How not to kill your computer with 10.6.8?

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Chris

Here's an out there, off the wall idea, Why don't the boffins at Apple test these properly before unleashing them on us and causing untold amount of problems for everyone out there who can't even reboot their Mac?

They do, but they can't test for every possible system configuration out there. And, besides, the vast majority of problems are related to pre-existing issues that an update with thousands of files being replaced and written on the fly exposes. In additon, you shouldn't be updating until you know that your third party items are compatible. It's for the developers of those items to keep pace with the updates, not the other way around. And sometimes they do goof. That's why I wait to see what turns up here.

And you should have a reliable, tested backup!

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My ten cents worth (ten cents, not two, due to inflation) on updating safely (there may be some duplication with what a brody has written):

I never run a major update right away. I always wait at least a week or so to see what develops. Most problems I see here are the result either of a specific incompatibility with a third party application or plug-in, or some pre-existing software or hardware issue related to that unique user, which only comes to light due to the stress an update writing many thousands of new files causes. Then, there are occasionally, presumably, as in the instance of font and PDF problems with the previous 10.6.7 update, bugs in the update itself, which affect the majority of users.

External drives are not that expensive these days. I have two clones on externals and if I'm concerned enough about an update, I can install it on one of these and test it first.

Here's my own updating procedure. Major updates don't come along that often. It's worth going to the trouble to do this.

NEVER INTERRUPT AN UPDATE EVEN IF IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING FOREVER

1. Have a backup, so if something does go wrong you won't be left in big trouble.

2. Verify and if necessary repair the drive from Disk Utility. (To repair, you must be booted from the Install Disc or an external clone.)

3. Disconnect all peripherals except the keyboard and mouse.

4. Download the Combo Update from Apple Downloads. It's generally more reliable to update from the standalone Combo than from Software Update, and the Combo, as it includes all updates from 10.6 onwards, may correct any files that have been corrupted or somehow gone missing.

5. Boot in Safe Boot. Hold the Shift key down at start up. Give it time, it will take longer. (The Safe Boot will also actually check and repair the drive if necessary--and if possible.) Safe Boot loads a stripped down system which may reduce any chance of incompatibility while the update is running. Keep all Applications closed.

6. Repair Permissions from Disk Utility while booted in Safe Boot.

7. Install the update from Safe Boot. Keep all Applications closed.

8. Restart when prompted and give the system up to five minutes to finish the final touches of the update with all Applications closed.

9. Verify the Drive and Repair Permissions again.

(Permissions Repair may be voodoo, but in this case I don't mind a little voodoo.)

10. And then I like to restart again.

One other caution. If you are running updates from Software Update, run them one at a time, never all at once. This gives the system a chance to assimilate each one, especially if restarts are involved, and not choke on them.

I also prefer to get "non-major" updates as standalones from Apple Downloads, rather than from Software Update. I only use Software Update to see what's available.

Thanks, as a newbie, you understand we have enough problems with learning how to use a Mac after a lifetime chained to Windows. Was going to ask about Combo, read it but didn't know what it was.. other than it's a lot bigger than the software update

Always safer to run the Combo. And it may overwrite and correct any damaged OS files.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

Thanks

So presumably if I try to update normal software updates on the MBP if it's already been done by the combo it just won't install?

Either I'm lucky or I keep my system in good shape file-wise.

I've been using Software Update on many different Macs since the original iMac w/Mac OS 8.1 and have never had a single problem with any of the updates. I never run Repair Disk Permissions although I will occasionally run Repair Disk.

Now that I've said that, the next update will probably bork my system. 😁

Last time I used a Combo updater, it (re)ran on top of the update it included. And it helped 🙂

Recommended if the update flakes on you for whatever reason.

10.6.8 ok here - thanks, Apple.

Michael Superczynski wrote:

I've been using Software Update on many different Macs since the original iMac w/Mac OS 8.1

I don't even remember SU being there in System 8?

I had a Mac that shipped with 8.0 and it was a terrible system, never had more issues even with early builds of X.

On the other hand, 8.6 was a terrific system!

Apologies to a brody for the threadjack👿

The old adage in banking was location, location, location, meaning that location played and still does to a lesser extent today when looking to build a bank

In computers the term is backup, backup, backup, be it by Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner or by SuperDuper (all my personal preferences) is what everyone should be doing and I can not emphasize this enough, since hard drives fail, and viruses corrupt and software updates are not always the cat’s meow and if people had alittle more patience they would wait a few weeks before installing major updates such as the one on Thursday and investigate into what problems it might create.

Lion is coming, we all know that but I would wait a few weeks before installing it when it is released and keep a eye open for what problems it’s going to pose to the average user and start backing up your data that might be corrupt by it’s installation.

All very true and well said. As a beta tester on both 10.6.8 and Lion (without violating my NDA) I can tell you that these updates and upgrades are very carefully and fully tested on diverse hardware and software platforms.

Testing on Lion has been ongoing for quite a long time and it has been super thorough. That said, no one can test every combination of hardware and software. There may be third party apps that are no longer compatible. There may be apps that used to run fine that now hang or other glitches.

A user may have had enough RAM to run one system well but not another, or graphics card, hard disk space, I could go on and on and on...

Again, safest way I know is to install it on a clone, run it off the clone and see if your apps and devices are compatible.

What circumstances are there to run 'repair disk'?

Also, What do you mean 'run it off the clone'?