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Need help updating my OS

B

bladeflesh

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 28, 2012
5
0
Hello, I need some help on updating my macbook pro software. I am currently on 10.5.8 (don't make fun of me :/) and I need to know if I can just update to the current OS and how to do so. Thanks!

Specs: Processor 10.5.8
Memory: 4 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3
 
bladeflesh said:
Hello, I need some help on updating my macbook pro software. I am currently on 10.5.8 (don't make fun of me :/) and I need to know if I can just update to the current OS and how to do so. Thanks!

Specs: Processor 10.5.8
Memory: 4 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3
Click to expand...

That is not enough information to provide an accurate answer. You should have a more specific model number in the System Information screen such as MacbookPro4,1. Locate that and post.
 
bladeflesh said:
Hello, I need some help on updating my macbook pro software. I am currently on 10.5.8 (don't make fun of me :/) and I need to know if I can just update to the current OS and how to do so. Thanks!

Specs: Processor 10.5.8
Memory: 4 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3
Click to expand...

From your memory speed alone I'd guess you have a 15" late 2008 unibody or any one of the mid 2009-mid 2010 models(previous models had DDR2). All of these support OSX 10.8.

You'll first need to update to 10.6.x to have access to the App store. From there you'll be able to purchase 10.8 and install it.
 
T5BRICK said:
From your memory speed alone I'd guess you have a 15" late 2008 unibody or any one of the mid 2009-mid 2010 models(previous models had DDR2). All of these support OSX 10.8.

You'll first need to update to 10.6.x to have access to the App store. From there you'll be able to purchase 10.8 and install it.
Click to expand...

Oh, sorry about that. First time posting. Yes its a MacBook Pro Unibody laptop that I got in 09. So if I install 10.6.x I can update directly to the latest OS? Thanks for the replies!
 
bladeflesh said:
Oh, sorry about that. First time posting. Yes its a MacBook Pro Unibody laptop that I got in 09. So if I install 10.6.x I can update directly to the latest OS? Thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...

Although it's technically possible, personally, I suggest you instead back up important files and do a clean install. Updating minor versions is fine, but you're actually jumping quite a bit from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion and it could happen that things get quite messed up in the process ( despite the efforts of Apple engineers to smoothen out the process and make it as bug-free as possible ).

Once you have backed up important files and erased everything from your HDD, you should install Mountain Lion and copy old files back manually afterward. Just my 2 cents...
 
Barna Biro said:
Although it's technically possible, personally, I suggest you instead back up important files and do a clean install. Updating minor versions is fine, but you're actually jumping quite a bit from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion and it could happen that things get quite messed up in the process ( despite the efforts of Apple engineers to smoothen out the process and make it as bug-free as possible ).

Once you have backed up important files and erased everything from your HDD, you should install Mountain Lion and copy old files back manually afterward. Just my 2 cents...
Click to expand...

Ah, gotcha. Hmm that could be an option. How do I go about a clean install? Furthermore, could I just update one OS at a time (10.5.8 to 10.6.x to 10.7.x ect.) or is that also problematic?
 
bladeflesh said:
Ah, gotcha. Hmm that could be an option. How do I go about a clean install? Furthermore, could I just update one OS at a time (10.5.8 to 10.6.x to 10.7.x ect.) or is that also problematic?
Click to expand...

There are multiple articles on the web that explain the steps you need to take for a clean install. First one I found: http://eggfreckles.net/notes/installing-mountain-lion-clean/ As for "updating in steps": no, it would most likely make no difference. Since you're updating to a major version and things did change quite a bit since Snow Leopard, it could easily happen that system configs get messed up ( old ones are not properly replaced with new ones, or are not fully removed, etc. etc. ). Again, ideally, you'd just back-up your most important files and do a clean install of Mountain Lion... that way, if you ever notice anything wrong with your system, you'll know for sure it has nothing to do with the upgrade and possibly messed up old configs. That's what I'd do at least...

PS: Just to make sure you are aware of the system requirements for Mountain Lion:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5444
 
Barna Biro said:
There are multiple articles on the web that explain the steps you need to take for a clean install. First one I found: http://eggfreckles.net/notes/installing-mountain-lion-clean/ As for "updating in steps": no, it would most likely make no difference. Since you're updating to a major version and things did change quite a bit since Snow Leopard, it could easily happen that system configs get messed up ( old ones are not properly replaced with new ones, or are not fully removed, etc. etc. ). Again, ideally, you'd just back-up your most important files and do a clean install of Mountain Lion... that way, if you ever notice anything wrong with your system, you'll know for sure it has nothing to do with the upgrade and possibly messed up old configs. That's what I'd do at least...

PS: Just to make sure you are aware of the system requirements for Mountain Lion:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5444
Click to expand...

Ah, okay. Thanks for the help. I'll try that and see what happens. Cheers!
 
bladeflesh said:
Ah, gotcha. Hmm that could be an option. How do I go about a clean install? Furthermore, could I just update one OS at a time (10.5.8 to 10.6.x to 10.7.x ect.) or is that also problematic?
Click to expand...

Myself and many many others have upgraded OS versions without doing a clean install and never had a problem. If your system is running fine now, just doing an upgrade will work fine for you. A true clean install involves wiping the entire drive then manually reinstalling every app and every setting. No offense, but the fact you are asking how to do this makes me think you might be setting yourself up for a huge hassle with no return.

I would do a good backup then just install both OS versions.

You can skip the Lion install. Just install Snow Leopard then from the App Store go straight to Mountain Lion.
 
Weaselboy said:
Myself and many many others have upgraded OS versions without doing a clean install and never had a problem. If your system is running fine now, just doing an upgrade will work fine for you. A true clean install involves wiping the entire drive then manually reinstalling every app and every setting. No offense, but the fact you are asking how to do this makes me think you might be setting yourself up for a huge hassle with no return.

I would do a good backup then just install both OS versions.

You can skip the Lion install. Just install Snow Leopard then from the App Store go straight to Mountain Lion.
Click to expand...

So I should install OS 10.6 then go straight from there to mountain lion, 10.8?
 
Please remember legacy Power software won't run in ML
Personally I would backup all data and do a clean install

Aside from that, welcome to the future! :)
Leopard and ML are my two fav Mac os
 
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