[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >>> If you were installing a new operating system onto a 20 gig, would you >>> recommend doing a clean install of the highest OS possible. I know in >>> my >>> situation I started with a lower OS and upgraded it (7.6 or 8.1). >>> Appreciate >>> your comments. kw >
Put the most current OS in that lets you get the updates for where you want to stop ie. OS 8.1 to arrive at OS 8.6 or OS 9.0.4 to get to 9.2.2 or anything in between. If you have used OS 8 or 9 maybe the driver update will screw up the drive (if its not a newer installer and smart enough to check versions). I use Norton Disk Doctor to put sys in top form and Optimize with Speed Disk and Wipe Blank Space for the prep work. Do a clean install and then do the updates before you start it up. (Do it all at once from the CD as start-up disk-this means you need all the updates on you HD and unstuffed before you install.) Then to get all your software to function use Conflict Catcher to merge the two systems. They nust be the same OS version to merge-so update the old one all the way before you begin. When you merge do not take any files forward that already exist in the new OS and leave behind selected files for old software you cannot or will not use in the new system folder (prefs for old stuff you no longer use as well as extentions or pieces of code for things that you know will not work in the new OS.) Now use Disk Doctor again to make sure all is right then use Conflict Catcher to rebuild the desktop. This is a great way to learn about your OS (if all goes wrong use the CD to clear off the new sys and start again) and you do not need to partition or reinstall all your programs. Your prefs for appearance and photoshop will be in the new system as well as the registrations-really not painful. KEEP YOUR OLD SYS FILES for a while-that way if you missed merging something that an application requires you can dig it out and move it manually. It goes in the same place in the new as it was in the old as long as you did not rearrange your file hiarchey. Now for space considerations, in your old sys folder delete everything that is redundant or you definately know you don't need (if unsure about something keep it). That should give you some space to work again. And when you have sufficiently tested everything delete the entire old sys folder. Run Disk Doctor again and then Optimize the disk again to put your new sys folder at the edge of the HD again (because that's where the old one was before you deleted it). I have used this method many times and it has never failed me-and I did it on a 2 gig HD as well as a 20 gig. The only problem I ever had was from one disk to another-all the aliases point to the old disk and need updated one by one. IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER- Use the right version of Disk Doctor and Conflict Catcher for the end OS. Any ancient version or even too new a version can make real bad things happen. Also be sure to have the right version of all your software for the new OS. jj -- SuperMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | Service & Replacement Parts [EMAIL PROTECTED] | & CDRWs on Sale! | PowerON Computer Services <http://www.poweron.com> REPLACEMENT PARTS in STOCK Drives, CD-ROMs, RAM, Processors, Power Supply <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> SuperMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/supermacs/list.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/supermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
