Help Starting OVER...

[Chingas]

I'll keep it brief, at least try to...

Here's the deal. I have a G5 that's a little bitter at me. In the PC world, which I would be considered the "PC guy" who fixes all his friends shit, I can copy files and installation folders, favorites, setting files, old temp files for firefox, whatever, format my drive or throw a new one in, reinstall xp, re-install all my programs, copy over all my old settings and copy over all my files and I'm good to go.

The mac world however is alien to me. Library? What the hell is that? I look for my Plug-Ins folder and they are in multiple places, weird? And to make matters worse, or more interesting depending on the perspective, I bought this computer used about two years ago and still has another persons information, old Pro Tools sessions, plug ins, etc. I created my own admin account by pulling some crazy shit at what would be considered the DOS prompt of a mac.

The GOAL: I want to start fresh. New hard drive. Re-Install Leopard, re-install PT8. I want all my plug-ins I have now. I want all the plug-ins on my computer now, half of which I have no installation or registration information because they were already on the computer and working when I got it. I have his old iLok that simply stays plugged in and keeps things at peace. I have no access to it, unless someone knows differently. I have my own iLok which is tied to some of my goods.

I'm having the normal 9066 issues with buffer size and CPU restraints. I've never gone longer than a year without re-doing a system, any system from he ground up and I feel it's time for ol betsy to lay down and let me in.

Any help would be appreciated. Sorry, didn't mean to make this so freakin long.

[SpinningDisk]

Save, save,save. Just go to disk utility in applications. Your on your own after that. Remember though, that you don't have any licenses or registrations. Mac's, are a lot smarter than you think. I would talk to the person you bought if from. Hhmmm, it took you two years?

Disk

[Chingas]

I've been busy.

It came loaded with 7. I got 7.4. Started recording right away. Then got 8 a year or so later and didn't have time to do what I want to do then, so I loaded it and kept on keeping on.

What do you mean by save save save? Go to disk utility and I'm on my own? A little lost hear brother. From what I want to do, can I do it?

There is no contact with the guy I got it from. Third party middle man type deal. Regardless, do you have any ideas or information or have you ever done this before?

[SpinningDisk]

Doesn't sound like you will be able to do it without his registration and licenses. No, you can't do it. You can reinstall Leopard and 8.0 again if you have access, just remember to save any files you want to save. Pull out the Ilok if you reinstall Leopard. Not sure it's what your looking for but it may clean up some things. You can use the utility to check your drive and repair permissions.

[Chingas]

Disk,
I appreciate the help. Thank you. It is kind of what I am looking for. I'll see if their are any other ideas floating around the forum before I commit to death. I don't want to go balls out just yet, I'm in the middle of a full length debut album for a band but I am prepping myself for when the production is over.

Anyone else have any input on the matter?