Roundhere
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Back up first for upgrade 10.6.8 to latest

I want to back up my OS and music to an external hardrive usb.

 

i asked a similar question a month or so ago but a few things have changed.

 

here are the specifics of what I'd like to accomplish and need advice please.

 

1. I have an external usb hardrive. I want to back up the OS (10.6.8) and music (iTunes) on the external hardrive.

i Only want to backup in case the update to el capitan does not run smoothly. I am trying to install on the very last minimally required iMac ....so this is risky but just meets apples requirements. Mid 2007 iMac with 4ghz ram.

 

2. Will time machine back up 10.6.8 and iTunes via time machine? I don't want to have to purchase cloning software at this time if time machine will back upnmy OS and iTunes music.

 

3. Should I wipe the iMac after backing up and before attempting to upgrade to el capIran? Or keep the OS as is and try to upgrade from 10.6.8 to el capitan.?

 

4. Can someone send me the exact Apple link to el capitan. The exact version I need when updating from 10.6.8 to el capitan

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 31, 2016 2:47 PM

by babowa,Solvedanswer
babowa babowa
Level 7 (32,009 points)
iPad
A:

No matter how far you update - whether that is to an incremental update or to a new OS, always do a backup first. You never know.....

 

The current version of El Capitan is 10.11.3 - check to see that you do not already have it > Apple > About this Mac > should show you the version you have installed.

 

FWIW, the app store is what you need to update anything and/or purchase/download new apps. It has taken the place of Software Update.

Posted on Feb 2, 2016 4:52 PM

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Roundhere

Q: Back up first for upgrade 10.6.8 to latest

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  • by Acm001,Helpful

    Acm001 Acm001 Feb 1, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 3 (623 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 1, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Roundhere

    Time machine will back up every thing including your iTunes library. So just run time machine then upgrade to el capitan. You can do this via the app store just click and install.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jan 31, 2016 4:25 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jan 31, 2016 4:25 PM in response to Roundhere

    As mentioned Time Machine will backup everything on the hard drive. All you have to do is format the External Hard Disk to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) using Disk Utility. DU is located is Applications - Utilities - Disk Utility

     

    There are many many YouTube.com videos that show how to format the External Hard Disk, it's very simple. To learn more about Time Machine, please look over Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

     

    After Time Machine has backed up the complete HD, leave it connected and let it continue to backup. When it comes to computing of any type ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS backup, if you don't eventually you will lose all of your data. To date, you have been incredibly lucky!

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 1, 2016 2:20 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 1, 2016 2:20 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Thank you. I'm backing up with time machine as I write this....when I want to upgrade from 10.6.8 to el capitan do I leave the external hardrive plugged in to time machine??

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 1, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 1, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Roundhere

    Ok I backed up my iMac 10.6.8 using an external hardrive. Now when I go to the Apple Store downloads section I see a few versions of el capitan. Can someone please let me know which el capitan to download ? I'm pretty confused. which version of el capitan do I download coming from 10.6.8. Thank you very much! The exact link would really help.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 1, 2016 8:51 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 7 (32,009 points)
    iPad
    Feb 1, 2016 8:51 PM in response to Roundhere

    Are you sure you are using the app store app (in your Applications folder)?

     

    Screen Shot 2016-02-01 at 8.50.44 PM.png

    Simply hit the download button. It will automatically download the latest El Capitan version.

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 1, 2016 8:53 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 1, 2016 8:53 PM in response to babowa

    No, I'm going to check right now...!!!

  • by Roundhere,Helpful

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 1, 2016 8:56 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 1, 2016 8:56 PM in response to babowa

    found it thanks to you.....wew ....here goes ....

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 2, 2016 3:55 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 2, 2016 3:55 PM in response to babowa

    Thank you so much for the help. I didn't realize about the App Store in applications folder. Now that I have el capitan 11.0 is it a good idea to update to the latest version of el capitan and is there a solid version I should update to.? I realize I have an older mac and I probably won't be able to upgrade too much more ever  with my mid 2007 iMac . I am grateful for the help here and I'm looking to just stay stable as can be in the current and last OS for this computer. Also, should I now back up 11.0 to an external or leave it and just update ? Thank you

  • by babowa,Solvedanswer

    babowa babowa Feb 2, 2016 4:52 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 7 (32,009 points)
    iPad
    Feb 2, 2016 4:52 PM in response to Roundhere

    No matter how far you update - whether that is to an incremental update or to a new OS, always do a backup first. You never know.....

     

    The current version of El Capitan is 10.11.3 - check to see that you do not already have it > Apple > About this Mac > should show you the version you have installed.

     

    FWIW, the app store is what you need to update anything and/or purchase/download new apps. It has taken the place of Software Update.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Feb 2, 2016 5:52 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 5 (7,935 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 2, 2016 5:52 PM in response to Roundhere

    I don't want to have to purchase cloning software at this time if time machine will back upnmy OS and iTunes music.

    You can download and use SuperDuper for free. http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 2, 2016 5:51 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 2, 2016 5:51 PM in response to babowa

    Thank you! I really appreciate this.

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 2, 2016 6:47 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 2, 2016 6:47 PM in response to babowa

    Great looks like I'm at 10.11.3 already. Thanks. I want to now back up 10.11.3 on an external hardrive I just bought.

     

    I have made 3 partitions and one partition is my old OS 10.6.8 which I already backed up with time machine. Now I want to use partition number 2 on same external drive to back up 10.11.3 with time machine. When I select partition 2 (which I have called el capitan 10.11.3 OS backup ....time machine asks

    "do you want to stop backing up to OS backup 10.6.8 and use el capitan 10.11.3 OS backup instead , or backup to both?"

    " if you use both , time machine will take turns backing up to OS 10.6.8 and el capitan 10.11.3"

     

    im confused I don't want to backup 10.6.8 any longer at all. I just want to leave that alone in case I ever need to revert to 10.6.8.

    how do I select just backup OS  10.11.3 and not interfere with 10.6.8 at all?

     

    thank you.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 2, 2016 6:56 PM in response to Roundhere
    Level 7 (32,009 points)
    iPad
    Feb 2, 2016 6:56 PM in response to Roundhere

    Did you partition the hard drive with Disk Utility?

     

    Time Machine wants to backup everything. I don't use it  - I prefer bootable clones, so the following is a bit of a guess: see if there is a setting in TM preferences to exclude your Snow Leopard drive and simply select the partition you want 10.11.3 on.

     

    You do NOT want to have TM back up any longer to Snow Leopard as it would slowly fill up the space and at some point delete your Snow Leopard. That is how TM works: It makes one complete backup, then incremental backups until it runs out of space. At that point, it will delete the oldest backup, etc, etc.

  • by Roundhere,

    Roundhere Roundhere Feb 2, 2016 7:06 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 2, 2016 7:06 PM in response to babowa

    I did use disk utility to partition ...not sure what to do here. I'm re-reading your response...i wouldn't be able to afford another hardrive at this point..yikes ..

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