Hello,
I want my iMac to run brand new. I am going to put all my data (pictures, movies, documents, etc.) on a separate external drive. I just need a safe secure guide on how to reimage, or restore my Mac. My iMac is programmed with Snow Leopard (10.6) and I need it to run faster. Thanks!
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Want to Reimage and run brand new
Do you have your install disks?
And, how much memory (RAM) do you have installed (click on the Apple, then about this Mac, and then more info - you'll find it under Memory.
Also, how much free space do you have left on your hard drive? Highlight your hard drive icon and hold the Command key while clicking on 'i' - post the results with "capacity", and "available".
Yes, I still have my install discs.
I have 1 GB RAM Left
Capacity- 319.73 GB
Available- 216.21 GB
I once tried to install OS Lion (via the Mac App Store) and it wouldnt let me because there wasnt enough free space available. I am thinking about upgrading again, once i have restored my Mac and backed everything up.
I do have a few questions how ever....
1) Will I still be able to install OS Snow Leopard (again) even though I have used the Single Pack already?
2) I installed Microsoft Office on my iMac. I only bought the family pack and have used it twice: (once on my iMac and my other MacBook. I am still going to need the 3rd (and last) for my sister's MacBook when she gets it for college. I don't want to install it on my iMac again and risk getting the third one taken away and i wont be able to use it on that MacBook?
Thanks
Backing up your (pictures, movies, doc's, etc.) to an External Hard Drive is a good idea, however it is not a good idea to have them only on one drive Internal or External. If you what to keep your data safe and remove it from your Internal Hard Drive, then you really should have a second External Hard Drive to back up the first.
For moving iPhoto, iMovie and iTunes to an External HD, see the following links:
iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location
iMovie '11: Copy or move a project to an external hard disk
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder
Doc's and other files can be copied or dragged and dropped onto your External Hard Drive(s).
Alternately if your Internal HD is getting full as balboa suggest, then you may only need to move Movies or iTunes to an External HD to free up some space and get your iMac back up to speed.
To Erase and Install see > Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install
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Message was edited by: den.thed
You need to upgrade your RAM to 2GB or more for your given usage even in Snow Leopard.
Plus, Lion needs a minimum of 2GB and 4GB is better for even a lite user.
Before doing a reinstall, I'd suggest that you get more RAM - 1 GB is not enough today. But, we need to know your model exactly so you can get the right RAM - so click on the Apple again until you get to the System report and under first heading "hardware", what does it say next to the model name and identifier? something like iMac 9,1 or 8,2?
And, your #1: yes, you can reinstall Snow leopard as long as you use the install CDs that came with your Mac on that same Mac as often as you need to reinstall.
Your #2: I have never run Windows, so I can't help at all there.
If I just erase and install snow leopard, it could run faster if i delete the movies and tv shows on my imac. Will this delete my pictures?
And my iMac didnt come with snow leopard, i bought it. Can i still redownload it even though it is a single pack and have already used it? Is it necessary to get more memory?
If you erase your hard disk, you will lose everything on it.
And, even if you erase and get rid of movies, etc., which really does not appear to be necessary - you are only using about 33% of your hard drive capacity - you still only have 1 GB RAM installed. Nothing will change that unless you install more RAM.
If you bought Snow Leopard, then you have the disk? You can't download Snow Leopard.
balboa
😁 😕 😁
babowa is spot on, see the edit in my first post.
Your iMac is slow because it needs more RAM not a fresh install, plus you can not upgrade to Lion for the same reason.
The lack of RAM.
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Sorry Barb, didn't mean to barge in
😊 sorry
No need to be sorry - it was funny! And you're not barging in - perfectly fine to add to the discussion!
😍
Reimage Mac
