How to Preserve Application - Erase & Install

[curos]

I want to do an Erase and Install on my mac, but have a few applications for which I no longer have the cd for. The only programs I worry about is Office 2004 and iPhoto. Can I just drag the Office folder and iPhoto to an external hd and drag it back after the install? What is the correct/preferred way of doing this?

 

[ora]

That shoudl work with both of them i think. Office installs as just a folder, and creates other files automatically, and iPhoto is a proper .app where all the support files are in the package. that said, if you have a friend with a mac, it might be worth checking on their machine first.

That said, you do _have_ to have paid for the apps for this to be legal.

 

[sinclair_tm]

iphoto ( v2 i think ) reinstalls with os x. so unless you have a newer version, there's no need to worry. you can allways archive and install, which just does the os and leaves the users and apps alone.

 

[Giaguara]

If it's a 10.4 install, it does not have any iApps except iTunes installed.
iPhoto and MS office both have actually a separate installer that installs the program, so it's more than just dragging the files to work.

 

[DeltaMac]

Also, on a clean install, MS Office will need the license code before you can use it.