How to Reinstall OSX
There are several reasons to reinstall a computer's operating system. The system may have encountered a critical system crash from which it cannot recover. You can also reinstall Mac OSX if your computer is being sluggish or buggy. The process is simple and solves many computer problems but may result in a loss of data. Make sure you have a current backup before reinstalling the operating system. There are two methods of reinstalling Mac OSX, "Archive and Install" and "Erase and Install," each of which has pros and cons.
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Launching the Installer
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If your system is still usable, you can insert the Mac OSX Installation CD, double-click on its icon on the desktop, and launch the installer. You will be prompted for an administrator password, and the system will restart into the installer.
If your system has crashed and will not boot, you can insert the Mac OSX Installation CD, restart the computer, and hold the "C" key after hearing the boot chime. The system will then launch the installer from the CD.
Erase and Install
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The "Erase and Install" option erases all data from the hard drive and installs the operating system from a clean slate. Remember that any data that is not on your most recent backup will be lost, including all installed applications and their settings. Your computer will seem as if it just came out of its box.
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Archive and Install
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Unlike the "Erase and Install" option, "Archive and Install" preserves all your applications, documents, music, video and other files. The core operating system files and basic settings are overwritten with their original versions. It reinstalls the operating system while leaving all other files intact. Your original settings are transferred to a "Previous System" folder that can be used to restore previous settings or can be deleted to restore hard drive space.
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References
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