Updating help needed

[iamchristine]

I have a desktop mac and a mac notebook. They are both outdated I guess. They still work of course, but crash a lot, slow, and sometimes a sign comes up telling me this is outdated.

I restored several times over the years by CD's I had, not really knowing what I was doing I know, not smart.....

So, they both are described the same:

Laptop and desktop

Mac OS X
Version 10.5.8
Processor 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

I would like to bring them up to date and I feel they are worth saving as I am not a heavy computer user. Maybe an hour a day at the most and I don't do much except forums, a couple chats, research and youtube, etc.

I don't think I used the notebook more than 50 times since I bought it.

Would someone please give me instructions how to update?
Do I just buy a CD called snow tiger or something like that and install it?
Can I just jump to the most recent that is out. I think it is called Yosemite?
Or do I have to buy each disc to bring me up to date? Or do I need to send these to the junk yard and buy a new mac?

Your help will be appreciated as I really do need it explained to me so I can understand. I am not completely stupid, but I am not computer savvy either.

 

[Bruno09]

Hi Christine,

it depends on what models they are.

Go to menu bar : /About this Mac/More infos, and let us know the output (model, year, RAM).

 

[iamchristine]

ok Bruno, one moment and I will get it........

PS:

I don't have any files to move anywhere. I don't need anything saved, etc.

I just use these computers for surfing around a bit.

----------

Is this the info Bruno?


Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.20f4
Serial Number (system): W8739MW8X85
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-001B63A702B8

----------

This is what the notebook says:

Hardware Overview:

Model name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook3,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed 2 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4MB
Memory 1GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot Rom Version MB31.008D.800
SMC Version *system) 1.24f3
Serial number W8746E53Z62
Hardwar UUID: A25B6BAF-EAF4-5B70-BDEC-FB61CEB34908
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State Enabled

 

[Bruno09]

Yes exactly.

Thanks to the "model identifier", we can know that this is a Mid-2007 model.

This model can run the "latest release of OS X", aka Yosemite (10.10.x).

BUT, it has 1 GB of RAM only, which is NOT enough to run Yosemite (you couldn't even install it, as 2 GB are required).

It is not enough for Lion (10.7), Mountain Lion (10.8) or Mavericks (10.9).

The "best" OS for this machine with 1 GB of RAM would be Snow Leopard (10.6).
The DVD is still available on the Apple Store.

If you want to install one of the later OSes, you would need to add more RAM, the maximum RAM for this model is : 6 GB.

It would work fine with 6 GB of RAM and Yosemite (min. RAM recommended : 4 GB)

------

For the Macbook : Mid 2007 model.

maximum OS : Lion 10.7.5 (min. RAM recommended : 4 GB)
maximum RAM : 6 GB

 

[iamchristine]

Wow, that was fast help Bruno. Thanks

Couple questions....

Can I use the same Snow Leopard on BOTH the laptop and desk model. Can I order it on line at the mac shop?

Also, if I want to to this again when it tells me I am outdated again, how to I add RAM? Is that a disc also?

 

[Bruno09]

Yes you can use the same DVD to install on both macs.

For sale here : http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

You must know that this OS is no longer supported = Apple no longer releases security updates for it.

The DVD sold by Apple is the 10.6.3 version, then by Software Update you can upgrade to 10.6.8 = you can access the Mac App Store.

RAM (memory) is a piece of hardware that can be easily replaced in a mid 2007 Macbook, see here : http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1651

For the iMac, it's also easy : http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191

 

[iamchristine]

ok Bruno, thanks so much. I will get the snow leopard for now and install on both. Then worry about the ram when I start running into more problems, maybe by then I will just get a new computer or take these in to a professional to get the ram put in....

Great help Bruno....