[quiklee]

So, my life is on this macbook and I have to reinstall the os because of some stupid software update that screwed up my airport software and now is making my firefox freeze. I've decided to finally reinstall my OS, but need some backup tips from you fine folk. So, here are the main things i have to backup:

Mail - I have 7 email accounts that i have to keep separate and I don't even know where to start.

iCal - I just started using this thing and now i can't get through a week without it

AddressBook - Obviously, I'm gonna need to keep this

Adium Settings - I've created the perfect buddy list theme, I don't want to lose it.

Parallels - i don't know how to save all the programs I've installed on that thing.

That should be it since I have everything else nicely organized.

Help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

[rehoot]

Originally Posted by quiklee 

So, my life is on this macbook and I have to reinstall the os because of some stupid software update that screwed up my airport software and now is making my firefox freeze. I've decided to finally reinstall my OS, but need some backup tips from you fine folk. So, here are the main things i have to backup:

Mail - I have 7 email accounts that i have to keep separate and I don't even know where to start.

iCal - I just started using this thing and now i can't get through a week without it

AddressBook - Obviously, I'm gonna need to keep this

Adium Settings - I've created the perfect buddy list theme, I don't want to lose it.

Parallels - i don't know how to save all the programs I've installed on that thing.

That should be it since I have everything else nicely organized.

Help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

My first tip would be to archive (backup) your entire computer before you reinstall the OS. One way to do this is with an external hardrive and a disk image created from Disk Utility (in Applications/Utilities folder). If you don't have an external hard drive you should get one, otherwise make an archive of your home directory on CD, DVD, memory stick. If folders are too big for CD or DVD, perhaps take specific folders one at a time.

Some of the files that you are trying to find might be in the ~/Libraries folder (this is under your home directory where ~/ is your home directory). Look through these folders and be sure to have a copy of ~/Libraries that you can selectively copy back to your computer after you reinstall the OS:

~/Libraries (save a copy of the whole folder)
~/Libraries/Mail (has mail settings)
~/Libraries/Application Support/iCal
~/Libraries/Application Support/AddressBook
~/Libraries/Preferences (has many settings for many programs)
~/Libraries/Preferences/com.apple.AddresBook.abd.plist
~/Libraries/Preferences/com.apple.AddresBook.plist
~/Libraries/Preferences/com.apple.ical*
etc.

For Address book, you can also run the Addressbook program and run the menu command "File/Backup Address Book" and save the file on CD or memory stick so you can import it later (using File/Import).

I don't know some of the other applications, but if you browse the folders above or use the Find command you can probably find what you need.

[quiklee]

wow . . GREATLY APPRECIATED . . . . . for a newbie poster, that was a veteran response . . thanks a lot!

[Big Mac]

Hold on, quiklee. Have you tried doing an Archive and Install before erasing your drive? Archive and Installs cure most all system level problems.

[brschetgen]

I can offer just a few solutions for you,

iCal- File>Back Up Database

Address Book- File>Back Up Address Book

Parallels- /Users/(your user folder)/Library/Parallels/(VM Name)/(VM Name).hdd and (VM Name).pvs

Save all 4 of these items to some type of external storage (CD/DVD, Flash Drive, Network Drive, USB/Firewire Hard Drive)

Backup your entire home folder as well...

Good luck.