How to upgrade from OS X 10.5.8 to 10.6 or higher

[Mahin]

hey guys

I have a Macbook and I need to upgrade the system from 10.5.8 to at least 10.6 in order to get some apps to work.

I live in Iran and there is no official apple stores in my country so I decided to try and upgrade it myself before handing it over to those unofficial places.

I have absolutely no idea what I should do. but I'm a quick learner so don worry about that

please help me do the upgrade step by step.

Thanks

 

[pigoo3]

You need to get yourself an OS 10.6 install disk. I do not know what options you have in Iran to get an OS 10.6 install disk. But in many places of the world…a 10.6 install disk can be purchased from the online Apple Store…or they can be purchased from other Mac users via eBay.

As an example…here's the link for the 10.6 disk via the US online store:

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.)

HTH,

- Nick

 

[Mahin]

You need to get yourself an OS 10.6 install disk. I do not know what options you have in Iran to get an OS 10.6 install disk. But in many places of the world…a 10.6 install disk can be purchased from the online Apple Store…or they can be purchased from other Mac users via eBay.

As an example…here's the link for the 10.6 disk via the US online store:

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.)

HTH,

- Nick

Thank you Nick

isn't it possible to download it from somewhere??

it's really not the matter of money but trust.
the stores we have here are not reliable especially when it comes to Mac operation system and apps. I will do it if its my last option.

And so what do I do after I get the disk?

 

[pigoo3]

isn't it possible to download it from somewhere??

OS 10.6 (and earlier Mac OS versions) only came on disk…and was never offered as a downloadable OS. You NEED OS 10.6.6 or higher to have access to the Mac App Store. Then you will have access to newer downloadable OS versions (10.7, 10.8, 10.9, and 10.10).

And so what do I do after I get the disk?

Insert it…boot the computer from it...and follow the on screen instructions.

- Nick

 

[Mahin]

OS 10.6 (and earlier Mac OS versions) only came on disk…and was never offered as a downloadable OS. You NEED OS 10.6.6 or higher to have access to the Mac App Store. Then you will have access to newer downloadable OS versions (10.7, 10.8, 10.9, and 10.10).



Insert it…boot the computer from it...and follow the on screen instructions.

- Nick

didn't think it would be that easy!! Thanks!
just one more thing ... I've had this macbook for over 6 years. if I update it to the latest OS (if I can!!) wouldn't it get mess up? or should I just stick to the older versions like 10.6?

what I meant to ask is ... which OS is suitable for old devices?

 

[toMACsh]

Might have older applications that will not run on anything higher than 10.6 so you should check into that if you don't want to buy lots of other software upgrades.

 

[pigoo3]

... I've had this macbook for over 6 years. if I update it to the latest OS (if I can!!) wouldn't it get mess up? or should I just stick to the older versions like 10.6?

what I meant to ask is ... which OS is suitable for old devices?

Need to know exactly what MacBook model you have…to determine what the max. OS version it can run is.

I know that you want/need to upgrade your MacBook's OS to "get some apps to work" (like you mentioned in post #1). But like "toMACsh" mentioned…if you upgrade the OS too far…then apps that you currently have may not work (or not work without being updated themselves).

So it really comes down to at least three things that need to be considered when upgrading a computer's OS:

1. What apps do you currently have…and will they be made incompatible (won't run) if upgraded to a newer OS version.
2. What OS version do the "new" apps you want to run require.
3. What exact model is the computer…so we know just how far the OS can be upgraded (what's the newest OS version it can run)…IF…installed/upgrading to the newest OS version is desired.

- Nick

 

[Mahin]

1. What apps do you currently have…and will they be made incompatible (won't run) if upgraded to a newer OS version.

don care about the old apps I downloaded cause the ones I mostly use are itunes, vlc, firefox (which will be replaced by chrome after the upgrade) and some built in apps.

2. What OS version do the "new" apps you want to run require.

the apps which comes handy to people in Iran are mostly the ones for using proxy in order to surf the net. cause some websites are blocked for people inside the country and I need access to them. so I want to use Anyconnect which requires OS 10.6 or later.
But I don want to upgrade my system to 10.6 and have to do it all over again in a couple of years because of the requirements in near future. that's why I'm asking to upgrade to the latest version. other apps I need to have are PDF reader and maker, excel and stuff like that for my new job.

3. What exact model is the computer…so we know just how far the OS can be upgraded (what's the newest OS version it can run)…IF…installed/upgrading to the newest OS version is desired.

 

[Mahin]

Might have older applications that will not run on anything higher than 10.6 so you should check into that if you don't want to buy lots of other software upgrades.

Thank you for pointing that out

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks for all the info…great to hear that you don't have any current apps that need to be concerned about.

Your MacBook is new enough to be able to run the most current Mac OS (Yosemite 10.10). But…many folks feel that although the minimum ram for Yosemite is 2gig…Yosemite runs better with 4gig or even 8gig of ram.

Your MacBook has 2gig of ram…so technically Yosemite should run…but it's possible you may experience some performance issues.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[Mahin]

ok thank you for the information.

How about if I upgrade it to the version before that, Maverick I think ...
is that going to slow my mac as well?

 

[pigoo3]

How about if I upgrade it to the version before that, Maverick I think ...
is that going to slow my mac as well?

I think that many folks would recommend more than 2gig of ram for Mavericks as well. Also…Mavericks is currently not available. Apple seems to have pulled it from the Mac App Store.

- Nick

 

[chas_m]

Bottom line: if you're going to stick with a six-year-old-plus machine, then just upgrade to 10.6.8 and leave it there.

Then, start upgrading your apps. Make sure they are as up-to-date as possible for 10.6.8, and get rid of/replace/move on from any apps that are PowerPC only or discontinued (AppleWorks for example). Convert files created in obsolete apps to standard formats while you still can easily.

THEN get a new(er) computer. 10.6.8 is okay for now, but it no longer receives any security updates, which means it is at increased risk for malware, and more and more software doesn't work with it.

You don't have to buy something brand spankin' new, but due to a variety of factors (few of which are anything to do with Apple), a typical Windows PC or Mac is probably in dire need of replacing (for security reasons if nothing else) every five or six years. It's time for you to start the eventual transition to your next computer.