HowTo: How to Get iLife Back After a Fresh Install of Mac OSX

A while back thru Apple Developer Connection, I received the new version of Mac OS X, Leopard. I was delighted to have the newest OS from Apple for my MacBook Pro. From natural choice I chose to install from a fresh hard drive, meaning that I erased the hard drive and installed a fresh copy of the OS.

Once I was in the OS I was excited to try all the new features, especially spaces, but I was disappointed to find that I no longer had Photobooth or iPhoto which is two applications I began to enjoy with my new mac laptop. I figured that they were lost to me, until recently when I chatted with a Genius at the Genius Bar of our local "Apple Heaven". This "Genius" informed me that I can take my original equipment cds that came with the laptop and install the software onto Leopard. I was originally unaware of this being a "PC Refugee", so I am so delighted to find out this information that I am sharing it with all of you.

1. Load the install disk 1 into your mac
2. navigate to the drive in finder
3. open optional installs
4. follow the prompter.

Congrats, you once again have iDVD, iPhoto, iWeb, Photobooth and more. Enjoy.

HowTo: Repair Adobe CS3 Installation (Application has unexpectedly closed)

I was running Adobe CS3 for about a week after upgrading to Mac OS X Leopard when all of a sudden  I could not open Dreamweaver.  The application would open, make it to my welcome screen, and then crash.  Annoyed, I attempted to open every Adobe CS3 application in my Master Suite, every app has crashed.

I fixed it using the same fix as my 'apple+c' fix that I wrote about previously.

1.  Navigate to /applications/utilities/

2.  Open Disk Utility

3.  Choose Repair Disk Permissions

4.  Reboot

All set.

HowTo: Restore Copy & Paste Commands on Mac OS Leopard

So I am running Leopard and I had a strange error.  I began to experience the strangest thing, my 'apple+c' command stopped working.  I tried to use the copy and paste from the edit menu but still no dice.  So I searched Google and found this fix.

1.  Navigate to /applications/utilities/

2.  Open Disk Utility

3.  Choose Repair Disk Permissions

4.  Reboot

All Set.

HowTo: Backup Mac OS X

I recently sent my laptop in for diagnosis as I was experiencing wireless issues.  They kept the laptop for approximately 20 hours and then called me.  They notified me that the issues were software related and recommended that I did an archive install or a fresh install.  I opted for the fresh install, so here is my backup HowTo / Checklist for Mac OS X Leopard.

Backup Safari Bookmarks:

Backing up Safari turned out to be much easier than expected.

1.  Navigate to /library/safari

2.  Copy the file named bookmarks.plist

Backup Address Book

1.  Choose File --> Export --> Address Book Archive

2.  Choose a name for the file, and select where you want to export the file to.

Backup Mozilla FireFox

1.  Open FireFox.

2.  Choose FireFox --> Advanced -->  Clear Cache Now

3.  Completely exit FireFox

4.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/application support/firefox/profiles/

5.  Copy the folder titled xxxxxxxx.default

Backup VMWare Fusion

1.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/documents/virtual machines/

2.  Copy your desired virtual machines from here

Backup iTunes

1.  Open iTunes --> Store --> DeAuthorize

2.  Quit iTunes

3.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/music/

4.  Copy iTunes folder

Backup Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars

This will backup your maps and saved games, surprisingly enough this was my most important backup :D

1.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/preferences/Command and Conquer 3 Preferences/

2.  Copy p_drive

Backup Mail

1.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/

2.  Copy Mail

3.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/preferences/

4.  Copy com.apple.mail.plist

DONE!  I hope this helps anyone else.

Chris

HowTo: Use GTalk on Mac

So when I first bean to be a mac user I was upset that there was not a version of GTalk available on Mac OS X.  So I gave up on the issue for a while, just using gmail's web based chat until the other day.  I found out that you can use iChat to connect and chat with your GTalk account.

To do this:

1.  Open iChat.

2.  Choose iChat --> Preferences --> Accounts

3.  Choose + --> Google Talk Account under account type -->  Google Account name --> Password --> Done

All set.  Now this was done on Mac OS X Leopard, I believe you use a jabber account as the account type for older versions.

Chris