Restoring from fresh OS help needed
 

Hi, i just bought SD today and need it already. I have all my files on master boot recordpartition scheme external firewire drive. I need to install the OS first, do the updates, THEN restore the files from the old OS (i was having issues with an update, so i need to update first and then put the unknown problem file back on). I am not sure how to go about this since i can't use the migration assistant. I am having issues booting up from it, i set it to be bootable, but does it have to do with the master boot(can i change the scheme without erasing the drive?) Thanks for the help

Yes, you can't start up from a Master Boot Record drive. If you had a problem with an update, the thing to do is to archive-and-install over your existing drive (which will preserve your files and applications) rather than restore...

i have already done that, and so i tried the update a second time and the same failure occurred so obviously it was some software on that OS because when i did a clean install i could install all the updates with no issues, and i already performed the clean install so i need to restore it now.

Are you sure the Migration Assistant won't work from the backup? It certainly should...

i didn't bother to try it since it would probably load the same problem files back on and i would be back at square one. I transffered all the files from the drive onto another one i have. Can i reformat the firewire and boot from it? the only problem is that it says some files have special restrictions and couldn't be transfeered over.

OK, you definitely need to try it. You cannot transfer the files by drag and drop -- that really won't work, so PLEASE do not erase your FireWire drive!

great that did the trick, didn't know i could run the migration assistant after the OS was installed and running

Yep. Glad you were able to get it done.