Archive & Install

When you do an archive and install (with preserve user settings checked) does it copy over mail boxes and contacts etc or do you need to do that by hand from the Previous System Folder?

It's so long since I've had to do an A&I I can't actually remember but http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710 suggests that all of /Users is moved to the new installation which would include mailboxes, contacts etc. It would be a good idea to have a separate back-up of (at least) your 'Home' folder and a note of your e-mail passwords. If there was a power cut/HD died/optical drive died during the A&I you could lose everything. Not likely but possible

Good luck,

t t

If there was a power cut/HD died/optical drive died during the A&I you could lose everything.

Indeed!

From my reading A&I is roughly the equivalent of the old OS9 Clean Install?