M
MacHeadCase
Guest
Just thought I'd post some info on how to update your OS X Mac using the Software Update feature.
IMO there are three safety precautions to take, they are simple and will ensure that all goes well after updating your system.
If you have an external hard drive, make a backup just before going through the update process. I use SuperDuper!, it's great and makes a bootable copy of your system on the external so if anything should go wrong, you can always revert to what your Mac was using till you can figure out what went wrong in the update. BTW SuperDuper! came up on top with the least amount of dropped files in a comparative test with Carbon Copy Cloner, Retrospect, and Apple's own Backup. SuperDuper! checks out the copy it made before quitting to make sure it is a working copy.
Then I unplug all peripherals, quit all running apps and start the updating process. Once the update is finished, I plug back in the peripherals, restart and everything has always been fine.
Here are articles and useful info on making sure updating turns out to be a happy experience for you guys:
• Apple Knowledge Base article: Mac OS X: Troubleshooting installation and software updates
• XLab's Installing software updates
• Shock and Awe: How Installing Apple's Updates can Render Your Mac Unbootable and How You Can Prevent it
I know some users never take all these steps and say these are unnecessary as nothing has ever happened to them. I've never been mugged on the street but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
IMO there are three safety precautions to take, they are simple and will ensure that all goes well after updating your system.
If you have an external hard drive, make a backup just before going through the update process. I use SuperDuper!, it's great and makes a bootable copy of your system on the external so if anything should go wrong, you can always revert to what your Mac was using till you can figure out what went wrong in the update. BTW SuperDuper! came up on top with the least amount of dropped files in a comparative test with Carbon Copy Cloner, Retrospect, and Apple's own Backup. SuperDuper! checks out the copy it made before quitting to make sure it is a working copy.
Then I unplug all peripherals, quit all running apps and start the updating process. Once the update is finished, I plug back in the peripherals, restart and everything has always been fine.
Here are articles and useful info on making sure updating turns out to be a happy experience for you guys:
• Apple Knowledge Base article: Mac OS X: Troubleshooting installation and software updates
• XLab's Installing software updates
• Shock and Awe: How Installing Apple's Updates can Render Your Mac Unbootable and How You Can Prevent it
I know some users never take all these steps and say these are unnecessary as nothing has ever happened to them. I've never been mugged on the street but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
