[AppleOptionFour]

I am not sure how many of you are like me, but I am going to wipe everything and start fresh with a Leopard install. My Tiger installation has spanned 3 macs and at least 1 backup restore, so I think its time.

My intention with this thread however is to ensure that I/we have all the bases covered when it comes to backing up and then restoring once the install finishes.

The first thing I did was go into system profiler and print everything to a PDF. I did this mainly for the Applications folder listing so that I can remember what I had installed and what version it was. I have most everything as a DMG or can get it from the net. Not too concerned about directly backing up apps.

The only exception to this is my Warcraft folder. I am going to straight copy that to an external because I really don't feel like downloading and installing patches for 3 days.

Next I thought about Fink and made a quick list of the terminal commands I normally run. Wget was the most important.

Then we have the sys pref panes to "backup:"

• Salling Clicker + SN
• Flip4Mac + SN
• QT Pro + SN
• Growl
• I screen shot it for insurance...I think the sys profiler got all this though.

On Friday I intend to do everything surrounding my user folder due to changes which might occur right up until install time.
This includes:

• Archiving the entire thing to a zip.
• Exporting all contacts to a backup.
• Exporting my Safari/Firefox/Camino Bookmarks.
• Sending all of this to an external.

By now you are thinking, why not just use the user migration tools? I don't know. I guess because I can't see exactly what it is doing/copying.

Ok, back to work. Chime in with your suggestions.

[Mastrap]

I am thinking about doing the same. My apps folder is getting extremely long in the tooth and I am looking forward to a fresh install. All I need is a rainy weekend.

[AppleOptionFour]

Apple Software Restore is pretty neat. Can be run from OSX Boot Disk --> Terminal.

Mac OS X Server Manual Page For asr(8)

[adamfishercox]

Get your mailboxes if you use Mail.

[beez1717]

I am probably going to back up my windows partition, and then wipe it so I can have 100% disk space for my mac partition

The only problem I have is this: I won't be able to play Psychonauts on my Mac, and it is one awesome game.

[wr11]

lol - I am doing that now. I also saved my system profile and I am in the process of making a disk-level back up incase leopard doesn't work out. I know I shouldn't put it on a production machine but damn - I want to

I have a couple of reservations with Mail - I hear that the new mail in leopard "updates" the mail files - so I hope importing all my GBs of mail will work.

[Mac4Decade]

I think I'll probably do the exact same. Export Safari bookmarks, write down 3rd party apps so I don't forget them (Meteorologist, Temperature Monitor, etc.)—and dump them all on to an external and just douche my system clean with 10.5. Don't forget about your Stickies prefs if you have any!

[davey64]

I am also going through this same process. Backing everything up, both using stuffit/gzip and using SuperDuper.
My main concerns are not so much for the installed applications but all the *nix utilities, "programs", and all their dependancies. I have spent quite some time using both Fink and MacPorts and compiling all these tools.

I suppose I will just have to bite the bullet and reinstall all of these too. I really want to do a fresh install as I am finally settling down with the apps I have weeded my way to, the ones which work better than others.

Looking for any advice, experiences others have had.

[mdc]

I used SmartBackup to backup my Mac last night.
Tomorrow I will perform a clean install, copy my iTunes, iPhoto, and Mail back over to my home folder, restore my AddressBook, and copy Applications back into the APplications folder.

[wr11]

SuperDuper'd my whole drive to a .dmg last night - I'm erasing and installing the second the big cat arrives. I'll enjoy re-installing all my applications... time to clean it out anyways.

The main things like Address book, calendars, keychains, cookies and my safari settings will be moved forward, but I don't want to move too many preference files - want to start as clean as I can. I may do a more up-to-date backup of some of the recent data (saved searches are great for this) right before I erase the drive.

[AppleOptionFour]

DONT FORGET THESE THINGS:

*Printer Setups/Drivers - Especially if you have network printers...snag their IP's and Installable Options
*Mail Settings - Especially if you have an exchange account.
*Ask yourself...where is my iPhoto library? Where are my calendars? Where is my iTunes Library?

[workerbee]

Originally Posted by wr11 

I'll enjoy re-installing all my applications... time to clean it out anyways.
The main things like Address book, calendars, keychains, cookies and my safari settings will be moved forward, but I don't want to move too many preference files - want to start as clean as I can

Exactly the way I will handle this too. A fresh clean install always seems a lot faster (it's probably only psychology).
About the only thing I'm not at all looking forward to is re-authorizing Windows... endlessly jotting down numbers on the phone, and then input them

[AppleOptionFour]

iPhoto Library drag and drop into new user folder worked like a charm.

Drag and drop of some com.___.plists also working for registered software.

[Macrat]

I do this for every major release as well, keeps things clean without worrying about any residual haxies or not-quite-compatible software.

[Kenstee]

I've been doing plain vanilla Upgrade and Install since 10.1.0. Never had any problems or issues.

Suggest you first run something like Preferential Treatment, Cocktail and then Disk Warrior to make sure you correct any pre-existing conditions - which IMHO are responsible for 99.999% of the problems people have with upgrades.

[Jasoco]

My usual routine for installing or reinstalling an OS has been the same for a while.

I first backup completely to another drive, then install fresh on a reformatted internal HD.

Then I meticulously copy over all the stuff I want. Starting with the entire User folder and most of the stuff from the main Library hand picked to only take what I know I need. (Lots of apps I use once like to throw stuff in there. Same with the User Library.) So I can weed out the crap.

Though this last time something happened with my permissions and now my internal HD and my Applications folders refuse to remember settings. Plus Photoshop literally will not remember palette locations. So I am looking forward to a fresh start.