Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Zimmerman · Feb 14, 2003, 12:41 AM

While I was installing the new update, 10.2.4, the software update utility crashed with the message, "The application, 'Software Update Utility' {or whatever it's called} has unexepectedly quit." The crash did something behind the scenes because shortly therafter the OS hung and I haven't been able to boot into X since. It just sits and spins it's wheels. Well I have Norton Utilites and ran all the regular fixes, flash pram, blablabla and nothing is working. So I'm resigned to reinstalling OSX. However, I don't want to have to nuke and pave, just reinstall the OS.

How do I back up my personal preferences and all that so that when I reinstall, everything is about the same? If I reinstall, will it copy over the old Applications folder with all my stuff in it? And will I have to save all the stuff in the Documents folder as well? And how about all my preference panes? Can I just copy the USER directory to a CD and that'll be that?

Please respond, this is fairly important.

Mastrap · Feb 14, 2003, 12:52 AM

That's exactly what I do. I copy my user directory to my iPod pretty much every evening and to an external drive once a week. It recently saved my butt when my printer engine got corrupted and I had to reinstall from scratch. Copy it over and you're as good as new. The only thing that I don't backup are my applications, as many need more than just copying to the app folder to work. There are carbon copy tools available:

http://www.versiontracker.com/morein...260&db=mac

This will make a bootable external copy of your drive. I don't bother with it, you might decide that you need it.

Best of luck.

Zimmerman · Feb 14, 2003, 12:56 AM

Originally posted by Mastrap:
That's exactly what I do. I copy my user directory to my iPod pretty much every evening and to an external drive once a week. It recently saved my butt when my printer engine got corrupted and I had to reinstall from scratch. Copy it over and you're as good as new. The only thing that I don't backup are my applications, as many need more than just copying to the app folder to work. There are carbon copy tools available:

http://www.versiontracker.com/morein...260&db=mac

This will make a bootable external copy of your drive. I don't bother with it, you might decide that you need it.

Best of luck.

Will backing up my user folder and reinstalling break all of my OS X apps and I'll have to reinstall THEM as well?

Mastrap · Feb 14, 2003, 01:00 AM

Originally posted by Zimmerman:
Will backing up my user folder and reinstalling break all of my OS X apps and I'll have to reinstall THEM as well?

Yes. Sorry about that, but yes, you'll have to re-install everything to make sure it works ok with the root level.

I've got all my installers on an external disc so it's not too painful.

Zimmerman · Feb 14, 2003, 01:02 AM

Just so long as reinstalling X won't nuke the drive... will it?
I have 3.5gigs of MP3's I don't want to have to back up, and 8 gigs of CD images...
I don't think I have ever installed Jaguar onto a non-new drive.

Kenneth · Feb 14, 2003, 01:05 AM

Well, I remembered that there will be some options for installing 10.2 from the CD. It will transfer the existing user files to the new one. Of course a backup may be the best way to keep your exisiting data.

Zimmerman · Feb 14, 2003, 01:10 AM

All right. Well, now I have something to pass the weekend away... :/

Good think I have two computers, a Mac and a PC. I had to reinstall ME the other day. And no comments about Windows ME. I'm not gonna fork over for a newer OS, and I'm not gonna pirate one. Bad MSFT mojo in that one. <creepy style text> They're always watching you! </cst>

Actually, I have a copy of XP Pro, but it's back home in Montana, probably getting destroyed in my little brother's room. :/