Performing an Archive and Install.

Filed under Software

First of all what is an Archive and Install? An Archive and Install is a great tool for resolving most software issues whilst keeping all your data and settings intact. Essentially the Operating System ie Leopard, Snow Leopard gets deleted and then re-installed. However before this happens all of your data including photos, musics and documents, everything gets copied and stored safely.

The only thing your need to perform an Archive and Install is either your original install discs which would have come with your mac in the box when your purchased it. This is what it will look like.

If however you have since upgraded your version of OSX you will want to use any purchased install disks. So if when you bought your machine you had Tiger (10.4) and later on your bought Leopard (10.5) you will want to use the Leopard (10.5) disk to perform the archive and Install. A retail copy of Leopard will look like this.

So lets get started and Archive and Install a machine. If your machine is already on then insert your install disk and restart your mac, when your mac restarts and chimes its time to hold down the ‘C’ key. Keep this button pressed for 25 seconds. If your machine is off then you can place the disk into disk drive whilst pressing the power button. The disk should get sucked in to your mac and you can press the ‘C’ key straight away.

Holding down the ‘C’ key will tell your mac to boot from the install disk and not your Hard Drive. In this example I will be using a leopard disk to perform an Archive and Install. If your using a different version of OSX do not worry as they are all very similar.

This is the first screen you should see, simply choose you language.

Now hit continue.

You need to read and agree to the End User License Agreement.

Select your boot hard drive and then click ‘options’ on the bottom left of window.

Confirm ‘Archive and Install’ is ticked and click on ‘ok’

Now click ‘continue’

And finally click ‘Install’

Once the Archive and Install has completed you should be able to log back into your Mac. It is important at this stage to perform any software updates your Mac should require. Click here for instructions on how to software update your Mac.

 

 

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Published on February 15, 2010 | Author: Ben Brotherton | Last updated on April 12, 2010