I've zeroed out my hard drive 5 times and reinstalled Tiger on my MacBook in the past year (OCD, I know :p)...

How can I get a cleaner slate then that? I have it set up to reboot in verbose, and that stays the same (its obviously not part of the hard drive)...

Does anyone know how I can get my MacBook stock (making things like verbose go back to normal [I know how to fix verbose itself, I just want everything clean])

I might try out that 35 pass erase... (jk!)
 
Ice-Cube said:
Alternatively, if you have a external HD you can use, use SuperDuper! to duplicate your old HD over. Then when you erase and install, you would be given an option to "migrate your data from another mac". Select this option, and plug in your external HD (which acts as 'the other mac') and let the assistant do everything for you. Ta-Dah! you have all your stuff back on the new system.

Hope this helps. :)
Click to expand...

Im curious about this option. You are saying its possible to make a full backup of your hdd in superduper, then after a clean install you can transfer over all programs and settings from the super duper backup??
 
VoodooDaddy said:
Im curious about this option. You are saying its possible to make a full backup of your hdd in superduper, then after a clean install you can transfer over all programs and settings from the super duper backup??
Click to expand...

Yes. The full backup using SuperDuper! would be an exact duplicate of your HDD. You can even use the backup to bootup your mac in case your internal HDD fails, hence the backup would be recognized as another mac by migration assistant.

The migration assistant would copy preferences, system settings, your home folder (emails, music, movies) and stuff over. What it would not copy is the system files, and older applications (e.g. Safari 2.0 as opposed to Safari 3.0). The remaining applications, esp 3rd party ones would all move over. Even your wallpaper would be the same after the transfer.

Oh yah one more thing, the Ext HD you used must be a firewire one. Migration Assistant would not recognize a USB ext hd.
 
Ice-Cube said:
Yes. The full backup using SuperDuper! would be an exact duplicate of your HDD. You can even use the backup to bootup your mac in case your internal HDD fails, hence the backup would be recognized as another mac by migration assistant.

The migration assistant would copy preferences, system settings, your home folder (emails, music, movies) and stuff over. What it would not copy is the system files, and older applications (e.g. Safari 2.0 as opposed to Safari 3.0). The remaining applications, esp 3rd party ones would all move over. Even your wallpaper would be the same after the transfer.

Oh yah one more thing, the Ext HD you used must be a firewire one. Migration Assistant would not recognize a USB ext hd.
Click to expand...

So doesn't this just end up basically being the same thing as archive and install? If some app/pref file will mess up the new system, won't it do it in this scenario too?
 
For me - a simple update.

I'm getting a Macbook and about a week later will get the update disc. So I see little point in doing anything else.
 
wordmunger said:
So doesn't this just end up basically being the same thing as archive and install? If some app/pref file will mess up the new system, won't it do it in this scenario too?
Click to expand...

The difference between this option and Archive and Install is that in Migration Assistant, you are given some options of what to transfer and what not. If I remember correctly, they are Preferences, Keychains, Applications, Network settings, Email and Applications.

Archive and Install basically just transfer everything over.
 
Ive never used migration assistant but just opened it up. I didnt see anything about migrating from a back up, only from another mac. Would the full backup made in superduper essentially be the other mac? Sorry if these are dumb questions, Ive never upgraded an OS on a Mac before so Im clueless as to the best way. I was going to do the archive and install, but then I read your (Icecube) post and thought this sounded like a better way.

One last thing, Ive never used superduper either. Do I just select "back up all files"? Do I have to do anything else in the options menu of it?
 
VoodooDaddy said:
Ive never used migration assistant but just opened it up. I didnt see anything about migrating from a back up, only from another mac. Would the full backup made in superduper essentially be the other mac? Sorry if these are dumb questions, Ive never upgraded an OS on a Mac before so Im clueless as to the best way. I was going to do the archive and install, but then I read your (Icecube) post and thought this sounded like a better way.

One last thing, Ive never used superduper either. Do I just select "back up all files"? Do I have to do anything else in the options menu of it?
Click to expand...

Yup. The SuperDuper! backup you created would be considered as 'another mac' by Migration Assistant. As for SuperDuper! itself, selecting 'back up all files' is fine. You do not have to touch any other options other than that.

Be sure that there is nothing important on the ext hd you are about to use cos SuperDuper! would wipe them out before duplicating.
 
I'm having a tough battle deciding whether I want to do a fresh install or an archive install. I have an external HDD for all my songs (which is all I REALLY care about) that I could use, but it seems like the archive install is just... easier
 
im leaning towards a fresh install-but I have a question- I do plan on backing up everything but I was wondering if it would be possible to take the home folder backup that I make every day and transfer it to a fresh install? Or would it better to just take the preferences, app support , email, itunes and other important folders individually? Also, if I can take the whole home folder, what is the best way to get in transfered?
 
mmendoza27 said:
You would have to reinstall all those files. So you have:

1) Find your installation disks to reinstall programs. (i.e. iLife, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Studio, Microsoft Office 2004, Parallels or VMFusion, etc.)

2) Keep a record of serials for downloadable programs. I got a free version of DivX and it came with a serial, I have that serial saved so that when I download the program again, I'll be able to register it.

3) Download and install. (i.e. VLC, Adium, QuickSilver, GoogleEarth, etc.)

It just depends, I've had my MBP for a year almost, it's time to fresh install, I want Leopard to run as fast as possible. I really want to see what a difference there is with 64-bit, better multi-core support, etc.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see. I can do #1 for sure with all of the software I've actually physically bought in a store, but I'm wondering about my applications such as Transmit (used for FTP), Acquisition (heh), and AppZapper?

I want the same feeling as you when I get a hold of Leopard.
 
Also, just to clarify, this means all documents and media such as songs and videos on iTunes will be lost too, right?
 
katielb said:
Also, just to clarify, this means all documents and media such as songs and videos on iTunes will be lost too, right?
Click to expand...

Hum... I don't think they will. Unless you completely start over that is. My, albeit slight, understanding is that archive and install will affect the system files only. I think, since OS X doesn't have a "registry" you won't lose programs... Programs are "folderized"....? Is that right?
 
Bootcamp

I did not see this answered.

Currently I have boot camp installed as well as parallells. If I do a fresh install will it wipe out my boot camp and will it affect parrells if I put in on again?
 
Bootcamp

I did not see this answered.

Currently I have boot camp installed as well as parallells. If I do a fresh install will it wipe out my boot camp and will it affect parrells if I put in on again?
 
benalexe said:
I did not see this answered.

Currently I have boot camp installed as well as parallells. If I do a fresh install will it wipe out my boot camp and will it affect parrells if I put in on again?
Click to expand...
Apple's Boot Camp page clearly says it will work fine :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I always love having a fresh install of OS X on my computer.

I never to an upgrade, I back up whatever is on my system drive to dvd's or a hard disk.

I never save anything important to the system drive so it's usually easy to upgrade operating systems for me.

I can't wait to see how Leopard screams on my Mac Pro.
 
I will wait and see what has worked for others. I won't be getting it right away anyways so I'll know what is the best to do :)
 
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