steps before upgrading from 10.4.11 to

[headrogue]

Hello form Germany
right in front of me I have got a

Mac mini
1,83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 667 MHz DDr 2 SDRAM
OS x 10.4.11
2,59 GB free space ( of 80)

HDD Iomega Firewire 400 , 931 GB free space, used on Windows before, not formated for mac, yet

Usb keyboard (german version)
Mouse

no idea from computers (!)


I want

1) to safe data
2) update software to latest possible version

I can`t

3) login into one of my user accounts ( for some years…, but of course like to
keep data/ get acces to it again)
main password isn`t accepted.



I am
a creative mind wich can be fun but can also have the downside having issues doing one step after the other…

I need
A helping hand or three to lead me through necessary steps. One after um…another.

thanks in advance.

 

[Dave Braine]

First, you need more space on your Mini's hard drive. It's recommended to have not less than 10%(8Gb in your case) free for the efficient running of the computer.

You can use Grand Perspective to look for any large files than you can delete.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/grandperspectiv/

Then use Carbon Copy Cloner or Superduper to make a clone(bootable) backup of your computer.
https://bombich.com/download
Use the version for Snow Leopard and Lion. This seems to work ok with my 10.4.11 Mini.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Scroll down the page and there is a link for the 10.4 Tiger version on the right hand side.

To make the clone, you will have to format your external drive for Mac. You can do this using Disk Utility which you should find in the Utilities Folder in your Applications Folder. Format it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

According to MacTracker, you can update your Mini to OSX 10.7 Lion. You will have to upgrade to OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard first. You can buy the Snow Leopard dvd from the Apple Store. It's only £14 here in the UK.
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

That version will probably be 10.6.3. If you then update to 10.6.8 you will then be able to access the Apple App Store. You can download the 10.6.8 update here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Once you have the App Store, you should be able to buy 10.7 Lion.

Hope all that's OK for now.