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Zoom · May 29, 2007, 09:07 AM

I accidentally trashed Mail.app and emptied the garbage. What's the easiest way to get it back? I think I can do it from the OS install DVD, but do I need that special "Pacifier" app or whatever it's called to dig it out? And once I do that, will it update with Software Update okay?

peeb · May 29, 2007, 09:40 AM

The only way I know to do this is an archive and install, which will leave all your personal stuff intact and reinstall all the default stuff.

Zoom · May 29, 2007, 09:49 AM

Actually, there's nothing to save - this is pretty much a pristine install. I just sold this Mac and I just need to get Mail.app back on there before I ship it.

TETENAL · May 29, 2007, 09:53 AM

Then just do a format & install on this Mac. If you wouldn't want to make a reinstall, then you'd have to extract Mail.app with Pacifist and then run the latest combo-update which is more effort than just popping in the system CD and letting the installer run. And the new owner gets a clean install without any traces from you.

peeb · May 29, 2007, 10:04 AM

Yes - you should format and install anyway if you are selling it.

Zoom · May 29, 2007, 11:38 AM

I'm afraid to do a full install at this point - I need to ship this thing out tomorrow. I'll try the Pacifist thing.

What does the combo installer get me?

Zoom · May 29, 2007, 11:45 AM

BTW, I've already done a pretty hefty erase cycle. I created a new admin account, deleted the old accounts, and ran some eraser routine... can't recall its name, but it was a multi-pass thing. I think my main account was encrypted, too (File Vault) - the one I deleted. Does anyone think that's not good enough?

peeb · May 29, 2007, 12:02 PM

What are you afraid of? The format and install will take an hour max, and you don't need to be there. Much faster than all the stuff you are doing.

Zoom · May 29, 2007, 12:13 PM

It'll be more than that - I'll have to do all the incremental software updates, too. I'm already at 10.4.9 now.

I also had some trouble a while back with fresh installs. I upgraded the hard drive and for a while disk installs would die. I think I'm past that now, but God forbid if it happens again I'll have to install in target mode from another Mac again... just a pain.

Art Vandelay · May 29, 2007, 12:17 PM

Guys, there's a much easier way to do this. Put in the Tiger DVD and run the Optional Installs package. You can then pick any of the bundled OS X apps, languages, fonts, or printer drivers. No need to use Pacifist or reinstall.

Then rerun the latest combo update to get the newly reinstalled item updated.

peeb · May 29, 2007, 12:22 PM

Cool - I did not know that!

CharlesS · May 29, 2007, 12:25 PM

You can do it with Pacifist, if you just pull Mail.app from the OS install discs and then install Mail.app from the latest combo update on top of the one you pulled from the install discs. Make sure to click "Update" rather than "Replace" when asked.

With that said, I'm the author of Pacifist, and even I think that you'd be fine just by reformatting and reinstalling the OS if you're selling it anyway.

TETENAL · May 29, 2007, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Zoom

I'll have to do all the incremental software updates, too.

You don't have to do that. Install a fresh clean OS for the new owner and you're done. I wouldn't even create a user account for him. He can do that and update to the most recent version himself.

mdc · May 29, 2007, 02:51 PM

I agree, format, clean install. When the computer boots to the welcome to Mac OS video, turn it off, and ship it.

Zoom · May 29, 2007, 04:55 PM

Weeeelllllll..... I did the erase and install, and guess what... the install failed. Now I'm in a world of hurt. I can't even boot it now. I'll have to install in target mode again. I don't know what the problem is, but it just won't do a DVD install anymore. I'm going to try it one more time and pay attention to where it failed, but it was cruising along for a bit, maybe 30% on the progress bar... I looked over and saw "installing Mail.app" or something then it immediately quit and said something like "installation failed" and gave me one option: restart.

This all started happening (I believe) after I upgraded the harddrive. Could there be missing firmware or drivers or something? If so, how do I determine that and how do I fix it?

OreoCookie · May 29, 2007, 05:32 PM

Run the Apple Hardware Test to determine if there is anything wrong with the machine.

peeb · May 29, 2007, 05:58 PM

It's possible the install disc is scratched or dirty - but it's odd that it's the same app that you were having problems with. Can you boot from the dvd?

Zoom · May 29, 2007, 08:23 PM

It's not the disk. This has happened before with other disks.

It's not that app - it was a coincidence. The second time I tried it got much further, and still ended up dying the same way. No clue why.

This is an old iBook - G3 "dual USB". I have the original disks with "Apple Hardware Test" and others. Aren't those tests run before install? Or is there something special about the original HW test CD? Remember, I replaced the hard drive.

I had to reinstall in Target mode from my main Mac. I'm getting it all updated now. I'm on the road back to where I was. :-)

Art Vandelay · May 29, 2007, 09:49 PM

If you would have listened to my advice, you wouldn't have had to do all that work and wasted lots of time.