export in keychain
How can i export all my keychain items?
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
Export to what, for what purpose? You can't export them all at once; you'd have to select each one and export them individually.
7 replies
I'd like to format my disk and make a fresh install of leopard, but i'd like to keep all my keychain passwords, i mean, copy them back after the fresh install.
But even if i try to export them individuallt how do i do that? the option to export in file menu keeps showing up in grey as in unselectable.
I've done this before i think i did it already (all at once) but i can't remember how
But even if i try to export them individuallt how do i do that? the option to export in file menu keeps showing up in grey as in unselectable.
I've done this before i think i did it already (all at once) but i can't remember how
You don't have to Erase and Install Leopard; you can just do an Archive & Install, with the Preserve Users and Network Settings option, which will replace the OS only, leaving all your programs and settings untouched. If you do that, read this first:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1545
Otherwise, you don't need to export your Keychain items; they are stored in Home/Library/Keychains, so if you copy that folder, along with com.apple.keychainaccess.plist from Home/Library/Preferences, you can just copy them back to the same locations after your Erase & Install is completely finished.
Otherwise, you don't need to export your Keychain items; they are stored in Home/Library/Keychains, so if you copy that folder, along with com.apple.keychainaccess.plist from Home/Library/Preferences, you can just copy them back to the same locations after your Erase & Install is completely finished.
thanks. I think i prefer erase and install so i can manually install the apps since i don't want them all back and by this way clean all the preferences.
BTW: adress book, export/import, right? mail: archive mailbox them import mailbox, right? Itunes: copy of the itunes folder and then put it back in same location, right?
BTW: adress book, export/import, right? mail: archive mailbox them import mailbox, right? Itunes: copy of the itunes folder and then put it back in same location, right?
BTW: adress book, export/import, right?
Export all your contacts as a single vCard file (get the com.apple.addressbook.plist file, too), then drop it onto the open Address Book after the reinstall.
Mail depends on what kind of accounts you have: POP or IMAP (or both). Generally, archive the mailbox(es) and then import them after all the updates for 10.5 are installed.
iTunes: definitely copy the whole iTunes folder, and the com.apple.itunes.plist file, then copy them back to the same locations after everything is updated.
Thank you. You've been very helpfull.
Anything else you think i must be aware of?
Anything else you think i must be aware of?
Generally speaking, you should protect yourself against the worst case scenario and have a bootable backup of your hard drive kept on an external hard drive. You can use software such as
SuperDuper or
Carbon Copy Cloner for this.
That way, if your HD dies unexpectedly (it will, at the worst possible time), or a system update fails to work properly, you can restore to your previous working system using the backup. Always keep your backup up-to-date, otherwise there's no point in having one.
That way, if your HD dies unexpectedly (it will, at the worst possible time), or a system update fails to work properly, you can restore to your previous working system using the backup. Always keep your backup up-to-date, otherwise there's no point in having one.
export in keychain