Out-of-date OS

[billinden]

I'm embarrassed to say I still have El Capitan 10.11.6 on my 24" iMac (2009 model). I've thought about upgrading, but put it off because of all the problems I've read about on this forum for quite a long time. However, I'm now having problems installing a video editing software program. It's telling me I need a newer Operating System. Could someone direct me down the right path to the best OS for my needs. I email a lot, surf the net, work in Photoshop, work with videos and that's about it. I'm retired.

Thanks in advance for anything you can contribute.

 

[MBAmtloin]

I have a MacBook air 2010 and high sierra runs great!
i use cs4 and can enjoy 2020 internets with streaming and other browsing using safari.
the battery run well enough and older and new apps work well.
i have noticed a vast improvement in High Sierra 10.13.6 compared to 10.13.2.
having a ssd does help and 4gb of ram seems enough to run the OSX,
El Cap is still good and can function but High Sierra is much better and less drag.
i hope this helps, others will reply as well.

 

[lclev]

I am assuming your 24” iMac is an early 2009 so the newest it will run is El Capitan.

The other issue is what video editing software are you looking at? Your iMac might not handle the load even if you have to change your software selection. Video editing is very machine intensive. While the Core 2 duo processor was a good processor in it’s day it might not be able to do what you are wanting.

Unless I have the model wrong I am afraid you are stuck with El Capitan.

Lisa

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Your Mac is a vintage machine and can only be upgraded up to High Sierra. First, confirm that the application you are trying to install will be happy with 10.13 High Sierra. Once you've gotten that squared away, make a backup of your current data, then follow these instructions to grab a copy of High Sierra and upgrade.

Also, don't believe all the complaints you hear about the OS. The ones who are having issues (and there will be some) will complain the loudest while the millions of others out there will just happily upgrade and move on. I've upgraded my various machines on day one in most cases starting with Leopard to Catalina and never have had any issues at all. I also am very knowledgeable about what the upgrade brings or takes away (Catalina taking away 32-bit app support for example), so nothing is really a surprise for me.

There is very little reason for you not to stay up to date on the OS.

 

[krs]

Your Mac is a vintage machine and can only be upgraded up to High Sierra.

A 2009 24-inch iMac can only be upgraded to El Capitan (as Lisa posted) - not to High Sierra

There is very little reason for you not to stay up to date on the OS.

I think that depends very much on the type of user.
Apple makes changes to the existing functionality with each new macOS which requires users to "relearn" how to use some capabilities they had previously.
Unless one is technically confident (like you Ashwin), they don't like to go through an OS update every year and then additional version updates during the year.

I still have everyone in the family on El Capitan even though every Mac at this time can run the latest version of macOS.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Oh right, early 2009 can only go to 10.11 El Cap, but late 2009 iMac can go to 10.13 High Sierra (like mine).

 

[MBAmtloin]

Oh right, early 2009 can only go to 10.11 El Cap, but late 2009 iMac can go to 10.13 High Sierra (like mine).

thanks i might purchase a used iMac next month and that is great info.

 

[billinden]

Thank You Everyone

Oh right, early 2009 can only go to 10.11 El Cap, but late 2009 iMac can go to 10.13 High Sierra (like mine).

I had no idea my iMac was such an antique. Seems like just the other day I bought it and was so proud to have the best computer I've ever owned. I still love it and wouldn't take anything for it. Neither would Apple apparently. I just checked and they won't even offer it as a trade-in. Doesn't seem fair, but that's what happens to old things, including people.

Thanks again to everyone who replied. You're an awesome bunch.

 

[MBAmtloin]

I had no idea my iMac was such an antique. Seems like just the other day I bought it and was so proud to have the best computer I've ever owned. I still love it and wouldn't take anything for it. Neither would Apple apparently. I just checked and they won't even offer it as a trade-in. Doesn't seem fair, but that's what happens to old things, including people.

Thanks again to everyone who replied. You're an awesome bunch.

awww shucks!
i feel that way towards my 2010 macbook air! when the keyboard was not working i had a bluetooth one nestled on top for over 17 months.
there might be an older video editor that works with that iMac?

 

[RadDave]

I had no idea my iMac was such an antique. Seems like just the other day I bought it and was so proud to have the best computer I've ever owned. I still love it and wouldn't take anything for it. Neither would Apple apparently. I just checked and they won't even offer it as a trade-in. Doesn't seem fair, but that's what happens to old things, including people.

Thanks again to everyone who replied. You're an awesome bunch.

Hi - well, some things improve w/ age, but others age quickly (can't remember how many hamsters I had as a kid, but was a LOT!) - got my wife a new iMac for the holidays - retina screen & 512GB SSD (replaced her 'aging' late 2012 iMac which had a screen that I hated to use and a failing fusion drive) - for me, 5-6 yrs is my time to think about replacements - now my MBPro is 2013 and handling Catalina well and SSD testing fine w/ DriveDx, so will keep going w/ that one! Dave
.

 

[Horsa]

Hi billinden,

...and there was I, congratulating myself for finally having upgraded from Snow Leopard to El Capitan and feeling pretty **** cutting edge!

Don't lose heart - all may not be lost. Can you tell me exactly which video editing package you were trying to install? And is it one you're already used to, or something completely new to you? There are other video editing suites out there that will run on El Capitan - or if you really must have the one you've chosen, it may be possible to track down an earlier version of it that plays nicely under El Cap.

 

[Rod]

So is it an early or late 2009 model? This is easily found in About This Mac under the Apple menu.
If it’s the late model upgrading to High Sierra should solve the problem. This will also offer the option to change to the new Apple filing system APFS.
You shouldn’t anticipate problems with the upgrade, the only people who post here are the few who had problems, the vast majority do not.
I would advise one thing though. Download a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner from Bombich. The free trial version will enable you to clone your internal drive onto an external USB HD and restore it to your device should something go wrong or if you simply don’t like High Sierra.
You may think this is a lot of effort to go to but CCC is simple to use, has great support and is so much easier that any other method of reverting or restoring.
You might even decide to buy the full version. A bootable clone has a lot of uses.


Sent from my iPhone using Mac-Forums

 

[billinden]

Thanks for your comments. I guess it’s my “forever” computer. I truly love it and hope it keeps on keeping on.

 

[billinden]

The video editing software is Davinci Resolve. I’m not stuck on it, but it was free and had great reviews.

- - - Updated - - -

It’s the early 2009 model ��

 

[krs]

So is it an early or late 2009 model? This is easily found in About This Mac under the Apple menu.

It's a 24-inch 2009 iMac.
There is no such thing as a late 2009 24-inch model so it has to be the early 2009 one.

PS: Hmmm... interesting that Billinden's last two posts only showed up after I posted this one even though these had a date stamp over an hour earlier.

 

[Horsa]

Thanks for your comments. I guess it’s my “forever” computer. I truly love it and hope it keeps on keeping on.

That's just how I feel about my baby.

The video editing software is Davinci Resolve. I’m not stuck on it, but it was free and had great reviews.

Hmmm... not seeing any download links for older versions of that (I believe DR 12 was OK for El Cap) but it might be worth shooting them an email and asking. It's a pretty hefty video suite, though: I would worry that your machine might struggle to run it well. How much RAM have you got in there? Are you maxed out (8GB) ?

I know it's nowhere near in the same league as DaVinci, but VideoPad worked well for me - and that was on Snow Leopard!

 

[billinden]

Glitch

It's a 24-inch 2009 iMac.
There is no such thing as a late 2009 24-inch model so it has to be the early 2009 one.

PS: Hmmm... interesting that Billinden's last two posts only showed up after I posted this one even though these had a date stamp over an hour earlier.

I think there may be a glitch in the system. I have another message stream for a separate problem I have on this forum. Yesterday the thread was closed for some unknown reason, but now it's open.

 

[MBAmtloin]

There is a website called "Alternative to" that has links and reviews to older software.
the site lists software comparable to a known program like Word or even Davinci.
you can select the platform, cost option and other features to see the programs that will run on various computers.

I like ElCapitan which was an improvement to maverick and yosemite, but Mountain Lion will always be my fav!

 

[Horsa]

My favourite video editing app of all was Hyperengine AV. It was soooooo intuitive and easy to use. Alas, it was PPC only and development ceased in 2006.

 

[Slydude]

The video editing software is Davinci Resolve. I’m not stuck on it, but it was free and had great reviews.

- - - Updated - - -

It’s the early 2009 model ��

What kinds of video editing are you trying to do? That might help us figure out the best way forward?

Just as an example I've done some basic video trimming and conversion using just the version of QuickTime Player X.