Operating System Upgrade

You are able to run Snow Leapord, but I suggest you upgrade the ram to at least 2 GB, because the base amount of RAM for Snow Leapord is 1 GB. As well, the easiest way in my opinion to keep your files, etc is to get an external hard drive, if you don't have one, and make an image of your hard drive, or keep a backup, then just apply the backup once you install snow leapord. (It will ask when installing)

For making images, I suggest you use Carbon Copy Cloner ( http://www.bombich.com/)

Or, you can use Time Machine to backup your hard drive.

Your computer has the bare minimum specifications, those are located at: http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html . I would STRONGLY recommend upgrading the RAM to the maximum it will handle. Locate your original owners manual to see how much it will address or look here for a copy: http://support.apple.com/manuals/#imac I would recommend OWC (www.macsales.com) as a vendor. I'm not sure but it seems like your machine is one of the first Intel based iMac's a late 2006 model.

You will also need to buy a license of Snow Leopard, that's only $29 and I believe OWC also carries that too.


Once you have the RAM and SL disc install the RAM, do a complete backup of your computer using SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner onto an external HD. Verify the backup works then install Snow Leopard and you're in business!
Roger

If you wish to backup with Time Machine, just access it from your dock, or in
Applications > Utilities > Time Machine.

Go through the program to see what options are available.
For more information about Time Machine, http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/time-machine.html

Or, if you just want to backup files, pictures and not system settings and programs, just click the icon that appeared on the desktop and drag the documents and files into it from your Documents folder or your Username Folder.

Message was edited by: Tech Elementz

You need software to do that, either Carbon Copy Cloner (free): http://www.bombich.com/

OR



SuperDuper ($28 I think): http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html


These applications will copy your entire HD to the external HD and also make the EHD bootable.

Once you have copied everything over you can test if the drive is bootable by restarting the computer while holding down the Option Key, OS X will ask which drive you want to boot from. Choose the EHD and let the machine boot. Once that has been done and the RAM has been installed you can do your upgrade.

She's running Tiger so she can't run Time Machine, she won't be able to do that until she has upgraded to Snow Leopard. If she does the upgrade first and it doesn't go well she will have lost all her data. This is why I suggested she backup first by creating a bootable clone so if the upgrade doesn't go well she will have retained her data and can restore back to her original settings.

Oh I see. Just checked that out. Never realized that Time Machine would not be working with Tiger. Anyways, it would then be best to have a bootable clone.

Yup Time Machine first came out with Leopard in late 2007.

I have a similar question. I want to buy a new iMac with Snow Leopard operating system and I am currently running 10.4.11. I would like to keep the old system on the new computer because I use Adobe CS and I don't think it will work with the newer operating system (I don't want to buy the upgrade to the Adobe software). Since the drive can be partitioned to use Windows, can it also use the old operating system that way. I understand that all you have to do to switch to the part of the drive you want is to press the options key at start up.

Hi cezel and welcome to the group. As this post has marked as answered you'll be better off creating your own post rather than piggy backing on this one.

Thanks - just did that.