Shirt Pocket Discussions  
    Home netTunes launchTunes SuperDuper! Buy Now Support Discussions About Shirt Pocket    

Go Back   Shirt Pocket Discussions > SuperDuper! > General

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-18-2007, 10:59 PM
tintypes tintypes is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3
Question Reformat HD and re-install OS first -- possible?

I have been having considerable problems with iTunes and an Apple "genius" said her (successful) solution to the same problem was to back up her entire system drive, reformat her system drive, install a new system, and restore all her files (which she did by hand). As things have gotten intolerable, I've decided to follow her recommendation -- except I've purchased a new, larger drive (for my Dual 2.5 GHz PowerPC G5 desktop running OS X v10.4.8) to replace my original system drive while I'm at it.

I read the post "Best process to replace internal hard drive using SuperDuper!" below, which appears to detail most of what I need to know. However, two questions:

I intend to install a fresh, new copy of the OS on the new drive first, since part of the solution seems to be replacing any potentially corrupted OS files (and reinstalling over an existing system doesn't always work). If I do this, and then use SD! to copy all my files back onto the new system drive, will it copy my old system files over the newly installed ones (potentially replacing "good" files with corrupted ones), or will it leave the new system files alone (since, in theory, they should have either the same date or a more recent date)?

Also, I currently use SD! to backup my system drive to a (bootable, fully functional) partition of a much larger drive. Can I run all the preliminary tests described in the above post on the partition, and run the entire procedure using that partition to hold my backup files? Or should I delete the partitioning, erase and reformat the whole drive, run the tests, and backup to the unpartitioned drive to make sure everything works flawlessly? (The latter would be a real pain, for the other partitions hold other files -- but it would be doable.)

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-18-2007, 11:17 PM
dnanian's Avatar
dnanian dnanian is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Weston, MA
Posts: 14,923
Send a message via AIM to dnanian
Actually, if your plan is to reinstall, I'd just update your backup, do your clean install, then use the Migration Assistant to migrate from the backup to the fresh drive.

I wouldn't touch the backup: no need. But, when you say "fully functional", does that mean iTunes is OK on the backup?
__________________
--Dave Nanian
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-19-2007, 01:52 PM
tintypes tintypes is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by dnanian View Post
Actually, if your plan is to reinstall, I'd just update your backup, do your clean install, then use the Migration Assistant to migrate from the backup to the fresh drive.
Great idea! Why didn't I think of that? I presume the Migration Asst will have no problem recognizing my backup partition as a "drive".

Quote:
Originally Posted by dnanian View Post
I wouldn't touch the backup: no need. But, when you say "fully functional", does that mean iTunes is OK on the backup?
Another good point. I haven't actually tried running iTunes from the backup. I HAVE run diagnostic tools, email, and a few other things, all of which worked fine. I'll give it a try...

(Meanwhile, I am also attacking the problem from another front: I have just discovered Apple's support document on rebuilding your music library. [They could have made the process a lot easier!] Am in the process right now.)

Many thanks for your help.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-19-2007, 02:00 PM
dnanian's Avatar
dnanian dnanian is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Weston, MA
Posts: 14,923
Send a message via AIM to dnanian
OK. Let us know how things work out.
__________________
--Dave Nanian
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-25-2007, 04:19 PM
tintypes tintypes is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3
OK, I followed the plan, except that I installed a brand new system on the new drive and then used Migration Assistant to copy back everything (except System files) from my SD! clone.

So far (about 5 days), everything seems to be running OK. The biggest noticeable glitch was that the rebuilt iTunes Library lost track of quite few music tracks and podcasts. Turns out they're all in my Itunes Music folder, just not listed in the Library file; it's a pain, but all I need to do is drag and drop the "missing files" back into iTunes again and voila, they're listed again (right place, right info, etc). Knock on wood -- aside from this one issue, iTunes is behaving well again.

Thanks again for the assistance.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-25-2007, 07:35 PM
dnanian's Avatar
dnanian dnanian is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Weston, MA
Posts: 14,923
Send a message via AIM to dnanian
Glad it worked well for you!
__________________
--Dave Nanian
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Can't restore from sparse image when booting from install disc rdlsmith General 5 06-26-2006 07:43 PM
How to install Tiger on external firewire to restore from silentbliss General 3 05-24-2006 11:20 AM
Want to install Tiger framal General 1 06-29-2005 10:46 PM
Newbie needs advice for Tiger install prep mister fusspot General 3 06-21-2005 05:07 PM
What does SuperDuper! install? dnanian Frequently Asked Questions 0 04-01-2004 10:07 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.