Reinstall Snow Leopard (Without losing files!)

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Level 1

1 points

Reinstall Snow Leopard (Without losing files!)

Hi!

So I've been having problems with my Mac:Messenger, (not being able to sign in) and after doing literally everything in attempt to get the program working again, I've decided to reinstall my OS. I've completely removed the Mac:Messenger sereval times, cleared the application cache, etc, and nothing works.

So how do I reinstall Snow Leopard OS? Note: I do NOT was to lose any files (documents/applications/music/movies etc), I just simply want to reinstall the OS.

I've tried running the Snow Leopard disk, however I cannot find any option to save files/not delete files, so I didn't proceed any further.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Aluminum MacBook 13", Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Jan 27, 2010 4:23 AM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Jan 27, 2010 6:11 AM in response to TennisDavid

standard snow leopard install will preserve all files and applications. that's why you didn't find any options in the installer. there aren't any.
But this does not mean you are safe. you should definitely do a *full backup*. any system install can easily go wrong. you should back up at all times but it's doubly important when installing an OS.

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Answer 2

TennisDavid Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 27, 2010 8:11 AM in response to V.K.

Ok cool!

So I can simply insert the disk into my Snow Leopard Macbook, press install, and it'll just reinstall Snow Leopard without touching my personal files.

Awesome.

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Answer 3

Jan 27, 2010 10:37 AM in response to TennisDavid

Hi TennisDavid;

Yes, you can do that.

It is supposed to work that way.

Sometime things go wrong and it doesn't.

That is when you need that backup that you did first.

So far haven't need it but I still do it just in case. It gives me warm fuzzy feeling.

Allan

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Answer 4

TennisDavid Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 27, 2010 1:42 PM in response to Allan Eckert

Thank you very much.

I am backing up the computer now, via Time Machine, however it's taking a LONG time, 40GB more to go.. What's the average backup time per 100GB?

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Answer 5

Jan 27, 2010 2:21 PM in response to TennisDavid

Hi TennisDavid;

I never time my Time Machine backups so I have no idea. If you ask over on the Time Machine forum someone over there might know.

Personally for upgrade I always use the clone method. The reason for this is the recovery if necessary is so much faster then TM.

My backup plan is to do weekly clones that are bootable and also TM. If necessary, I would use the clone to recover my system and TM to restore hosed or lost files.

Allan

Message was edited by: Allan Eckert

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Answer 6

TennisDavid Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 27, 2010 4:14 PM in response to Allan Eckert

Ah okay cool.

Anyway, there's 9GB left to backup.

Then I'll start the reinstallation of Snow Leopard.

Thanks for all the help!

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