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spalding12 · Oct 24, 2003, 09:48 PM

just got back from the apple store in tampa, florida.....
have panther in hand
the instruction talk about the "restore software disc" that came with my powerbook

will i be losing all kinds of programs and data when i do this install?

i saw the 1/2 hour demo at the store
looks neat in person
so many people at the store
it's great to see the excitement over our beloved apple and its update

greg

icruise · Oct 24, 2003, 10:05 PM

As long as you don't wipe the disk, you shouldn't lose anything.

Sandbaggins · Oct 24, 2003, 10:32 PM

I just did an archive and install and had no problems whatsoever...smooth and snappy. Ran xbench and am impressed.

spalding12 · Oct 24, 2003, 10:36 PM

i must be an idiot

is there an option to "run an archive" before proceding with the install of panther?

and.
if so...........
after the install....
how do i get the old data
MP3's
photos
etc....
back so that i can see them with the new operating system:?

thanks

greg

vancenase · Oct 24, 2003, 10:38 PM

what does 'archive and install' do exactly? does it make backup on the drive before installing, then 'installs the archive' afterwards?

i'm sure there are 1000+ threads on this, but is cloning the drive on a FW drive the best way to upgrade, then wipe the HD?

spalding12 · Oct 24, 2003, 10:43 PM

i can't wait for the answers to these questions BEFORE i go ahead and ruin my life by installing this panther wrong

in the meantime.......
VANCENASE.........
why are you named after a steroid nasal spray that no longer exists?

greg

Sandbaggins · Oct 24, 2003, 10:59 PM

Look at page 4 for archive and install. I did it to preserve my network, airport, bluetooth, and other app preferences. It worked for me. Everything is where it should be. By the way, I am not saying that this is better than a clean install, just my preference.

Sandbaggins · Oct 24, 2003, 11:03 PM

Originally posted by Sandbaggins:
Look at page 4 for archive and install. I did it to preserve my network, airport, bluetooth, and other app preferences. It worked for me. Everything is where it should be. By the way, I am not saying that this is better than a clean install, just my preference.

By the way, I'm looking at the cheap-o up-to-date Panther manual. Not the retail version. Do not know if they are the same.

nobitacu · Oct 24, 2003, 11:12 PM

Originally posted by vancenase:
what does 'archive and install' do exactly? does it make backup on the drive before installing, then 'installs the archive' afterwards?

i'm sure there are 1000+ threads on this, but is cloning the drive on a FW drive the best way to upgrade, then wipe the HD?

By using this option, it backs up your system files to a folder name Previous System, than installs a brand new copy of Mac OS X. Pretty much, saves your system settings. Just don't forget to also select the "Preserve Users and Network Settings" as well. But... I don't don't if this will back up your personal files... It should though, since it does backup your home folder as well. So as long as you have all your files and such in your home folder, than it should also back those up. You would still need to install your programs over again though. I just back everything on DVDs than do a "Erase and Install" another word, "Clean Install"

Ming

icruise · Oct 24, 2003, 11:29 PM

Basically every option except "wipe and install" will leave all your MP3s and documents intact. The only difference between archive and install and upgrade is that archive puts a completely new system on instead of selectively updating changed files.

spalding12 · Oct 25, 2003, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by Icruise:
Basically every option except "wipe and install" will leave all your MP3s and documents intact. The only difference between archive and install and upgrade is that archive puts a completely new system on instead of selectively updating changed files.

i think that this sums it up for me
the thing is that i am updating my rev. b powerbook 17"
and i've only had it since 9/25
and i have learned in my 20 plus years of computing NOT to install and install and install crap when i get a new computer
thus....
there is very little crap on the drive now (i hope)
so i think that just doing the UPGRADE will work for me
the ARCHIVE AND INSTALL is not something i need to do if i hardly have any new programs and very little downloaded from the net

i'll try that
i hope i make the right decision
of course, as i type this i'm on some pc/windoze clone at work

have a great day
thanks for the great advice from everyone

greg

Cincojoe · Oct 25, 2003, 12:52 PM

ok I did a "archive install" and everything seems to be running great, BUT

my iphoto and itunes is EMPTY? Where did everything go?

Tomster · Oct 25, 2003, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by Cincojoe:
ok I did a "archive install" and everything seems to be running great, BUT

my iphoto and itunes is EMPTY? Where did everything go?

That's weird. It depends on where you put the libraries to begin with. Were they in your home folder? If they were kept in a non standard location , like /Library, they might be moved to the /Previous Systems. Or it could be the prefs for the two apps are gone. In that case, with iPhoto, you can use the application iPhoto Buddy to re-point the app at the library. For iTunes, you can reconnect the library in the preferences of the app.

To find the Libraries, do a search for both iPhoto Library and iTunes Music.

icruise · Oct 25, 2003, 05:04 PM

They shouldn't be empty. Just try searching the disk for .mp3 and see where they are.

Dave Hagan · Oct 25, 2003, 05:20 PM

You should always do a backup of important files on a regular basis. I will backup my important files on my tower before I upgrade it to Panther.

Cincojoe · Oct 25, 2003, 08:47 PM

I did try using a search, nothing. Luckly I did back up my photos and music to CD before the upgrade, but I'm still wondering how they did not get saved to the "previous operating system" folder.

icruise · Oct 25, 2003, 11:28 PM

Where were they located on the drive?

Cincojoe · Oct 25, 2003, 11:33 PM

In the default location that Jag puts them.

icruise · Oct 26, 2003, 05:53 AM

You're sure you didn't uncheck the box that says to import users and settings? Although even in that case, I would think the files would still be in the "Previous Systems" folder.

Cincojoe · Oct 26, 2003, 09:54 AM

Positive. Everything else moved, email settings, emails, etc. But...now that I think about it, why did my programs stay installed? Dreamweaver and iView Pro were still there. Shouldn't they have been wiped out?

domymel · Oct 26, 2003, 11:50 AM

what about omnigraffle and omnioutliner, if I do a clean install? Will I loose them and if so, is there a way to get them back ?

javabeans · Oct 27, 2003, 07:28 PM

Sorry to be off topic here..but did anybody ever tried using their iPod for backing up their data?

I plan on using my iPod with 7G free to temporarily backup all my important files and then do a clean install. Once I get Panther up and running all I need to do is copy things back from my iPod.

Does anybody see any potential problems with this?

thanks.

Stuphalina · Oct 27, 2003, 08:28 PM

Answer to iPod question: go for it! I saved everything on mine for 3 months while I was computerless and everything turned out great.

Just to clarify, I will lose all my apps in my Applications folder? Sorry, I�m ignorant about this. Should I save all my apps?

javabeans · Oct 27, 2003, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by Stuphalina:
Answer to iPod question: go for it! I saved everything on mine for 3 months while I was computerless and everything turned out great.

Thanks..I think I will do this!

Just to clarify, I will lose all my apps in my Applications folder? Sorry, I�m ignorant about this. Should I save all my apps?

if you do a clean install I think you will loose them!

machem · Oct 28, 2003, 12:42 AM

"Clean install" will wipe out everything, including /Applications. "Archive and install" will archive all non-system files, overwrite the rest, and then restore the non-system.

I'm probably only 90% correct here, so feel free to correct me, but that's the jist.

threestain · Oct 28, 2003, 07:08 AM

Just did an upgrade on my TiBook - seems to work fine. Am sure I'll probably do a complete clean install in a while, once Ive got the hang of things. Pretty nifty though - only took 45 mins!