I've carried out a clean reinstall of my operating system so many times this year, it's almost instinctive. I'll have to do this again soon, so here's a recap.
Run the Install OS X programme.
Customise - omit languages and printer drivers (install the critical few via downloads) to avoid bloatware and save time.
Run the relevant Apple System X combo update (now at 10.3.7)
Install Microsoft Office v.X 2004.
Apply the relevant Microsoft Office updates; it will tend to itself until complete.
Repair permissions.
Logout, then login.
Copy over from my backup hardisk, the Microsoft User Database and Projects folders into the Documents folder.
Install Spam Sieve, as this is critical for stopping spam. Copy over the Spam Sieve folder (Library>Application Support) and the preferences file (Library>Preferences).
Interarchy- an ftp client that provides ftp mirroring. Setup the ftp mirror for the Scratchbin where some data files needed for setting up are located.
Bookit - this allows me to extract my old bookmarks (Scratchbin) and update and synchronise all the browsers.
GmailStatus - keep tabs on mail that arrives to my gmail account by displaying a number on the menubar.
Copy Paste X - stores multiple clipboards so you can cut and past away at ease. Great wheen extracting all those serial numbers. Can also extract URLs from pages etc.
Copy over Documents backup
Shareware - Installing and register other shareware; go to web for downloads as these are the most updated versions. Extract the serial numbers data from my files.
Quicksilver - when I type Cmd-space and the first few letters of an application, Quicksilver finds it and I can launch the application with the return key. It also works with bookmarks!
Drag Thing - allows me to assign shortcut keys to applications, and a series of docks that can store applications and bookmarks; adds version numbers to apps, allowing an easy check when upgrading.
Firefox - an alternate browser in which I can install the Amazon A9 toolbar with direct links to my bookmarks.
Acid Search - provides drop-down alternative search engines in the google bar of Safari; critical for research of resources on the web.
Thunderbird - alternative email when I want to access the IMAP server in NUS on days when Entourage has not been synched with my desktop at the office.
iView Media Pro - for creating photos galleries and reviewing photos
Stuffit - for compression/decompression of archives. OS X has a built in ZIP capability though, so its more for archiving documents.
Rest of shareware - download as and when needed
Preferences
Run through Airport assistant if necessary.
In the home network, add the MAC address of the airporrt card (airport ID) and WEP password if needed; Setup the NUS airport ID in a separate location and singnet settings for modem access.
In Entourage, download email and respond to the prompts for passwords; and click "remember". Verify that the anti-spam software works by checking spam folder.
Setup all the servers servers in Interarchy.
Setup the NUS IMAP account in Thunderbird
Change Text Edit preferences to plain text, large font default settings.
Key in serial numbers for all applications.
Take my time
Set file preferences accordingly when prompted.
Copy over Desktop pictures from I, Robot and Nemo.
Use Sonny from I, Robot for iChat icon.
Instal other software as needed, e.g. VLC for viewing VCDs, latest Adobe Reader for viewing some pdfs.
Posted at 4:11PM UTC by N. Sivasothi | permalink | , .
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