Save my application when I format my mac

The process involves total wiping of the hard drive to install a new copy of Snow Leopard, so you would lose anything you currently have if you don't have it backed up. You would only need to back up your iPhoto library, because you can re-download purchased apps at any time through the iTunes App Store. If you're afraid if not remembering passwords, pay a visit to your KeyChain app which stores all your passwords, so that you don't miss any.

 

Just run the installer and don't wipe (or format) your hard drive. It's very rarely necessary or helpful to completely wipe your drive. If you run the installer normally, you won't have any trouble.

jW

 

It's not necessary to wipe it to upgrade. I just popped the disk in and ran the installer, and about an hour later I was ready to go with all of my data intact.

 

No it doesn't. Where did you get that idea from?

 

"Should I do a different back up (regular- like in PC)? Should I trust time machine to retrieve my applications ( not all purchased by me)?"

If you already have a backup drive, I suggest you get ahold of the free "CarbonCopyCloner" app (bombich.com) and create a "bootable clone" of your current hard drive BEFORE you upgrade.

Once the clone has been created, to a TEST BOOT from it, to BE SURE that it is a "dupe" of your internal drive and will boot your Mac.

Once that's done, you can "wipe" the internal if you wish, and do a fresh install of Snow Leopard.

As other posters have suggested, you probably don't need to erase what's on the internal drive -- just boot from the Snow Leopard DVD and let the installer do its thing. At the appropriate moment (after the installation is completed), the installer will ask if you wish to transfer your data -- yes, you want to do that.

After the data is transferred do a reboot, again to BE SURE that everything looks the way you want it to look. Then you can trash the "old" system if you wish.

I'd still recommend creating a dupe of the "old" drive (i.e., the way things are before you do the upgrade) using CCC and retaining that for several days, until you are satisfied that things are working OK....

 

No, you really freakin' don't. I cannot figure out where this crap comes from? I'm not blaming you, OP, because it's floating out there everywhere, but it's absolute nonsense. You could have a machine with 10.1 running on it now, and if that machine were capable of running 10.7 (obviously none are, but it's not relevant), then you could install 10.7 without erasing the hard drive or losing a single file.

Always back up anyways, but you absolutely do not have to erase your hard drive, and I would highly recommend against doing so.

jW