Need some help updating early 2008 24" iMac (SSD, 6gig RAM, OS swap etc)

[buyusfear]

Hi there, looking for some help and advice.

I've done a bunch of searching on what to do, how to do it, etc; however, I'm torn between option A or option B.
Option A, TimeMachine swap; is clean and simple, but brings unwanted baggage, like an "other" storage amount of over 112gigs that I can't figure out what its comprised of, and
Option B is great but would I be able to get some older App's off of the old Drive like PhotoShop Elements, MS Office suite, etc?

I want this to be a productive web, email, and mild photo editing workhorse whilst I patiently await Apple to release a newly redesigned iMac, if that day ever comes.


Option A) a Time Machine backup of my current iMac's hard drive, a new 500 gig SSD install and then a start up Command-R and restore from Time Machine. Install the 4 gig DDR2 ram stick with one of the current 2 gig sticks and call it a day.
This was very similar to what I did with my 2010 MBP a couple years back, went great, but I had a lot more clutter on there that I wasn't comfortable with purging just yet.

Option B) Swap the drives, and boot up a crisp clean new install of an OS (Snow Leopard of which I have a family pack Disc still) and then update to Yosemite, or El Cap? via load flash drive? something I've read. And as well update RAM as per previous option.

If you think starting from new is the way to go, (option B) which I too find appealing in that I should essentially have a newish running machine with extra horse power, then how do you propose I do this? Keeping in mind I'm not completely computer illiterate, but also don't do this regularly so instructions are appreciated.
Lastly, if I go the option B route, can I still access my old drive?

What I have:

-early 2008 iMac 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 320 Gb SATA HD, running 10.10.5 Yosemite, Time Machined
-Upgrading to 6Gb total RAM, from current 2Gb+2Gb
-500GB SSD SATA III 6GB/s SSD replacing original SATA
-SSD 2.5 to 3" adapter caddy for the swap
-2.5 inch Hard Drive enclosure (in case I load up the SSD prior to the hard drive swaps)

Thanks again!

Alex

 

[USB3foriMac]

Alex,
>> I want this to be a productive web, email, and mild photo editing workhorse

Seriously, with your specs (Core 2 Duo, 500 GB SATA), the best is to put a Linux on it. There are some that look like MacOs (e.g. Ubuntu Budgie).
Your MacOS (whichever you are able to install) is totally outdated, and has not received any security patches for years.
Linux will run pretty smooth, and at least it will be safe - for you and for others.

If you want to prevent your iMac to serve as another spam-creating bot, you better not let this outdated piece of junk with MacOS run loose on the internet.

 

[buyusfear]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Not sure I’m prepared to go down a Linux route and learn a new OS. I didn’t really think about the current OS being a massive security issue either.
something to think about for sure and more reason to anticipate a new iMac.

 

[buyusfear]

Now I really need help.
I installed the SSD, erased formatted journal extended and restored from time machine.
Once completed it asked for my wifi.
Password wouldn’t work
Something about a network issue.
I tried a different password and. Is it said incorrect.
so I restarted, and now the problems occurred.
It boots into a password screen, but won’t accept my password which I know to be correct. My hint appears. But no luck.
I try restarting and the same.

I try booting into recovery, Command R But it directly goes to that password screen.
there’s nothing else I can get it to do.

Any ideas?

 

[buyusfear]

Update.
I managed to get into a different screen connecting my time machine and starting while holding the option key. From here I selected the “OS DVD”, and then within thAt GUI I selected “restore from time machine“ again from Utilities.
One step I didn’t do last time before hitting Go was Connect my WiFi (which it clearly lost in the instructions)
With that done I’m hoping this Time Machine restore will be the one that works.

 

[buyusfear]

So it restored from TM yet again, and we’re back to the blue background with password sign in. Which shows my profile so I know here’s something working, but doesn’t accept my password.
very frustrating.
Any ideas?