I'm a relative Mac newbie (since mid Feb) and I'm trying to figure out what my options are for updating to Tiger

* I know that I can "upgrade" my 10.3.9 installation to Tiger. Retain all settings and possibly any "bugs". Always wary of this path, having being a Microsloth user for so long.

* Archive and Install - What is this exactly? Can someone give me a quick rundown? I understand that it's a clean install but it retains your old data somewhere?

* Format and reinstall - pretty clear.

* CCC Carbon Copy Cloner - I'm guess I can clone my current installation to a FW drive and keep that as a "hot" backup.


I've love to heard comments, especially around CCC and Archive and Install.

Well 100% for sure do the backup - it should be every day.

Whenever I upgrade OSes, I always like to do a clean install. It's pretty simple so long as you know what you are doing. I usually backup most of my home folder (documents, music, pictures) to a folder on my iPod. I also copy over any programs like MS Office, the iLife programs, etc. that can just be dragged and dropped back into the Apps folder after the install - this way saves having to dig up all the install cds, plus its faster copying it over from the iPod than installing them all over again.

Then, once OSX is installed, i just copy my old music, pictures and documents to my new home folder, and drag the apps back over. Then when you open iPhoto or iTunes for the first time, it doesn't even realize anything has changed and you can use them immediately - no going through the hassle of re-importing everything again.

There might be a program that does this for you, but its not that hard so I just do it myself anyway :)

If you have a .mac account, its even easier since you can sync all your bookmarks, adress book, etc once the install is completed.

Backup your stuff first.

I don't recommend simply doing the "upgrade" option, it's caused problems for people in the past.

Archive and Install (plus the "maintain user and network settings" setting) is the easiest, best way for most people to upgrade their OS. It was actually designed originally as a way to re-install the OS in case of catastrophic problems.

In a nutshell, it moves your existing OS X installation to an archive folder, then it does a completely new install. At the same time it doesn't touch your home folder, so you get a new OS with all your old settings and files.

So basically, it's like a compromise between clean install and upgrade.

Apple has a pretty good knowledge base article on how it works and how to use it:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120

AlidanSane- I don't know if dragging Apps from here to there is recommended. Aren't there files in your Application Support folder that also need to be copied over in certain situations? I always do reinstalls. can be time consuming, but it always works.

Thanks for the input.

AlidanSane- I don't know if dragging Apps from here to there is recommended. Aren't there files in your Application Support folder that also need to be copied over in certain situations? I always do reinstalls. can be time consuming, but it always works.

Nope, works in all but a few situations. The only App of mine that this doesn't work with is Photoshop, the rest, even Office 2004 work fine. The first time you run them on the new system, it rebuilds the neccessary support files itself, as do most Apps.

I had an iBook from 2+ years ago. I sold it (thanks ehMac!). I replaced it with a 12" PB. Before letting the iBook go, I connected the PB to the iBook, and the automated process just copied all my settings, home folder, etc. The PB now looks exaxtly as my iBook looked, which is great.

I was looking through the PB HD, and wonder whether I need the 'OS9 Applications folder', the 'OS9 Desktop folder' as well as the 'System folder from old mac'? Being a newish Mac user (2+ yr), I really don't need any OS9 applications. Should I just delete the folder (with backup to an external FW HD just in case)? Do I ever need to the ability to run OS9?

When installing, you open the options. I think it is the first screen showing your hard drive and you select archive and install. This is the best method, since it puts a clean system on, then puts all of your home folders and applications back where they are supposed to be. You don't need to reinstall anything or reformat. Doing that is completely unnecessary.

Two very nice albums AladianSane and Revolver. AladianSane is one of my favs as is Revolver.