updating software

Cindy,

You don't need to install every recommended update, but it's a very good idea to install most of them.

I'd recommend going to System Preferences [under the apple menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen], clicking on "Software Update", and setting the period to check to "Daily". That way, you won't be surprised by many at once (because you'll tend to see them one at a time).

If you don't have broadband, it can take quite a while to download some of the updates.

You can also download updates directly from Apple if that is more convenient for you.

Please, though, strongly consider installing the recommended updates. Most will result in a better, more secure, and faster system. You can always ask this group about any updates you're unsure of.

 

The first rule of Software Update is: Do not use Software Update to update your software...if it can be found right on Apple's website. If you're on dial-up (such as I am), it's better to go straight to Apple's website and download the packages from HTTP (or FTP), as supposed to Software Update. It's especially useful to save the packages from the Apple website, much less from any website (as I have done as a habit for almost 4 years) so that you don't have to redownload them at a later date. Reason to do this: I refreshed my Hard Drive this past Thursday and didn't want to redownload over 80MB of OS X updates to get back to 10.3.4. That would be a wasted 8 hours. Same goes for having to redownload updates of iTunes, Quicktime, Safari (IF you use it)...that's another 30MB easy. So download from Apple's website (the link is provided below), and save the packages on your Hard Drive for potential later usage.

The second rule of Software Update is: Go to System Preferences > Software Update > Uncheck the checkmark for "Check for updates" <-- That'll get rid of the every month pop-up.

So...the very first place to look for updated Mac OS X software is here: www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/ Mac OS X 10.3.4, iCal, and Quicktime updates are on the first two pages.

Quicktime 6.5.1
iCal

 

That's good if and only if you manually do the checks.

Of course, on dial-up, you're significantly less susceptible to the security flaws which many of the larger updates fix.

Another option, if you live near an Apple Store or have a friend with broadband, is to burn the updates (fromt he sites mentioned above) to a CD and then copy them onto your system at home. Do this every once in a while, and you'll be good to go.

 

This is likely a good rule for dial-up users, like you and Cindy.

Broadband users probably will have a much easier time just getting the notifications and spending the two minutes to download them.

 

I say take it to a friends or family members' house w/ broadband internet and update it there... Dial-up will just waste your time for the software updates...

 

I recently decided to download the Combo Update for 10.3.4 (an 80+MB package) so that way I wouldn't have to update to 10.3.2, then 10.3.3, and then 10.3.4, as I have those individual update packages already. Point is: I sat through the download, just like almost any dial-up user would.

About your disconnections...call up your ISP and tell them to do all possible phone line checks from their server to your house. That way you might be able to resolve the disconnects as they might stem from the ISP. Better yet, email them. Short story: One time, my ISP, gwi.net, disconnected me 20 times in a day...I sent them an email, and in it, a line that said if the problem doesn't get resolved I'm switching providers. A day or two afterwards, my connection was much more stable. So, again, call up (or email) your ISP and request that they do phone line checks because you keep getting disconnected. In effect, you should be able to get those downloads without being disconnected (eventually...some ISPs are run by lazy idiots).

 

If you don't have broadband (and yes, things do take minutes as opposed to hours on broadband), is there a Starbucks or somewhere else with a wi-fi hotspot near you? They tend to have reasonable speeds (usually at least 512kbps) and although you might have to pay for an hour's access, you'd be all done within that time.

Although I guess if you're not talking about a 'Book, it might be awkward!

 

Perhaps it would be a good idea to use a download manager, so you can pause and resume the downloads like you want. Then you can download if you have nothing else to do on the net. And if your connection is interrupted, you can resume the download later and don’t lose everything you downloaded so far.

I don’t know about any good managers, though, as I’m one of these 2-minutes-suckers...

 

This sounds like a question my mom would ask. I'm the family tech support and after many years of trying to do it over the phone, they got DSL and I figured out how to do port mapping on their Linksys router so that VNC can connect. Much better.

Anyway, what you need is someone (with a fast connection and a CD Burner) to download the updates off of Apple's website (see links throughout the thread.) Once on their computer (which can be a Mac or PC, as long as the PC is configured to leave the downloads alone and just save them) have them burn the updates to a CD-R (CD writable.) Take the CD and put it in your computer. Now, you can run the updates directly from optical disk (slower) or you can copy them to your hard drive (faster) by just dragging the files on the CD to the Desktop (the screen that shows your hard drives, etc.) Once copied, just double-click on the updates and follow the instructions.

 

7 hours and 52 minutes, given that my I read the elapsed time from the Mozilla download manager correctly. For downloads at/over 10MB, I estimate my connection at 10MB/hour.

That's prob. what your ISP would tell you. Most ISPs run by idiots will cover their backs by using well-aged excuses, such as everyone's favorite excuse: "You should call the phone company and have them check out the lines as we don't have control over them" Though, if they are seriously old - old as in spiders have been living between line 1 and line 2 for a decade - then upgrade your physical phone wires.

Lucky you...I can't get any broadband where I am (hell).

Edit: Once you have better connections without sudden disconnects, and if you need to download a big update, do what I do and let it download overnight. Just make sure that you set your connection to hang up after a couple of minutes of no activity, as supposed to 10 or 15.

 

From what you describe, sounds like you need to uncheck the "prompt to stay connected" option.

Go to system preferences, select network, double click on "internal modem", select PPP, then there's a button at the bottom of that window that says "PPP Options". Click that and uncheck the second box from the top. Best of luck.

 

That should do it, are you still having connection problems after unchecking both those options?

 

Also, since you have 10.2.4, 10.2.8 is the highest you can go. Also, I remember having dialup problems in 10.2.4 - as in it wouldn't stay connected.

Download Wizard
download this and you can resume downloads if you get disconnected

 

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxupdatecombo_10_2_8.html

It won't take higher because 10.3 is an upgrade, as in you must purchase it.

10.2.8 is the highest Jaguar went.