Well, Panther is coming October 24th. It should be a good upgrade, but I think I'm going to wait a while before I nab it. It's not cheap ($129) and I don't really need it right now.
My only concern is that my Powerbook, now one and a half years old, is starting to show its age. It runs fast enough, but the usual quirky things that happen to computers are starting to appear more frequently. So, I think I'm going to do a clean install when I do finally get Panther.
This is the part where I ask for your input. Will I have to reinstall all of the programs that came with my Powerbook (GraphicConverter, OmniOutliner, etc.)? That is something that is keeping me from doing a clean install, even though I think my computer could use a fresh start. Then my general question is whether or not any of you have tips or advice on doing a clean install of a Mac operating system. So, give me all your knowledge.
10/08/03 10:29 PM
Your PowerBook came with a software restore CD or a single DVD that has the restore application. Just run it after you install Panther and it will install all the applications that came with your computer in one step, including Classic/OS 9.
The advice I would give you is to take the time to do it right. Back up your files and restore them in one step, but reinstall applications from original CDs/download wherever possible. Yes, you'll have to take more time in resetting preferences/serial numbers but in the long run it's worth it (IMO). You aren't taking the chance of introducing old problems in to the new system.
10/09/03 6:30 PM
1. buy external drive
2. copy everything important to said drive
2.b) if it's a firewire, this should be quite rapid
3. format main computer
4. reinstall and move things back to where they were
5. repeat approximately every 4-5 months if you're me and the damn thing dies about that often.
6. buy new internal drive, thereby circumventing number 5.