Big Sur update from Mojave on 15MBP 2017?

[Freida]

Hi,

I'm contemplating to update my system from Mojave to Big Sur and I would like to know where the software stands and what things I will lose.
I've checked the apps and pretty much all the apps I use are updated so I guess there shouldn't be an issue.

Are there any underlining core systems thing that are depreciated that would cause something not working (apart from Aperture that I have migrated everything from yesterday)?

Any advice/warning please?

The reason to update for me is that Xcode versions are not supported on Mojave and Unreal Engine 5 needs at least Catalina (which I've never had as it was super buggy).

Can someone share what to consider before I do it, please? I'm currently doing a full backup

 

[mikzn]

FWIW - my 2 cents

• For sure - back up before 👍
• some apps like Microsoft Office 2016 / 2011 - and other 32 bit apps will not work on Big Sur
• Maybe try out / test on an external drive first so you don't have to roll back
• IMHO - I would go strait to Monterey if your apps are compatible - it seems more polished and robust - again IMHO

I have Monterey running on one of my MBP's and there are a few apps like Rogue Amoeba software that will not work yet - so testing on and external drive might be worth the effort to see if any of your "mission critical software" works? - Big Sur or Monterey

 

[Freida]

How do you install it on external drive without messing up your current system on internal drive, please?

FWIW - my 2 cents

• For sure - back up before 👍
• some apps like Microsoft Office 2016 / 2011 - and other 32 bit apps will not work on Big Sur
• Maybe try out / test on an external drive first so you don't have to roll back
• IMHO - I would go strait to Monterey if your apps are compatible - it seems more polished and robust - again IMHO

I have Monterey running on one of my MBP's and there are a few apps like Rogue Amoeba software that will not work yet - so testing on and external drive might be worth the effort to see if any of your "mission critical software" works? - Big Sur or Monterey

 

[mikzn]

Get an empty drive that is "bootable" (SSD would be faster and great for testing)

Download Big Sur or Monterey (Beta) - point to and install on the external drive - again an SSD would give you better performance once installed - then boot from the external and use migration assistant to migrate the Mojave data to the external

Another option would be to clone your Mojave system to the empty drive using CCC Carbon Copy Cloner and then install upgrade Big Sur or Monterey on top of the cloned drive ( external)

Be careful not to install or upgrade on your internal drive ( another reason to make sure you have a back up)

 

[Neophyte_FL]

Hi,

I'm contemplating to update my system from Mojave to Big Sur and I would like to know where the software stands and what things I will lose.
I've checked the apps and pretty much all the apps I use are updated so I guess there shouldn't be an issue.

Are there any underlining core systems thing that are depreciated that would cause something not working (apart from Aperture that I have migrated everything from yesterday)?

Any advice/warning please?

The reason to update for me is that Xcode versions are not supported on Mojave and Unreal Engine 5 needs at least Catalina (which I've never had as it was super buggy).

Can someone share what to consider before I do it, please? I'm currently doing a full backup

On my mid-2017 iMac, I lost the capability to retrieve Apple mail emails via Time Machine ever since I installed Catalina and still can't under BS. I can still retrieve files but no email. May not be critical for you but very important to me. I subsequently got an MBA that came with Mojave and haven't upgraded it for that reason.

 

[Freida]

Cool, thanks. That actually sound as complex as installing on internal drive and if something is broken then do time machine restore.

So I guess I'll just risk to install it and take it from there. Thank you ;-)

Get an empty drive that is "bootable" (SSD would be faster and great for testing)

Download Big Sur or Monterey (Beta) - point to and install on the external drive - again an SSD would give you better performance once installed - then boot from the external and use migration assistant to migrate the Mojave data to the external

Another option would be to clone your Mojave system to the empty drive using CCC Carbon Copy Cloner and then install upgrade Big Sur or Monterey on top of the cloned drive ( external)

Be careful not to install or upgrade on your internal drive ( another reason to make sure you have a back up)

 

[Freida]

How can you actually lose emails? As soon as you setup mail on your new computer, it syncs everything over from the server so unless you've deleted from the server than you can never actually lose emails. I'm confused

On my mid-2017 iMac, I lost the capability to retrieve Apple mail emails via Time Machine ever since I installed Catalina and still can't under BS. I can still retrieve files but no email. May not be critical for you but very important to me. I subsequently got an MBA that came with Mojave and haven't upgraded it for that reason.

 

[mikzn]

Cool, thanks. That actually sound as complex as installing on internal drive and if something is broken then do time machine restore.

So I guess I'll just risk to install it and take it from there. Thank you ;-)

yeah it is extra work and time - but it leaves you with your original untouched until you are happy and no need to roll back if there is a problem - rolling backward is a pain

If you are going to go ahead with updating the internal MBP drive - might be good to "clone" the Mojave drive with CCC - not just back up ( that way you can still restore the orginal)

I am not a fan of Time Machine - have not used in years - had many friends loose photos an music etc from relying on Time Machine - you can download a trial version of CCC for free

Also I have migrated one of my MBP's from Mojave to Catalina to Big Sug and now Monterey -never had the email issues mentioned above - my guess is that it might just be IMAP settings in the email advanced settings (Folders etc)

Good luck with you upgrade

 

[Freida]

I think I'll try the CCC app.

Is it basically a snapshot of your whole system so if I buy new computer and transfer the snapshot on it then there is not settings to change? Even my logged in programs or webpages will remain intact?

Or is there some setting up to do after the snapshot is restored?

yeah it is extra work and time - but it leaves you with your original untouched until you are happy and no need to roll back if there is a problem - rolling backward is a pain

If you are going to go ahead with updating the internal MBP drive - might be good to "clone" the Mojave drive with CCC - not just back up ( that way you can still restore the orginal)

I am not a fan of Time Machine - have not used in years - had many friends loose photos an music etc from relying on Time Machine - you can download a trial version of CCC for free

Also I have migrated one of my MBP's from Mojave to Catalina to Big Sug and now Monterey -never had the email issues mentioned above - my guess is that it might just be IMAP settings in the email advanced settings (Folders etc)

Good luck with you upgrade

 

[mikzn]

I think I'll try the CCC app.

For Mojave you will need CCC version 5 - link to CCC - 5

Is it basically a snapshot of your whole system so if I buy new computer and transfer the snapshot on it then there is not settings to change? Even my logged in programs or webpages will remain intact?

yes correct for the most part - some software will call home and detect that you have reinstalled on a different mac - these will need to be reactivated - enter serial numbers etc. - all the settings and hidden data folders will be copied

Or is there some setting up to do after the snapshot is restored?

Not really other than the above mentioned "re-activation of some software" - but not all

 

[Freida]

Thank you.

So if I'm doing it on the same machine then nothing will need to be changed, right? Its basically like identical copy of the harddrive with all settings and if put back on the same machine the system doesn't see any difference, right?

For Mojave you will need CCC version 5 - link to CCC - 5




yes correct for the most part - some software will call home and detect that you have reinstalled on a different mac - these will need to be reactivated - enter serial numbers etc. - all the settings and hidden data folders will be copied



Not really other than the above mentioned "re-activation of some software" - but not all

 

[mikzn]

Thank you.

So if I'm doing it on the same machine then nothing will need to be changed, right? Its basically like identical copy of the harddrive with all settings and if put back on the same machine the system doesn't see any difference, right?

Yes - Clone the existing MBP to a Clean / external drive - when it is done - keep it safe and if your Big Sur upgrade is not what you expected - you can use the clone to put your Mojave system back with the clone

Here is a thread for more info about CCC

 

[Freida]

Thank you so much, I'll test it out

Yes - Clone the existing MBP to a Clean / external drive - when it is done - keep it safe and if your Big Sur upgrade is not what you expected - you can use the clone to put your Mojave system back with the clone

Here is a thread for more info about CCC

 

[jz0309]

Hi,

I'm contemplating to update my system from Mojave to Big Sur and I would like to know where the software stands and what things I will lose.
I've checked the apps and pretty much all the apps I use are updated so I guess there shouldn't be an issue.

Are there any underlining core systems thing that are depreciated that would cause something not working (apart from Aperture that I have migrated everything from yesterday)?

Any advice/warning please?

The reason to update for me is that Xcode versions are not supported on Mojave and Unreal Engine 5 needs at least Catalina (which I've never had as it was super buggy).

Can someone share what to consider before I do it, please? I'm currently doing a full backup

Been through this on my iMac just about a month ago ...
Mojave straight to Big Sur - experiences anyone?

CCC cloning does not really work anymore in Big Sur as it did before, Apple has changed a few things so be prepared for that, nevertheless I am using it today ... there's a thread that has a lot of details
Mojave to Big Sur - Carbon Copy Cloner - Users Thread