Apple Users

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts) Wed Jan 15, 2014, 05:32 PM Jan 2014

Can I reinstall my OS (10.6.8) without losing installed apps like PhotoShop?

I have an iMac running Snow Leopard that now hangs very late in the start up but will start up in Safe mode. I have backed up all data. Tried the less drastic stuff and now am up to the option to reinstall the OS. I have browsed all kinds of forums and apple support but nothing tells me clearly whether reinstalling the OS will kill 3rd party apps.

Thanks for any help.

4 replies

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Can I reinstall my OS (10.6.8) without losing installed apps like PhotoShop? (Original Post) KurtNYC Jan 2014 OP

You might try making a Genius Bar appointment to have them look at the machine. Stinky The Clown Jan 2014 #1

If you don't do a "clean install" it shouldn't wipe everything out. sir pball Jan 2014 #2

I don't know if this helps arikara Jan 2014 #3

Thanks KurtNYC Jan 2014 #4

Stinky The Clown

(67,757 posts)

1. You might try making a Genius Bar appointment to have them look at the machine.

Reply to KurtNYC (Original post)

Wed Jan 15, 2014, 07:08 PM

Jan 2014

They can pretty quickly diagnose things. The fix with your existing install may well be easy for them once they know the issue. If not, they can do the reinstall. We had it done once and, at least in our case, didn't cost us any data or apps.

sir pball

(4,737 posts)

2. If you don't do a "clean install" it shouldn't wipe everything out.

Reply to KurtNYC (Original post)

Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:10 PM

Jan 2014

Which, of course, won't work as expected, since you need it to happen.

If you can create an SD card or bootable external drive, you might be able to sort things out. Sounds like a kernel extension issue. Or, like he said, take it to the Genius bar. I personally avoid them, because I know way more than they do (sad truth, they generally just follow the script) but if you aren't handy with single-user mode, fsck, and kernel extension management you may be better off that way.

arikara

(5,562 posts)

3. I don't know if this helps

Reply to KurtNYC (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2014, 02:01 AM

Jan 2014

I just had my macbook upgraded to Snow Leopard as I was running 10.5.8 and it was long past its prime. The shop didn't have discs for photoshop or anything and all the 3rd party apps are all still there. I know they do perform a backup first but I don't know if the apps just stay there during the upgrade, or they reinstall them from the backup.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)

4. Thanks

Reply to arikara (Reply #3)

Wed Jan 29, 2014, 09:59 AM

Jan 2014

A reinstall of Snow Leopard failed. Booting into safe mode has had some glitches and self-powered speakers that I had plugged into the iMac were occassionally distorted yet now, plugged into another source they seem fine. I am thinking this is a hardware issue, possibly the GPU or graphics card. I bought another 24 inch iMac (for $250) and am waiting for that. I will load that one and then I can take more aggressive steps to see if I can get the older one running again.

I can live without PhotoShop for a while but I really miss the mac.

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