Time Machine in Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) will allow easy system downgrades
One of the best troubleshooting routines will be much easier under Leopard.
Perhaps the most used and useful guide in our tutorial library details the process for reverting to an earlier version of Mac OS X by means of reinstalling the system. Generally the process requires recording salient user data, starting up from a Mac OS X install disc, performing an archive and install, recreating users, migrating data, then bringing your system back to the desired state (prior to a problematic update, for instance). This is the best process for quickly eliminating any issues introduced by an incremental Mac OS X release.
With the advent of Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), if you have access to a properly sized external disk, reverting to prior system states will become significantly more convenient.
The process apparently works like this:
- Insert the Leopard DVD
- Launch the Install Mac OS X application
- Choose an option to restore the system from a backup
- Choose the Time Machine volume to which your system has been fully backed up
- Choose a backup (the most recent or earlier, depending on when your problem occurred)
Once you've again booted from your normal startup drive, you can use Time Machine app to rebuild certain components of your system -- including other applications.
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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