Just to add/expand on the information provided in the Apple Support document scb linked to:
It would be best to back up at least all your Home folder and the Home of any other Users. You can drag and drop the Home folder to backup. If you want to restore all, drag the folders from
within Home (i.e. Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, etc.) and overwrite the corresponding folders in the new system) But it's better to re-introduce as few preferences as possible if you don't know where the problem was.
Also, if you have a firewire hard drive you can backup your whole system to that and use the migration feature when you set up the new system. This could save you many steps.
Here is a list of where your important data is stored
("~" stands for "Home"):
Your data in ~/Documents
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iCal(copy the whole folder)
Also in ~/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need)
~ /Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist *
This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.
~ /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/Safari (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iMovie (copy the whole folder)
~/Pictures/iPhoto library
~/Music/iTunes
~/Movies/iMovie
If you want cookies:
~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
~/Library/Application Support/Webfoundation/HTTPcookies.plist
For Entourage users:
Entourage is in Documents/Microsoft user data
Also in ~ /Library/Preferences/Microsoft
internet explorer favorites are in ~/Library/Preferences/Explorer/favorites.html
-mj
macjack@gmail.com
Message was edited by: macjack
