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General discussion

Backing up info

Sep 2, 2005 7:19AM PDT

I have a G4 AGP using OS 10.2.8; I`ve purchased 10.4 and want to back up info kept on the computer so that I do NOT have to reinstall all apps and so that I don`t lose all the emails I have on the drive.

When I used OS 9, I knew what to back up and burn to CD; you just dragged and dropped the volume/files onto Toast and you were set. When I tried this with OS 10 (shortly after I got this computer with 10.2 on it), there were a zillion files that I didn`t have the privileges to copy.

Last month I reinstalled OS 10.2.8 after being told I had corruption issues and managed to lose a LOT of stuff, including my recently updated address book. I DON`T want to have to do this again but would like to do a clean install of 10.4 and just return backed-up stuff as needed.

Help!

Discussion is locked

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Upgrade
Sep 2, 2005 9:22AM PDT

There should be no reason to backup all the files and apps on your machine when you upgrade to Tiger. An upgrade install, the default, will do all the work for you.
However, if you want to be really sure, you need to backup the following:
Your User Directory. This is located at Hard Drive/Users/YourName.
Copying the entire contents will save all the data and settings that you have created. You could also go for the Library located at Hard Drive/
This is NOT OS9 and there are also a zillion files that you cannot even see.
Who told you that you had corruption issues and how did you reinstall 10.2.8? I ask because it the OS is reinstalled correctly, all your data and settings are saved and put back where it should be.


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RE:Upgrade
Sep 3, 2005 7:03AM PDT

I did an "Archive and Install" (or whatever it`s called), only to find I still couldn`t start up in OS 9.2 AND all my mail/registration codes had disappeared (I never did find the code for QT 6.x)...I did find most of it in the Previous Systems folder but not all of it. I replaced the Library in the two places with the old ones, but then had all the old problems again (computer forgot settings, etc)...so I re-reinstalled 10.2.8 and just copied Netscape.

It didn`t remove any of the apps, but most of the preferences were gone, and I still haven`t gotten some things working right.

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Preferences
Sep 3, 2005 10:04AM PDT

Hmmm,
I couldn't see anywhere in your first post that said that you could not boot into OS 9.2
If the upgrade did not go as planned, you would have found everything in the Previous Systems/Users/Your Name.
Your mail is in there too.

Hope you get it back running soon

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RE:Preferences
Sep 5, 2005 3:33PM PDT

Is there any software to back up only the stuff that is non-OS?

I`ve tried twice to do as you suggested, only to get barely into the burn and have Toast tell me that it can`t find something and that I don`t have enough privileges...which means that I now have two shiny new coasters.... Is there a way to sign in as administrator, so that I DO have sufficient privileges?

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Admin Rights
Sep 5, 2005 9:46PM PDT

Your account should have Admin rights to it. Check the System Preferences/Accounts.
I'm not sure how we got back onto burning CD's, but you can use Retrospect, Express or Full, Apple make a Backup software package for .Mac account holders. There are a number of them out there. I'm not sure what you are trying to copy. I thought we were still on the Non-booting into OS 9 problem.
All your stuff from the "failed" Archive and Install" will be in the Previous Systems/Users folder.
What version of Toast are you using?
What OS are you on now?
If Tiger, did you update Toast?

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RE: Admin rights
Sep 16, 2005 8:03AM PDT

The CD burning issue came up when I was trying to back up the info on the volume with OS 10.2.8 on it; I also have apps there. I AM signed in as administrator but still can`t copy everything on the disk with drag and drop, using Toast 6.0.7. I have Retrospect for OS 9 only; it won`t work in Classic.

I`ve no idea why I can`t boot up in OS 9 but I can`t....even starting up with the Norton disk freezes up after the title screen before any icons show. I can occasionally get past that with using the option key and choosing the OS 9 startup but it never opens all the way but hangs up somewhere in the startup process (in different places, not consistent).

I`m about ready to reformat the whole thing but I have SO much stuff on the computer, including lots of legacy software.

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Strange
Sep 16, 2005 8:52AM PDT

I assume that 10.2.8 is the drive that you are booting from.
Backups of the Apps is not really a good idea as there are a number of applications that put stuff in different places and will not work correctly if they are just copied.
Take a look at the OS9 system folder. It should have a little "happy Mac" face on it. If it has, this signifies that it is a bootable disk. This machine can boot into OS 9. As you have found Classic is not quite OS 9 and a lot of programs will not run in it. Try setting the startup system, in System Preferences/Startupdisk, to the drive with the OS 9 system folder on it and then reboot. You may have to reset the logic board to convince this machine to startup correctly. Power down, open the side door, remove the power cord, remove the battery(inside a black coffin type thing) noting the polarity, press the power button on the front of the machine, then press the CUDA button (small metal square with a tiny pencil eraser button on the top) ONCE. Go have pie for 30 mins. Insert the battery, shut the door, insert power cord and fire it up. Cures a whole bunch of problems.
You must have some wonderful legacy software on that machine.

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