How to install Lion again without losing programs and data ?

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Level 2

350 points

How to install Lion again without losing programs and data ?

On my MBP 17 (2011) I run Lion. Since a week or so I have got this weird sound problem, which is already described in this forum: After booting sometimes there is no sound hardware in System Preferences. When I reboot the sound hardware is found sometimes, sometimes not. I tried all solutions offered in various threads, like safe boot, resetting PRAM, SMC, Audio-Midi Setup etc. and no, there is no red light in the headphone jacket. But no success.

I'm still convinced it is a software problem with Lion. I bought the MBP 6 weeks ago.

Now I think it's a good idea to re-install Lion. But I don't want to lose my settings, programs, documents and data. My question is, how can I do this. I have a DVD with Lion on it available.

Thanks for your help.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Sep 8, 2011 7:24 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Sep 8, 2011 7:29 AM in response to ecpa

1) Backup to Time Machine or Clone

2) Boot into Recovery (Hold ⌘R on boot)

3) Select Reinstall OS X

To do a 'clean-install:

1) Backup to Time Machine or Clone

2) Boot into Recovery (Hold ⌘R on boot)

3) Select Disk Utility

4) Highlight your Macintosh HD

5) Click Erase

6) Quit Disk Utiltiy

7) Select Reinstall OS X

8) When prompted, transfer data from a Time Machine or other disk

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