I've been eagerly awaiting Leopard with a bit of trepidation since this will be my first time installing a new OS. I've read all of the threads and I've decided to do a clean install mostly for my own piece of mind. I will be running Leopard on a MBP that I bought in July and I would like to clean up all the junk I put on it in the first few months (apps, games, etc) that I don't need. I've backed up all of my music, pics, and personal files and I have all my original discs for important apps (ilife, iwork, etc). I guess I just want some reassurance that this is the right way to go and I won't find myself freaking out on Friday that I've done something terribly wrong. Is there some tips that anybody could offer or something that I've forgotten? I've recently got back into apple in a big way and outfitted myself with a pretty nice setup and I just want to make sure I don't get in over my head. Any help is greatly appreciated... Oh, and I absolutely love this site and read it religiously. Thanks. - Brian
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Newb Needs Help with Leo Install (Yes I've read the many threads)
- Thread starter cinecals
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Get those code things for all your apps. Find all your app CDs. Get your wireless settings and info...and make sure you have BACKED UP EVERYTHING!
Also, you need to get all your keychain password things and make sure you remember and Mac Mail info
Also, you need to get all your keychain password things and make sure you remember and Mac Mail info
ok, I think I've done all of that but I'm not sure what you mean about the keychain. I know all my passwords and I can always reset my AEBS if it isn't being recognized. Also, is there anything in my library that I should save just in case - logs or preferences, maybe something I'm not thinking of. Thanks for the quick replies... You guys are good.
in your home library folder you might wanna backup
- application support (address book, ical, and 3rd party application files are in here)
- internet plug-ins (if youve installed any 3rd party plug-ins)
- input managers (if youve installed any)
- keychains
- mail
- preference panes (if youve installed any 3rd party ones in system preferences)
- preferences
- quicktime (contains youre codecs if youve installed perian/flip4mac etc),
- safari
- spelling (words you have added to OS X's dictionary in pages/word etc)
- widgets
- application support (address book, ical, and 3rd party application files are in here)
- internet plug-ins (if youve installed any 3rd party plug-ins)
- input managers (if youve installed any)
- keychains
- preference panes (if youve installed any 3rd party ones in system preferences)
- preferences
- quicktime (contains youre codecs if youve installed perian/flip4mac etc),
- safari
- spelling (words you have added to OS X's dictionary in pages/word etc)
- widgets
Cool there is a bunch of stuff on your list that I didn't think of. Thanks for that. Regarding Safari, can I import my bookmarks pretty easily from the folder because manually doing that would take awhile. And on a completely different subject, should I reformat my HD with Disc Warrior or just do the erase and install when I put in the Leopard disc. Is one way better than the other?
sorry forgot to add the safari folder just has a bookmarks plist. to backup your bookmarks do file->export bookmarks in safari and then use file->import bookmarks in leopard's safari.
Macs don't seem to suffer the same fate.
Well to let you know doing a Clean Install while it is up to you. Macs don't seem to have the same fate of getting more slower and unstable over time. When I had windows 3.1 - 2000 I needed to reinstall the OS every 6 months or so just to keep things running smoothly. My old PowerBook which I used for 5 years I only had to reinstall the OS Clean once and that was because the Drive Crashed. and I went from OS X 10.2-10.4 (After the Crash) for 3 more years without reinstalling the OS Clean, with no huge problems. When I did upgrade to my MBP I did the firewire import of my files (generally giving me all my apps and file back and still things run fine and quick) Unlike windows which will run to a poky speed after being used as a normal desktop system for a few months where the Registry gets full of junk apps you don't need anymore and from the random spyware that gets on your system that never seems to go away, while you can disable it it still taking up space.
Well to let you know doing a Clean Install while it is up to you. Macs don't seem to have the same fate of getting more slower and unstable over time. When I had windows 3.1 - 2000 I needed to reinstall the OS every 6 months or so just to keep things running smoothly. My old PowerBook which I used for 5 years I only had to reinstall the OS Clean once and that was because the Drive Crashed. and I went from OS X 10.2-10.4 (After the Crash) for 3 more years without reinstalling the OS Clean, with no huge problems. When I did upgrade to my MBP I did the firewire import of my files (generally giving me all my apps and file back and still things run fine and quick) Unlike windows which will run to a poky speed after being used as a normal desktop system for a few months where the Registry gets full of junk apps you don't need anymore and from the random spyware that gets on your system that never seems to go away, while you can disable it it still taking up space.
I use to feel the same way as you do - do a clean install, this way you can start fresh and weed out the junk. I did that twice and to be honest, there was always something that I either forgot, or didn't think to save or just didn't work as easily as I'd expected. For example, and I still can't figure out why, but some of my songs on iTunes show up as file not found. Not all of them, but enough.
The last time I decided NOT to do the clean install and it was the best, easiest time I've ever had.
Just consider going through you home folder and getting rid of some things and don't sweat the small stuff like some random preference files. Your mac will run great and if it doesn't THEN you could do your clean install.
Good Luck
The last time I decided NOT to do the clean install and it was the best, easiest time I've ever had.
Just consider going through you home folder and getting rid of some things and don't sweat the small stuff like some random preference files. Your mac will run great and if it doesn't THEN you could do your clean install.
Good Luck