P.Wilson
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: My imac is Mac OS X 10.5.8 how do I upgrade? and where do I find the cost to do so?

I have an older imac with OS X 10.5.8 and need to know how to upgrade and if I really can.  With icloud you have to have OS X 10.7 or higher.

iMac (24-inch Early 2009), Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jun 13, 2014 5:45 PM

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P.Wilson

Q: My imac is Mac OS X 10.5.8 how do I upgrade? and where do I find the cost to do so?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Jun 13, 2014 5:48 PM in response to P.Wilson
    Level 10 (313,375 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2014 5:48 PM in response to P.Wilson

    Back up your data, click here, and read the entire page. Mac OS X 10.7 and newer don't support PowerPC software such as Microsoft Office 2004.

     

    (108261)

  • by P.Wilson,

    P.Wilson P.Wilson Jun 13, 2014 6:28 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2014 6:28 PM in response to Niel

    I've read this information - however it appears that I have to upgrade to 10.6.8 Snow Leopard first then I would be able to upgrade to OS X Mavericks.  So my question is then - from 10.5.8 (Leopard??? as it doesn't say any where if the 10.5.8 is Leopard or not) upgrade to 10.6.8 Snow Leopard???  then upgrade to OS X Marvericks.  Then maybe the sync will work between my imac in icloud to my ipad.  Because currently my system only shows mobileme which is old and I never set up and when I ask for more information it pushes me to icloud.

  • by Niel,Helpful

    Niel Niel Jun 13, 2014 6:55 PM in response to P.Wilson
    Level 10 (313,375 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2014 6:55 PM in response to P.Wilson

    Correct.

     

    (108265)

  • by MrHoffman,Helpful

    MrHoffman MrHoffman Jun 14, 2014 6:06 AM in response to P.Wilson
    Level 6 (15,627 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2014 6:06 AM in response to P.Wilson

    Upgrading to 10.6 Snow Leopard will allow you to load and use a newer version of iTunes; a version that's compatible with iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 7.

     

    The Snow Leopard DVD is available (US$20) from the Apple Store; this will get you to OS X 10.6.8.  (Make sure your Mac meets the tech specs there.)

     

    Once you are on 10.6.8, you can then "purchase" (it's free) and download and install Mavericks via the Mac App Store.  (Make sure your particular Mac meets the Mavericks Tech Specs.)

     

    Version numbers and names:

     

    • 10.5 is Leopard.
    • 10.6 is Snow Leopard.
    • 10.7 is Lion.
    • 10.8 is Mountain Lion,
    • 10.9 is Mavericks
    • 10.10 is Yosemite, and not yet generally available.

     

    You will absolutely want to create at least one full, external backup of your entire system contents prior to performing this upgrade, as OS X operating system upgrades do very occasionally fail.

     

    Existing PowerPC applications will not work on OS X 10.7 and later.  To look for these older applications at least on 10.6 (I don't have a 10.5 system handy to check this path) use  > About This Mac > More Info > Software > Applications > Kind to see if you have any PowerPC (PPC) applications.  Various Adobe tools and FileMaker Pro 8 and other are among the most commonly-used PowerPPC apps from back then.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jun 14, 2014 6:11 AM in response to P.Wilson
    Level 6 (10,497 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2014 6:11 AM in response to P.Wilson

    Your iMac can handle Mavericks.

    After installing 10.6.8 you upgrade further, via the Appstore.

    Check that you have at least 4GB Ram.

    Everything as Niel said.

  • by woodsman124,

    woodsman124 woodsman124 Feb 11, 2015 8:30 AM in response to MrHoffman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 11, 2015 8:30 AM in response to MrHoffman

    I think this is related. I want to upgrade my bosses Macbook Pro to SSD and Yosmite. He is running 10.5.8

     

    If I do a Time Machine backup then install the SSD and Yosmite will it be able to load the backup or do I have to do the Snow Leopard update first. I'm just trying to save time since they are making me do it in the office.

     

    Thanks...

  • by Keith Barkley,

    Keith Barkley Keith Barkley Feb 11, 2015 11:24 AM in response to woodsman124
    Level 5 (6,407 points)
    Feb 11, 2015 11:24 AM in response to woodsman124

    Yosemite must be installed from the AppStore, and the AppStore comes with 10.6.8...

  • by MrHoffman,

    MrHoffman MrHoffman Feb 18, 2015 4:11 PM in response to woodsman124
    Level 6 (15,627 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 18, 2015 4:11 PM in response to woodsman124

    woodsman124 wrote:

     

    I think this is related. I want to upgrade my bosses Macbook Pro to SSD and Yosmite. He is running 10.5.8

     

    If I do a Time Machine backup then install the SSD and Yosmite will it be able to load the backup or do I have to do the Snow Leopard update first. I'm just trying to save time since they are making me do it in the office.

     

    Thanks...

     

    As stated in my reply, you have to go to 10.6.8 first.  Using the CD.  Then upgrade from there.

     

    Whether the particular MacBook Pro is supported by more recent releases depends on the specific model and the specific configuration.

     

    You'll want to verify the internal connectors on the particular MacBook Pro are compatible with whatever SSD you're looking to use, too — SSDs tend to use SAS or SATA I/O, and that might not be available on a MacBook Pro that was running 10.5.8.  Not all MacBook Pro boxes that were running 10.5.8 can run Yosemite, either — some of those old MacBook Pro boxes weren't 64-bit Intel; they were Intel Core, and those aren't supported by Yosemite.  Might only be able to upgrade to 10.6.8, with some of those old MacBook Pro boxes.


    Can't say I'd "get creative" with the sequence used to perform the upgrade here, either.  Definitely have backups.