After Installation of OS X - bit of a noob question, need help

[masterofboing]

Hello all. I'm just wondering a short question. I have not yet installed Leopard on my recently-purchased MSI Wind, but am planning on doing so. But my only question would be, that if the need arised to where I would have to send it in for repairs, would I be able to simply boot up from my Windows disk and perform a clean install of Windows? Or is that nulled after installing Leopard? If I can't return back to Windows, then I won't install Leopard, and I'd much prefer not to dual-boot. Here's hoping to a quick reply ^^

[axle619]

I am OS X noob, so far only installed on my custom desktop and my Acer Aspire 9410. (In both cases the hardware was pretty easy to set up.) But this question I can field:

 

You will have no problem sending it in for repairs as long as it will boot to windows directly. Even if they have to navigate your boot menu, that should be fine, just send a note along with the netbook. After all, all you are doing is manipulating the hard drive, which you have every right to do. HOWEVER, this means you must still have a windows partition on it. I highly doubt they will service it otherwise.

 

So this means one of a few things:

 

1) you keep a partition with windows so that can be booted to. (i.e.: multi-boot)

2) you use a solution like Acronis True Image to make an image of your windows partition, store it on an external drive, delete it off your netbook, and are able to restore to it when needed

3a) suck it up and just use the restore DVD that came (?) with the netbook when you need to service (this will likely wipe out your Mac OS X partitioning)

3b) Alternately, if you netbook did not come with a restore DVD it will have come with a restore partition. You could keep the partition and restore from it when needed or, like in 2), use Acronis to image the restore partition and save it to an external drive to be reimaged when needed.

 

These are your choices as I see them. Obviously 1) and 2) are the best. Personally I would go with 1) because although VMware Fusion is an excellent product, sometimes you may need to boot up a real windows OS.

 

Which ever you choose, I highly reccommend that after you get your partitioning all set up, you do image your partitions to an external drive using something like Acronis or Ghostfor windows partitions (must be done outside of OS) and CCC (CarbonCopy Cloner) for Mac (can be done while OS is running). Set up your operatings systems, load up your important programs, set up you preferences- then create images of them so if you ever need to to, you can recover to when your system was "just right".

 

Well good luck friend. Undoubtedly, whatever you choose, you will need to ask more questions. I will check this thread and I am sure many other more knowledgeable people will be able to help you as well.

 

Good luck and have fun!!!

 

Alex

 

PS: I have been a lurker so far and felt guilty about not contributing...my first attempt:)