[pilauh]

Hi,

a simple question : which files or folders do I have to backup in order to have them ready after a clean install of 10.2 (which is the way i will probably follow, but I might be wrong and would be happy to discuss this too...) ?

I use Retrospect usually to keep my Applications folder safe somewhere else, but in order to perform the clean install what do I have to backup : library, folders from the system, applications support, ... I don't know at all, and couldn't find that out on these forums.

So, surely some of you used to perform backup's and clean install might post a little "how-to" with a step-by-step procedure especially written for some newbie like me...

my computer is my tool, and I don't know such things and don't wan't to lose something..

(otherwise, I can consider to simply upgrade, but I read it was much better to restart from scratch... reformat, and clean install..)

all your help will be appreciated

[Ricky]

Since I keep everything in my Home directory, I just backup everything that's in there. I think that's an easy way to do things.

[Mactoid]

This is the list of directories my personal backup script uses:

• /Users
  /Library
  /usr/local
  /private/etc
  /share
  /private/var/backups
  /private/var/cron
  /private/var/mail
  /private/var/db
  /private/var/lib
  /private/var/log
  /private/var/msgs
  /private/var/root
  /Applications/Local

I think that is a pretty complete list. However, depending on how you use your computer, you may not need all of those backed up, or some may be different. It may be excessive for a regular (no coding, no shell)user, but it can't hurt.

Also, note that I install everything in /Applications/Local so I can easily back my stuff up and not worry about backing up Apple's stuff.