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All replies
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Helpful answers
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Oct 4, 2014 12:57 AM in response to NewbMacUserby K Shaffer,Were you able to create a complete backup of any of your created files
in addition to or in absence of a Time Machine or external Clone copy?
Though I've read through this thread a few times since its inception,
little traction appears to have occurred. Given the kinds of issues this
ASC site has exhibited the past few months, lack of some participation
is of little surprise in some instances...
If you have an externally enclosed, self-powered (own AC adapter) hard
disk drive such as fine examples shown at macsales site, you could use
CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (from either maker's sites) to see
about creating a backup Clone that should be able to boot the Mac.
When or if you should consider a system clone, read the info at CCC
(bombich software) on how to do it; or, shirtpocket site for SuperDuper.
With a clone, in healthy form where you have a working bootable duplicate
of the content of the computer on hand, you could just clone it back into
a totally erased & reformatted hard drive. Since you don't have one, you
may be able to make one of whatever exists in your Mac, then use the
built-in OS X utilities on the Recovery partition, to reinstall a new OS X
and then see what you can do with it. Later, you could see about how to
use the former system parts from a Clone (external HDD) in a new OS X.
Maybe through a migration assistant or other means.
At this point in time, since I do not run Mavericks and have most of my
system on backup external (FW+USB2.0) HDDs, & some on USB flash;
I can restore my computers without internet access. It is faster that way.
Perhaps one of the regulars with much more experience than me can
reply with some references or on-site methods to walk you through an
archive and restore kind of event.
Good luck & happy computing!
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Oct 4, 2014 1:02 AM in response to NewbMacUserby Csound1,NewbMacUser wrote:
Could someone please list for me each step I need to follow to complete this quickly?
Time for you to slow down before you make this worse.
Stage 1 will be to make a complete backup (clone or TM) post back when you have done that, you can't start until you do.
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Oct 10, 2014 12:04 AM in response to K Shafferby NewbMacUser,Thanks a lot for your reply!!!
I've already made a back-up of the entire Mac Mini HDD using an external USB HDD running Time Machine.
By re-installing Mavericks from a Time Machine external USB drive, how can I be sure that I don't copy over the problem I'm trying to solve to a freshly formatted HDD?
Please help!
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Oct 10, 2014 12:24 AM in response to Csound1by NewbMacUser,I've already made the backup to Time Machine on the external USB HDD.
What do I do from here? Where can I view the steps I need to take to re-install Mavericks?
How long will it take to re-install from the external USB HDD running Time Machine? My internet connection runs at 30Mbps.
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Oct 10, 2014 12:41 AM in response to NewbMacUserby NewbMacUser,I'm still trying to find a list of steps I need to follow to re-install Mavericks using the external USB HDD running Time Machine. I'm worried about re-installing Mavericks and still having my current 'spinning ball' issue!
Thanks!
Edit: I just wanted to clarify that there's nothing else I can try to resolve the current problem other than re-installing Mavericks?
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Oct 10, 2014 10:17 PM in response to NewbMacUserby NewbMacUser,Hey guys, I was really looking forward to doing a re-install of Mavericks today so I can resolve this issue, but because nobody replied I didn't know what to do...
I'm worried that I'll bring over the problem to the new install of Mavericks.
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Oct 11, 2014 12:39 AM in response to NewbMacUserby K Shaffer,OS X Mavericks: Reinstall OS X - Apple Support
support.apple.com › Apple Inc.Use the built-in recovery disk to reinstall OS X while keeping your files and ...to Mavericks OS X from Mavericks OS X Server? thanx OS X Mavericks (10.9.2) I ...OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X - Apple Support
support.apple.com › Apple Inc.Erase your Mac, then reinstall OS X using the built-in recovery disk. Before ...I have OS X , Version 10.9 and my templates are Pages '09 version 4.3. I looked in ...OS X Mavericks: Recover your entire system - Apple Support
support.apple.com › Apple Inc.If you've used Time Machine to back up your Mac, you can recover your system'scontents if your system or startup ... Topics for the OS X Mavericks 10.9 Troubles-hooting Exam (9L0-065) ... Explain the OS X Mavericks installation processes.{These three articles from support should be sufficient guides to use a backupto restore your user account info and files, since you should be able to restorethem by use of Time Machine, without any damages the old system may havehad, so issues in the old system would be gone if you erase and install OS Xfrom Recovery; the details are rather lengthy and sometimes defer to other linksor pages. Sorry that nobody so far has re-assessed these interrated problems oroffered a synopsis of the likely path in a single post; that over-view lacking, thethree Support topics should sufficice to Erase, Install and use Time Machine inthe process of Migration. Most of the sub-topics are searchable in OS X support.}Though I'd asked elsewhere for someone to look in and assist, perhaps they weretoo busy with other pressing concerns on and off-line...By having a complete bootable clone of the entire computer content (your files &the system) the content could be used in conjunction; but most of this requiresa learning curve before a problem exists, to make the clone on suitable hardwareand also learn how to use it to troubleshoot issues, and boot the Mac from it; asthis can save considerable headache. And trying to figure out a path after failureof a system without any help to resolve these tediuous problems.If there is an Apple Store with Genius bar, you could contact them to ask aboutsetting an Appointment with a specialist who could help you use the Time machinebackup, and any system software outside the computer. They may, or may not beable to personally help you to the extent required to alleviate your concerns.An all new installation, erasing the computer, but remembering all the correctaccount and passwords for your Backup copy, so you can access the Useraccount when it is migrated into the new OS X, are just so many more details.This may be, of the three links above, most helpful:There was time I could probably have written a booklet on how to do this stuff;however you may need to invest in a published book such as The Missing Manual:Mavericks Edition to have an in-print guide that does not rely on the internet...Good luck in this matter!edited 2x -- in attempt to fix format text errors
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Oct 11, 2014 1:04 AM in response to NewbMacUserby K Shaffer,Here's another link to some fair ideas, they may or may not be in
context to be helpful at whatever steps of a process you may be:
•Apple OS X and Time Machine Tips:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
The above post had issues (as I see it, or maybe an issue exists
in the ASC site in rendering what I see here?) so I had to post
this as a separate item; and tried to fix errors in the earlier one.
Good luck & happy computing!
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Oct 11, 2014 3:36 AM in response to K Shafferby NewbMacUser,Thank you so much!!!
I'm about to go to bed, but I'm planning on doing the OSX Mavericks re-install tomorrow morning as soon as I wake up.
Does anyone else have any tips I need to think about before I do the re-install? This Mac Mini is my main machine.
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Oct 11, 2014 4:15 AM in response to NewbMacUserby NewbMacUser,As the Mac Mini is my main machine, are there any other pre-cautions I need to worry about?
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Oct 11, 2014 11:31 AM in response to NewbMacUserby K Shaffer,★HelpfulOther than the forward-thinking of being able to revert (go back) by having a copy/clone
of the complete content of the computer, before attempting to change it, as mentioned
a few times (to external drive unit capable of running a computer from the clone) there
really isn't much else to say...
There always is a chance things can work out OK, but prevention is something you get
ready for, to fall back on, when or if the main event doesn't happen as planned...
To Hope for the Best, and Plan for the Worst, has been a time proven suggestion.
Good luck & happy computing!
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Oct 11, 2014 8:51 PM in response to K Shafferby NewbMacUser,Thank you!
I've got Time Machine running on a 1TB external USB drive and I just ran it again so everything from my Mac Mini is on there.
I'd like to erase the Mac Mini's HDD and then re-install Mavericks and then restore all of my current OSX preferences and files from the Time Machine backup I created. If I do this, I won't be "re-installing my current spinning-beachball issue", correct?
Here it says that I need to be connected to the internet to re-install Mavericks. I'd rather not expose my system to the internet and a potential virus if it isn't running OSX. Is it possible for me to re-install Mavericks from a USB key? OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X
Thanks again!
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Oct 11, 2014 11:58 PM in response to NewbMacUserby K Shaffer,If you already have a bootable USB key that someone created, then it could be used
instead of the download from Apple server of Mavericks. The process to Create a Key
is detailed and requires the use of Command-line or Terminal, so is not for novice use.
Information in general terms about that, is given in overview in this Support article:
•Creating a bootable OS X installer in OS X Mavericks
There is little chance of getting a virus from the Apple download servers when you get
the Mavericks download, they have secure internet access. However to not take excess
hours of time, you should use an Ethernet cable instead of wi-fi, because it's much Faster
to get downloads by wire. The Network control panel allows fairly adequate setup of the
internet to Ethernet, from AirPort. Then Ethernet cable is much faster and more reliable.
So are the end results. With an all-new installation, even if you migrate your user acct
from the backup, should not be the cause of the 'spinning color wheel' to return.
Here is some more helpful information about Installer:
•OS X Mavericks: Installer Help
There are a few topics here, some may be directly applicable and others perhaps not.
Other items that may be helpful to know, in these articles about:
•Isolating issues in Mac OS X - helps in troubleshooting, etc.
•Using Apple Diagnostics - this also covers using recovery, etc.
Hopefully you can be confident even if some difficulties occur in your initial attempt.
Sorry to not see your post until later, the time here is about 11PM...
Good luck & happy computing!
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Oct 12, 2014 1:59 AM in response to K Shafferby NewbMacUser,Thank you so much for your post!
I have access to a Windows PC here so I can run the 'Apple Diagnostics' while I'm still online via the Windows PC.
My internet is 30Mbps, but I'm guessing a re-install of Mavericks would still take more than 2 hours?