will "erase and install" erase partitions?

[claire_elis]

hello smart people

I have a silly simple question, and I did a search for an answer to no clear avail - so, just for clarity's sake:

I want to install 10.4 on a machine currently running 10.2.8: system and apps on one partition, personal files on another.

If I do an "erase and install", will it only erase the partition im installing to, and leave my other partition intact??

Id love to backup everything, but last time I did that with my measly cd-r drive, it took ALL DAY. *sigh* maybe my next big purchase should be an ext. hardrive....

 

[eric2006]

No, it will just erase the partition that OS X is installed on.

 

[claire_elis]

thank you!!!

 

[fryke]

And yes, you should _definitely_ get an external harddrive. Backups (regularly!) are very important. At least you will agree once all your files are gone forever.