"Previous System" folder can be removed?
Hi 
I am running out of space on my Mac Mini (er... too many music files I am afraid *grin*). I am running 10.3.9.
I see a folder called "Previous System" on my hard disc, occupying 2+ gigs. Can I remove that folder? What are the consequences if I did so?
Thanks and cheers
I am running out of space on my Mac Mini (er... too many music files I am afraid *grin*). I am running 10.3.9.
I see a folder called "Previous System" on my hard disc, occupying 2+ gigs. Can I remove that folder? What are the consequences if I did so?
Thanks and cheers
Comments
Originally posted by tilt
Hi
I am running out of space on my Mac Mini (er... too many music files I am afraid *grin*). I am running 10.3.9.
I see a folder called "Previous System" on my hard disc, occupying 2+ gigs. Can I remove that folder? What are the consequences if I did so?
Thanks and cheers
That's the System folder you archived the last time you upgraded your system, I believe.
When you install a new System, you have an Archive and Install option, which allows you to save the old System / Library in order to salvage certain files that may otherwise be lost.
If all 3rd party apps work well since the last time, go ahead and toss it, I think.
But what do I know, you might want to wait for another post. I'm about to do it for the 1st time myself!
--B
Cheers
That way, if you follow Apple's lead and install 10.x.x and it hoses your machine, you have recourse other than running down to your local Apple store and shooting a genius dead.
If the old system file is more than a few months old and all is well I would toss it. Double check contents against your current working files in case something got orphaned that you need.
I had a client whose free drive space had fallen under a 500MB. I found about 10 "previous system" files, going well back into System 9 days.
Originally posted by addabox
System updates via Software Update automatically archive and install.
Er, no. They don't.
That way, if you follow Apple's lead and install 10.x.x and it hoses your machine, you have recourse other than running down to your local Apple store and shooting a genius dead.
What are you talking about? Software Update has no such rollback functionality.
The only way to get the Previous System folder is to install a major release of Mac OS X from CD/DVD and to select Archive and Install from there.
Originally posted by Chucker
Er, no. They don't.
What are you talking about? Software Update has no such rollback functionality.
The only way to get the Previous System folder is to install a major release of Mac OS X from CD/DVD and to select Archive and Install from there.
Tonto say Chucker speak truth.
Software Update always defaults to an "Update Install", not an A&A or a clean install.
For the OP, I would say if that was there when you bought the machine, (you can do a Get Info on the archive and see when it was created), then it obviously does not have any of your stuff in it.
The only time I have to dig into that archive is if I had an app like Timbuktu that installs stuff at the system level.
Does the system use "Previous Systems" purely as backup storage from which to restore files in case of any "oops" or does it actually use it as a search path?
If it is purely for backup storage, then i think i may safely delete the folder. If it is in the search path, then I may need to keep the folder, right?
Thanks again and cheers
--B
Originally posted by tilt
Thanks Bergz. By the way, I did not do any archive and install at all. I bought the Mac Mini with 10.3.9 pre-installed. The only thing I have been doing is updating the system via Software Update.
Cheers
Btw, did you buy the Mini second hand? Maybe the guy,
who sold you the mac once did an Archive&Install operation.
I believe it is pretty safe to trash this "Previous System" folder.
Do it and you gain 2 gigs of hd space.
Vox, no, I did not buy the Mini second-hand, I bought it brand new.
Cheers