Help w/ Reinstalling OSX and Keep Existing App's

C

chriscool

Registered
High there I bought a used G5 dual processor because my single core 1.8Ghz could barely handle anything I threw at it. The dual core I bought gives me a kernal panic every time I try to download anything from the internet. Major Problem!! I know. I have tried different things to fix this issue but with no luck. The next thing I would like to try is to reinstall the operating system.

The computer came with OSX 10.5.7 on it. I own leopard that I used on my older single core Mac so I plan to install from this disk. My question is how can I keep all of the applications that I currently have when I do the install? The computer I bought came with a lot great apps that I don't want to lose. That's part of the reason why I bought the computer to begin with.

I will note that I do not have the disks or the serial numbers for the app's because they were already installed on the computer when I purchased it. The main one I want to keep is Final Cut Pro, which the serial number is displayed when launching the software.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
why not try updating the system to 10.5.8, download the combo updater, run it and see if it cleans things up for you.

Other then that the install you would want is called "Archive and Install",
look for this under Options when you boot your install DVD.
This will install a new system but it keeps all the old in a folder called "Previous system".
Once you've cherry picked all the goodies from this folder it can be deleted.
 
It's difficult to download things since I get a kernal panic when ever I do, but I have another computer to make downloads. I'll try this and see if it works. So with this "Previous System" folder, will I just be copying and pasting the existing applications folder onto the new one and so forth? When I launch my existing applications will they ask for a serial number?
 
No, the previous system folder will not (should not) have your own stuff. It will only be a copy of the OS X system files that are replaced by the "archived and installed" system. There should not be anything to find that is not already on your newly installed system. You check in the current Applications folder to see that your apps remain there. But, you then double-check (in the Previous Systems folder) in a few nice folders, such as the Users folder, and the Applications folder. If you don't see anything that is not already replaced, and you have tested some of your apps to see that they still actually work, then you can safely trash that Previous Systems folder. You should do that, because it will still be taking up several GB of space on your hard drive. Be sure to empty the trash, too.
BTW, you always run some risk if you have a bunch of pro-level apps that you don't own, and that you can't reinstall. The archive and install option is usually pretty safe, but if things do go wrong, you will be sadly disappointed.
Yes, you can download that combined updater, that barley linked you to, on another computer, then just copy or run it on your G5.
 
Is the disk you are planning to use grey in color or black(purplish) the Grey disk are machine Specific the dark disk are what you want to use....
Good luck : )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top