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TICKET ARCHIVE -> OS X reinstall advice for keeping settings
RobinS - Jul 17, 2006 - 1:37 am
OK - I had a problem with a previous install and the whole system locked up. So I reinstalled. I had all my programs (except a few OS X programs) on a non-OS X partition so I wouldn't have to load them again in case of a reinstall. Well I guess I need to back up some other stuff as well.
Is there a simple way of doing this? It sure would be nice if all the settings were in one place but I guess that isn't the case. I guess I need the Preference file and perhaps something in Application Support?
Is there a simple way of doing this? It sure would be nice if all the settings were in one place but I guess that isn't the case. I guess I need the Preference file and perhaps something in Application Support?
RobinS - Jul 17, 2006 - 1:38 am
I titled this wrong. I was hoping how to backup the settings for all my progrsms. Mail is giving me problems now, but the others, who are now working fine, have required me resetup all the preferences; a very time consuming undertaking process.
BjarneDM - Jul 17, 2006 - 8:35 am
You'll need to back-up at least the ~/Library folder in your own home directory. That's where your own settings are stored.
Additionally, the system-wide /Library contains some valuable stuff. At least the 'Application Support' folder might contain valuable data, and some applications set up their own folders in /Library too, so you'll need those too. Fonts beyound the ones installed by the system are in a folder here too.
Additionally, the system-wide /Library contains some valuable stuff. At least the 'Application Support' folder might contain valuable data, and some applications set up their own folders in /Library too, so you'll need those too. Fonts beyound the ones installed by the system are in a folder here too.
RobinS - Jul 17, 2006 - 11:33 am
What does ~/Library mean?
There are 3 Libraries in this illogical Operating System. They could have at least called them Library1, LIbrary2, Library3.
Do you mean the library of the user?
And should I just copy the entire thing?
And the other 2 libraries? Ignore them?
Doesn't OS X have an ability to backup the preferences of all the apps and the OS?
Wouldn't it be logical if all the settings that the user changed would be in one place?
There are 3 Libraries in this illogical Operating System. They could have at least called them Library1, LIbrary2, Library3.
Do you mean the library of the user?
And should I just copy the entire thing?
And the other 2 libraries? Ignore them?
Doesn't OS X have an ability to backup the preferences of all the apps and the OS?
Wouldn't it be logical if all the settings that the user changed would be in one place?
BjarneDM - Jul 19, 2006 - 6:36 am
They are all named 'Library' because they serve the same purpose - just in different circumstances. And I find it quite logical to destinguish them based upon their location.
~/Library is the one in a home directory. the '~/' prefix indicates this and I also stated that that's where you'ld find it. You can just copy the whole thing. If the applications are using the recommended practises, they ought to have stored the user specific preferences somewhere in your user ~/Library folder.
/Library is for systemwide preferences and files needed by every user. You can't ignore it, but will have to make educated choices at to what to backup. You can backup the whole folder and then compare the new one with the backup one after the re-install.
/System/Library is for preferences and files installed by and needed by Mac OS X as such. One should never have to mess around here.
If you are looking for a back-up program as such, SuperDuper seems to be the best game in town. http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macg...per2/index.php
~/Library is the one in a home directory. the '~/' prefix indicates this and I also stated that that's where you'ld find it. You can just copy the whole thing. If the applications are using the recommended practises, they ought to have stored the user specific preferences somewhere in your user ~/Library folder.
/Library is for systemwide preferences and files needed by every user. You can't ignore it, but will have to make educated choices at to what to backup. You can backup the whole folder and then compare the new one with the backup one after the re-install.
/System/Library is for preferences and files installed by and needed by Mac OS X as such. One should never have to mess around here.
If you are looking for a back-up program as such, SuperDuper seems to be the best game in town. http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macg...per2/index.php
RobinS - Jul 19, 2006 - 2:02 pm
OK - understood. Totally illogical but understood. (Maybe they should title every app the same too - since they all do computer functions....lol)
So now the question is, if I'm reinstalling, because of a problem, (usually the reason for a reinstall....duh) how do I know if the problem is in my backed up preferences? I thought I might do an erase and install and keep the libraries in a different place and copy them over, area by area to see when the problem starts again, thereby isolating it.
So now the question is, if I'm reinstalling, because of a problem, (usually the reason for a reinstall....duh) how do I know if the problem is in my backed up preferences? I thought I might do an erase and install and keep the libraries in a different place and copy them over, area by area to see when the problem starts again, thereby isolating it.
BjarneDM - Jul 19, 2006 - 3:48 pm
That's usually the way to do it.
A complete re-install might not be necessary. Just backup the /Library folder and then delete the contents.
Other tricks to use are these: boot up and hold down the [shift] key. That turns off all extensions and login items. You'll see this indicated in the login window. You can also hold down the [shift] key when loging in to an account; that'll temporarily turn off the login item just for the account while keeping the system wide ones active.
You can use the ActivityMonitor in /Applications/Utilities to get info on which files are in use by a program.
A complete re-install might not be necessary. Just backup the /Library folder and then delete the contents.
Other tricks to use are these: boot up and hold down the [shift] key. That turns off all extensions and login items. You'll see this indicated in the login window. You can also hold down the [shift] key when loging in to an account; that'll temporarily turn off the login item just for the account while keeping the system wide ones active.
You can use the ActivityMonitor in /Applications/Utilities to get info on which files are in use by a program.
RobinS - Jul 19, 2006 - 4:32 pm
By extenions and login items you mean any and all things that aren't necessary for the core part of OS X to function?
BjarneDM - Jul 19, 2006 - 5:38 pm
yes - Mac OS X will be 'reduced' to just the absolutely necessary parts
RobinS - Jul 20, 2006 - 9:37 pm
oK - many thanks - we can close this one up. Well done.
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