Reformat Internal Drive

mreese88 · mreese88 #1 (**permalink**)

01-14-2011, 01:21 PM

I've been using my Mac mini for about a year and now need to partition my drive so I can add Windows. I get the message that there are files that can't be moved so use Disk Utilities to reformat the disc after backing up everything. Then add files back and try again.

Do I need to install OS after refomatting or can I just copy the back up files to the reformatted disc?

Any other things I need to be aware of?

Thanks

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

01-14-2011, 02:48 PM

Actually you have two choices to resolve that problem.

1. Use a defrag program: iDefrag $29.95.

2. Erase the hard drive, reinstall Snow Leopard, restore from Time Machine. Snow Leopard automatically does an archive and install reinstallation so you will lose nothing. (provided you have a good TM backup)

mreese88 · mreese88 #3 (**permalink**)

01-14-2011, 03:32 PM

Will Disc Warrior do the same thing as iDefrag?

Also I have Leopard not Snow Leopard.

chscag · chscag #4 (**permalink**)

01-14-2011, 10:05 PM

I'm not sure whether DW can defragment a hard drive. I know it's a great utility for repairing and recovering damaged hard drives but I haven't seen anything mentioned about it being able to defrag. You'll have to ask Alsoft about that.

Same directions about reinstalling Snow Leopard apply for Leopard. The only difference is with Leopard you will have to specify an Archive and Reinstall as it will not do it automatically like Snow Leopard.

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #5 (**permalink**)

01-16-2011, 11:46 PM

i had that happen to me, and booting into safe mode first avoided the problem. i dont know if thats the "right" way to do it but it worked for me.

MACyMouse · MACyMouse #6 (**permalink**)

01-17-2011, 01:53 AM

I want to do a fresh clean install of Snow Leopard - and fresh installs of all my apps. I want to wipe my drive entirely of all the junk that's accumulated over 5 years.

I originally got my MBP with Tiger on it and bought upgrade OS's... can I do a fresh clean install of Snow Leopard with the disk I bought from Apple or do I need to start from scratch with Tiger?

All I have for backups are just "copies" of my photos/music/movies etc... I don't want to do a whole system back up. I want a clean "new" OS with a wiped drive.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #7 (**permalink**)

01-17-2011, 04:00 PM

Simple. Try it from the SL disc and see.

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,974 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	01-14-2011, 02:48 PM Actually you have two choices to resolve that problem. 1. Use a defrag program: iDefrag $29.95. 2. Erase the hard drive, reinstall Snow Leopard, restore from Time Machine. Snow Leopard automatically does an archive and install reinstallation so you will lose nothing. (provided you have a good TM backup) Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,974 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	01-14-2011, 10:05 PM I'm not sure whether DW can defragment a hard drive. I know it's a great utility for repairing and recovering damaged hard drives but I haven't seen anything mentioned about it being able to defrag. You'll have to ask Alsoft about that. Same directions about reinstalling Snow Leopard apply for Leopard. The only difference is with Leopard you will have to specify an Archive and Reinstall as it will not do it automatically like Snow Leopard. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

robduckyworth #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	01-16-2011, 11:46 PM i had that happen to me, and booting into safe mode first avoided the problem. i dont know if thats the "right" way to do it but it worked for me. If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
	QUOTE Thanks

MACyMouse #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 25, 2004 Location: Australia (American born) Posts: 710 Mac Specs: MBP 15" 2006 \| 2011 21.5in iMac-1tb-i5-12gig \| iPhone 3gs	01-17-2011, 01:53 AM I want to do a fresh clean install of Snow Leopard - and fresh installs of all my apps. I want to wipe my drive entirely of all the junk that's accumulated over 5 years. I originally got my MBP with Tiger on it and bought upgrade OS's... can I do a fresh clean install of Snow Leopard with the disk I bought from Apple or do I need to start from scratch with Tiger? All I have for backups are just "copies" of my photos/music/movies etc... I don't want to do a whole system back up. I want a clean "new" OS with a wiped drive. Photography
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,065 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	01-17-2011, 04:00 PM Simple. Try it from the SL disc and see. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

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mreese88 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 10, 2010 Posts: 31	01-14-2011, 01:21 PM I've been using my Mac mini for about a year and now need to partition my drive so I can add Windows. I get the message that there are files that can't be moved so use Disk Utilities to reformat the disc after backing up everything. Then add files back and try again. Do I need to install OS after refomatting or can I just copy the back up files to the reformatted disc? Any other things I need to be aware of? Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

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