Installing without a back up

C

cory1848

Registered
I would like to get Panther to install on my G4 Dual 867 but I do not have another harddrive to back things up too, nor can I run out and buy one. Can I just buy Panther and install it without having a full image backup? Also, with backing up, can someone define backup? I have over 30 gigs of data on my machine now. Thats a lot of CDs (no DVD burner) am I able to do this without buying a firewire drive? Or can I just back up my apps and data and not worry about the system backup? Any input appreciated.
Cory
 
Hey Cory and welcome to the forum.
It depands very much what you would like to be backed up or saved. If you have just some files like videos, pics, musics or documents, you won't need to backup your whole system. If you want to save some adjustments for apps it might be more complicated. Mostly you won't lose any data when you upgrade a system. You didn't mention what you are running now. I guess some 10.2.x macosx version. If so, you can actually update your system to panther. But lot of ppl got some problems after this. Many will suggest you to make a fresh install (erase the disc and install panther). My suggestion: check out which files you should really save. Most of the programms you might have on CDs or you downloaded as Freeware or Shareware. These you won't need to backup. Also the system folder. Maybe this way you won't need to backup 30gb but maybe just 10 or so. Then you can use CDs. And once you have your essential data you should split your disc into two partitions so you will never face this problem again. ;)
Any questions? Ask!
Btw, there is no way to ask a friend to help you out with a disc? A laptop plugged over the lan could do as well...
 
Consider buying a Lacie firewire drive for backing up. They are really inexpensive. It would give you something to use for future back-ups also. I use one to backup my entire drive including the system once a week.
 
Thanks a lot, really all my data I could burn to CDs, I just hate going through the hassel of reinstalling all the apps and such. I am running system 10.2.8, have never had a problem upgrading systems but I am hearing horror stories. I would like to get a external drive but am strapped for cash. Would it be possible to buy an additional internal drive and load panther on it and just use that as my start up? then gradually transfering files over? That way I could test it out and still have my complete 10.2.8 system ready to go on the original drive if something happened? Can you tell me any pros and cons to this or if its even possible? Also, once I install panther...does the install retain classic? I still need classic but want it running with panther without upgrading, just clean installing. Thanks for the input guys....
 
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