Time for a reformat

smknSRT8 · 11-09-2008, 01:13 PM

My computer has been a little wierd lately so I think I am going to reformat my computer. Any tips.
I already ran time machine and backed everything up. I am not going to restore from backup, just start over then transfer the files over. What about applications that I paid for but may not have the CD or the activation code?

Saverino · 11-09-2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

My computer has been a little wierd lately so I think I am going to reformat my computer. Any tips.
I already ran time machine and backed everything up. I am not going to restore from backup, just start over then transfer the files over. What about applications that I paid for but may not have the CD or the activation code?

I think those would pretty much be gone... It happened to me when I had to reformat my MacBook.

smknSRT8 · 11-09-2008, 01:19 PM

Damn that is what I was afraid of. I have CS3 but I don't have the discs for them. I will just have to put CS3 on hold for a while I guess. Do I just pop the disc in and go through the steps?

Saverino · 11-09-2008, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

Damn that is what I was afraid of. I have CS3 but I don't have the discs for them. I will just have to put CS3 on hold for a while I guess. Do I just pop the disc in and go through the steps?

If I remember correctly, if you just insert the discs, it'll re-install and everything, but all your info will still be there.

I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me maybe ?2 years ago on my iMac...

smknSRT8 · 11-09-2008, 03:19 PM

Isn't it better to completely start fresh and not reinstall, rather just wipe everything clean and re-download everything etc. Basically getting rid of the unnecessary files.

Saverino · 11-09-2008, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

Isn't it better to completely start fresh and not reinstall, rather just wipe everything clean and re-download everything etc. Basically getting rid of the unnecessary files.

IMO, yes. I actually want to do this with my MacBook. Its giving me tons of problems...

smknSRT8 · 11-09-2008, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Saverino

IMO, yes. I actually want to do this with my MacBook. Its giving me tons of problems...

After I do a time machine backup, can I still access my contacts and calender information? Or since it is synced up with my phone, the first time I sync my phone to my computer it will just sync everything?
I was going to do it in the background of me studying but I don't want to lose anything important so I am going to way this this week to do it.

Saverino · 11-09-2008, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

After I do a time machine backup, can I still access my contacts and calender information? Or since it is synced up with my phone, the first time I sync my phone to my computer it will just sync everything?
I was going to do it in the background of me studying but I don't want to lose anything important so I am going to way this this week to do it.

That, I honestly can't tell you. I don't want to tell you the wrong thing and end up having you lose all your info.

Lets let someone else chime in on that...

acosmichippo · 11-09-2008, 03:59 PM

ok, lotta questions here... let me do one-by-one...

acosmichippo · 11-09-2008, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

My computer has been a little wierd lately so I think I am going to reformat my computer. Any tips.
I already ran time machine and backed everything up. I am not going to restore from backup, just start over then transfer the files over. What about applications that I paid for but may not have the CD or the activation code?

I'm sure you can find the activation code in the software on your computer... usually in the "about [software]" option in help.

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

Damn that is what I was afraid of. I have CS3 but I don't have the discs for them. I will just have to put CS3 on hold for a while I guess. Do I just pop the disc in and go through the steps?

yeah, but when you boot to the restore disc, you will have to open "disk utility" to reformat your hard disk... otherwise, it will do a non-destructive restore (saves all of your apps, data and settings).

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

Isn't it better to completely start fresh and not reinstall, rather just wipe everything clean and re-download everything etc. Basically getting rid of the unnecessary files.

if you want to be absolutely sure, yes. It's very possible restoring from a backup could solve many of your problems... hard to say. For instance, if there are corrupt system files, or if your hard disk is very fragmented... those problems would get fixed by restoring from a backup.

Originally Posted by smknSRT8

After I do a time machine backup, can I still access my contacts and calender information? Or since it is synced up with my phone, the first time I sync my phone to my computer it will just sync everything?
I was going to do it in the background of me studying but I don't want to lose anything important so I am going to way this this week to do it.

I'm not sure what your first question means...

But the first time you sync your iphone, iTunes will ask you if you want to "merge" the contact and calendar data, and this will load all of that stuff from your phone back to your macbook.