Tjornelund

Q: re-installing applications after clean system re-install to SSD

I am just about to move my iMac setup over to new SSD based storage.

 

I am keen to do a clean install rather than migrating my existing set-ups as I want to take the opportunity to de-clutter data and go with a lean set of programs.

 

Would appreciate some feedback on the following questions before I start the process.

 

1. Given that I don't want to migrate my full structure Is there any way of using Time Machine to re-install selected applications or do I have to use original CD's to re-install the apps I want to keep going forwards.

 

2.  What is the best way of moving my email history over to the new system ?  I use Exchange Server at our head office so I believe that will re-build itself from scratch but I also have two private email mailboxes that I need to move over to the SSD.

 

3.  Where do I find all the licences that I hold for each product installed.  Are these visible anywhere and what is the best way of handling their move ?  I have products like, Adobe CS4, MS Office, Parallels.

 

4. I have backed up to a new usb drive plus Time machine backups on NAS drive and i might do one disk image as well before I start but what is the best way to start the process of system install after the SSD is installed.So far I have downloaded the yosemite installer to its' own partition on the USB drive.

 

Apologies for so many question but please feel free to help with individual sections if you can.

 

Many thanks

Posted on Oct 31, 2015 4:07 PM

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Q: re-installing applications after clean system re-install to SSD

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  • by MrHoffman,Helpful

    MrHoffman MrHoffman Nov 1, 2015 3:00 AM in response to Tjornelund
    Level 6 (15,612 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 1, 2015 3:00 AM in response to Tjornelund

    There are no easy answers here — beyond a standard upgrade or outside of what Migration Assistant can do — rebuilding from distros is a slog.

     

    Tjornelund wrote:

     

    1. Given that I don't want to migrate my full structure Is there any way of using Time Machine to re-install selected applications or do I have to use original CD's to re-install the apps I want to keep going forwards.

     

    There's no automated means, though you can drag out specific bundles.   Installers — products that aren't bundles, but have their own installation tools — are more of a problem.   But you probably want to get yourself new installers from the original vendors, anyway.   Maybe set copies of those aside, too.

     

    2.  What is the best way of moving my email history over to the new system ?  I use Exchange Server at our head office so I believe that will re-build itself from scratch but I also have two private email mailboxes that I need to move over to the SSD.

     

    If the mail messages are stored on the server, it'll be present after the reinstallation.   Otherwise, you'll want to dig into how the particular mail client you're using here works, and how it exports and imports messages.  Or — if you've got the quota on the Exchange Server — move all the mail back to the server temporarily.

     

    3.  Where do I find all the licences that I hold for each product installed.  Are these visible anywhere and what is the best way of handling their move ?  I have products like, Adobe CS4, MS Office, Parallels.

     

    For those packages that are not licensed via the Mac App Store, you're going to need to research each one separately.  Details vary by product and sometimes even by product version.

     

    4. I have backed up to a new usb drive plus Time machine backups on NAS drive and i might do one disk image as well before I start but what is the best way to start the process of system install after the SSD is installed.So far I have downloaded the yosemite installer to its' own partition on the USB drive.

     

    Build a bootable Yosemite installer, preferably on some other device.   (Partitions work great, until something gets hosed in the GPT or elsewhere — and everything can end up inaccessible.)