I have 10.4 system and now want to upgrade to snow leopard but was told that first I should upgrade from tiger to leopard since I do have a leopard disk as well. Is this information correct and how big a deal is it to do these upgrades- how much time and how complicated?
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Updating from Tiger to Snow Leopard
- Thread starter carola4700
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You can upgrade directly to Snow Leopard from Tiger. You do not need to first install Leopard. It is quite simple to perform the upgrade. You should backup your system first, then insert the install DVD and follow the instructions.
This, of course, assumes that you do not have a PowerPC Mac. Snow Leopard won't work with PPC; it'll only install on Intel Macs.
tiger to snow leopard
I do have intel. 2 different people, at both online apple store AND actual store told me to update first to leopard and then to snow leopard. I did not ask why but they both independently advised so I had to wonder why.
I do have intel. 2 different people, at both online apple store AND actual store told me to update first to leopard and then to snow leopard. I did not ask why but they both independently advised so I had to wonder why.
Naturally, their motivation is to sell you more stuff. It's absolutely not required.
The $29 Snow Leopard upgrade disk is intended for Leopard users wanting to upgrade. If you're still on Tiger you're officially meant to either upgrade to Leopard then Snow Leopard, or purchase the Mac Bundle Box ($169) which also includes iLife and iWork. You can however just purchase the $29 upgrade disk, you will need to backup your work and format and install from fresh, as I don't believe Apple lets you run the upgrade option from Tiger.
So yes it is possible. Although it breaks the EULA, which depending on whether a EULA is enforceable by law (let's not get into that), is illegal. Although of course you're not going to get the police coming after you, it just depends on your own morality. Personally if Apple has shown me the trust not to include serial numbers, activation and genuine disadvantage spyware in my operating system, I'll reciprocate to that by being a good boy.
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When Snow Leopard was first launched, Apple made the $29 upgrade available to those who already had Leopard, and "advised" customers with Tiger to purchase the more expensive "Full Mac Box Set." This is probably why you were told to get Leopard first.
However, this support document from Apple clearly lists out the system requirements, and Leopard isn't on there so I think you're good to go:
However, this support document from Apple clearly lists out the system requirements, and Leopard isn't on there so I think you're good to go:
Snow Leopard System Requirements said:
Tiger to Snow Leopard
Yes--aware of EULA rules but I have leopard disk from when I installed on my other desktop.... sooo, if I knew that it was in some way EASIER, less time-consuming, less RISKY to go from TIGER TO LEOPARD to SNOW Leopard, I would do it.
I have read that there are two types of install and that's why i think maybe doing 2 installs is better (?).
I've heard that it's not a good idea to simply do an "upgrade" install- better to do a clean install but doesn't that erase your stuff? You can see that I have never done an install myself so I am definitely nervous about this and I just want it to be easy and not have to worry about stuff getting erased!
Yes--aware of EULA rules but I have leopard disk from when I installed on my other desktop.... sooo, if I knew that it was in some way EASIER, less time-consuming, less RISKY to go from TIGER TO LEOPARD to SNOW Leopard, I would do it.
I have read that there are two types of install and that's why i think maybe doing 2 installs is better (?).
I've heard that it's not a good idea to simply do an "upgrade" install- better to do a clean install but doesn't that erase your stuff? You can see that I have never done an install myself so I am definitely nervous about this and I just want it to be easy and not have to worry about stuff getting erased!
To be quite honest, I think it's more easier for you to back up your files and do a clean install than to deal with the mess of going from Tiger -> Leopard -> Snow Leopard. Much more cheaper for you as well. Saves you money as you can get iWork and iLife for cheaper than if you bought the box set I believe.
That's fine then. Back up your work, boot off the Snow Leopard DVD, go to Disk Utility, format the drive, then install. You wont be able to do an upgrade, it will have to be a fresh install if you're using Tiger (so I've been lead to believe). Yes it will erase EVERYTHING, so back up all your files somewhere. Personally what I do, is partition my hard drive, one partition for the OS, the rest for all my files. That way I never have to worry about losing anything when I reinstall my OS.
partitioning
Personally what I do, is partition my hard drive, one partition for the OS, the rest for all my files. That way I never have to worry about losing anything when I reinstall my OS.
OH! That sounds like a great idea! Makes a lot of sense. Hadn't heard that before. Thanks.
Personally what I do, is partition my hard drive, one partition for the OS, the rest for all my files. That way I never have to worry about losing anything when I reinstall my OS.
OH! That sounds like a great idea! Makes a lot of sense. Hadn't heard that before. Thanks.
I remember reading that it now sells for $129
Then you know that if it's still installed on the other computer, you'd be violating the EULA to install it again on a different one.
eula
I'm not planning to use the leopard disk again as I already bought Snow Leopard which I will use.....just trying to get a handle on the glitches.
I'm not planning to use the leopard disk again as I already bought Snow Leopard which I will use.....just trying to get a handle on the glitches.
My 3.5 year old MBP updates fine from Tiger to Snow Leopard perfectly without problems.
Why would you waste the time and effort? You absolutely can do a direct upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard without erasing the drive. Please don't give advice based on bad information any more. I have done this, I have verified that it works without any flaws. Just pop in the Snow Leopard DVD, install, and go!
jW
The only problem with this is that you still want to have a backup of your files elsewhere. A separate partition does NOT a trustworthy backup make. If the hard drive goes, your files are gone... If you make a mistake in Disk Utility, you could accidentally wipe your files, etc...
Btw, I learned this the hard way, as I used to do the same thing, and in fact still do on one of my computers, but now I am far more diligent about backups.
Overwhelmed - help
I am running on Tiger and need to upgrade to Snow Leopard. I'm far behind the technology and am so scared of losing all my stuff.
I have an external hard drive to back up files, but other than the obvious photos, movies and documents, I have no clue what else I should save. Do I just drag my entire hard drive to the external one? Help!
I'm not very tech savvy - so please speak in layman's terms. Or like I'm 4.
Also, will running snow leopard mean I'll have to get/buy new applications such as Word, iPhoto, iMovie, etc.?
I really don't know what a 'clean install' means either. So help understanding that would be great.
I just need a virtual someone to hold my hand through these scary waters! I'm clueless.
I am running on Tiger and need to upgrade to Snow Leopard. I'm far behind the technology and am so scared of losing all my stuff.
I have an external hard drive to back up files, but other than the obvious photos, movies and documents, I have no clue what else I should save. Do I just drag my entire hard drive to the external one? Help!
I'm not very tech savvy - so please speak in layman's terms. Or like I'm 4.
Also, will running snow leopard mean I'll have to get/buy new applications such as Word, iPhoto, iMovie, etc.?
I really don't know what a 'clean install' means either. So help understanding that would be great.
I just need a virtual someone to hold my hand through these scary waters! I'm clueless.
Save files only... Documents Folder, etc. ... wherever you've saved files.I have an external hard drive to back up files, but other than the obvious photos, movies and documents, I have no clue what else I should save. Do I just drag my entire hard drive to the external one? Help!
It might, depending on how old they are. Not real likely in this case, going from Tiger to SL, but still possible. List the apps and their versions if you want help.
It's an option given when you go to reinstall the OS.
So I don't have to "back up" applications?
iPhoto 6.0, iMovie 6.0, Safari 4.1.3, Firefox 3.5.19, Word 2004 (but I have a disc for the latest version that I can install, but not under tiger - hence one of the reasons to upgrade)
Is this an option I should take? What does the clean install DO?
Also, how much RAM, or other requirements do I need? (Again, speak to me in layman's terms).
And where do I go to find out if I have enough? (No tech lingo please...and thanks for your patience to a non-techy person.) As long as you have the CD, or can get the off of the internet.
You should be doing a clone to an external USB drive as your backup.
A clone in a bit for bit copy of your hard drive and it is bootable.
I think that superduper is the easiest application to use, but other people use carbon copy cloner. They are both free. The clone will contain all the files of your hard drive. You will need a USB drive that is large enough to contain all the the contents of your main drive. Also test out the backup before you upgrade.
To boot off the USB drive hold OPTION while your Mac is booting up. You can then select which drive to boot from.
Safari will come with Snow Lep & the latest version of firefox can be downloaded for free at their website.
I don't know about the others off hand but if you google "iPhoto 6.0 requirements" you will be able to find them.
Is this an option I should take? What does the clean install DO?
Also, how much RAM, or other requirements do I need? (Again, speak to me in layman's terms).
A clean install is basically an erase of the entire hard drive and a fresh install of the OS, then apps & data. All your data will be in your backup. I dont think that you can upgrade Tiger to Snow Lep without having to upgrade to Lep first. You can always do a clean install.
I always do a clean install when I upgrade my OS. It removes any leftover junk.
Note that to do a clean install you need to -
1) Boot from Snow Lep CD
2) Disk Utilities from the top menu
3) Erase the hard drive
4) continue with the install.
If you do not erase the hard drive BEFORE you install then the OS will upgrade the OS & you will not get a clean install.
To check on your Mac click on the apple in the top left -> about this mac.
Snow Lep System Requirements
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A
Mac computer with an Intel processor
1GB of memory
5GB of available disk space
DVD drive for installation
Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
Some features require Apple's MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
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As long as you have the CD, or can get the off of the internet.
You should be doing a clone to an external USB drive as your backup.
A clone in a bit for bit copy of your hard drive and it is bootable.
I think that superduper is the easiest application to use, but other people use carbon copy cloner. They are both free. The clone will contain all the files of your hard drive. You will need a USB drive that is large enough to contain all the the contents of your main drive. Also test out the backup before you upgrade.
To boot off the USB drive hold OPTION while your Mac is booting up. You can then select which drive to boot from.
Safari will come with Snow Lep & the latest version of firefox can be downloaded for free at their website.
I don't know about the others off hand but if you google "iPhoto 6.0 requirements" you will be able to find them.
Is this an option I should take? What does the clean install DO?
Also, how much RAM, or other requirements do I need? (Again, speak to me in layman's terms).
A clean install is basically an erase of the entire hard drive and a fresh install of the OS, then apps & data. All your data will be in your backup. I dont think that you can upgrade Tiger to Snow Lep without having to upgrade to Lep first. You can always do a clean install.
I always do a clean install when I upgrade my OS. It removes any leftover junk.
Note that to do a clean install you need to -
1) Boot from CD
2) Disk Utilities from the top menu
3) Erase the hard drive
4) continue with the install.
If you do not erase the hard drive BEFORE you install then the OS will upgrade the OS & you will not get a clean install.