Apple Software Restore: Some Preferences May Be Lost

When using Apple Software Restores (ASR) to perform a "Restore in place," the utility replaces only your original software (original system software, factory settings, and applications that came with your computer) with new copies from the Software Restore CD, leaving everything else on your disk untouched. ASR copies files from a Disk Copy disk image located in the Configurations folder on the iMac Software Restore CD.

Since ASR does not check for versions of software installed, it is possible for ASR to replace same name system software components with older versions. For example, users having installed the ATI Video Software Update may need to reinstall the update after performing a "Restore in place" with ASR.

Although most preferences are not affected by performing a "Restore in place," there are a several preferences you might want to save before using the Apple Software Restore. Saving these preferences avoids having to reconfigure important settings for Internet access, email and web browsing. Consider saving the following preferences, out of the Preferences folder, in the System Folder, into a separate folder or onto the Desktop before choosing "Restore in place":

Note: You may want to consider saving the entire Preferences folder, as this will save all preferences. Doing this will assure you have any Apple, or third-party preference files.

• Airport Prefs
• AMD Database
• AppleTalk Prefs
• ASLM Prefs
• Internet Prefs
• Modem Prefs
• Palm Desktop Info
• Quicktime Prefs
• Shockwave Prefs
• TCP/IP Prefs
• Explorer Prefs
• Extensions Manager Prefs
• Keychains Prefs
• Printing Prefs
• Total Access

This means many Internet settings may be lost when performing a "Restore in Place." To avoid having to reconfigure your computer to access the Internet, the TCP/IP, Modem, and Internet Preferences should be dragged out of the Preferences Folder (in the current System Folder) and placed on the desktop so that they can be placed back in the Preferences Folder after the Restore is complete.

Another concern would be the America Online and Explorer folders in the Preferences Folder. The Explorer folder contains the "favorites.html" file that stores all the favorites that have been saved in Microsoft Internet Explorer. The America Online folder contains the "AOL External Prefs" which contains the connection settings for America Online. If America Online and Internet Explorer are commonly used for Internet access, these folders should be saved into a separate folder or onto the desktop before performing the Restore, and then placed back in the Preferences Folder after the Restore is finished.

Notes:

1. If your computer came with both Mac OS 9.1 and Mac OS X installed on the hard disk, you should follow the restore procedure outlined in Article 60847 "Apple Software Restore: How to Perform a Multiple Disc Restoration"

2. This article also applies to the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White); the same preference files are affected.

3. Wireless Internet access requires an Internet service provider (fees may apply) and AirPort (or AirPort-compatible) wireless Ethernet card and base station. Some ISPs are not compatible with AirPort. For more information, see technical document 106590: "AirPort: Requirements for Wireless Internet Access"