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How to update os x 10.5.8 to os x 10.6.8

I have updated my iphone to 6.0 and it requires my itunes to be updated as well, which I've tried to do, but now it wants me to update my Mac OS x 10.5.8 to 10.6.8. How do I do this? Do I need to buy the Snow Lepard program?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 22, 2012 11:05 AM

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31 replies

Sep 22, 2012 11:15 AM in response to ksangasy

Call Apple via phone for the 10.6.3 retail disk, stick it into the machine (after backing up data) and run the installer.


Then Software Update to 10.6.8 and stay there, all your software will work. (some might need a update)


If you try going to 10.7 or 10.8, your older machine will crawl and a good portion of your software may not work.


10.6.8 is best for that older 10.5 era machine, prepare to get a new one in about a year or so, thus new software.


Not good to have to buy all new software for machine on it's last legs.



Things to consider before upgrading OS X


https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

Sep 22, 2012 12:20 PM in response to ksangasy

No, unless you want to pay more money for the 10.6.3 disk on eBay, Amazon etc.



Apple so thoughtfully has removed the 10.6.3 disk from their online store. 🙂



And if updating to 10.6 is rough for you, then you certainly don't want to go to 10.7 or 10.8, thats a nightmare. 😢



BTW I hope your making backups of your data, computers die you know.


Most commonly used backup methods

Oct 5, 2012 5:29 PM in response to ksangasy

I had the same issue. I don't think these other people realize that to go from 10.5.8 to 10.6.8 first you need to buy a 10.6 DVD from ebay or some other second hand site. Then you have to go from 10.6.1 in order not skipping any software updates until 10.6.8. In other words, you can't install 10.6.8 unless you have 10.6.7. And can't go from 10.6.6 to 10.6.7 unless you have 10.6.5, get the idea? Luckily, once you have a hard copy of the 10.6 dvd you can get download the rest from apple. I know, it's a bit ridiculous but don't let these other people fool you, I have a 10.5.8 macbook and this is how I had to do it. I would say that any macbook that came with 10.5.8 OS x would not have the capacity to run anything higher than 10.6.8 efficiently, so I would recommend stopping at 10.6.8. Itunes 10.7 is compatible with 6.8 of course

Oct 13, 2012 3:12 AM in response to ksangasy

Hi, I think I have brilliant news! I too am on an older macbook pro running 10.5.8, and I too was dismayed to find that my iPhone with OS6 could not be recognized by the older iTunes. I was told even in the Apple store that I needed to upgraded to mac to OS 10.6.8

😟

BUT... I ran software update on my mac and upgraded iTunes to 10.6.3 and VOILA !!!

Phone recognized AND synced successfully !!! Amazing that Apple did not tell me this ⚠

So I'm still on 10.5.8 Leopard AND happily communicating with my iPhone 4S running OS6


God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen !!

🙂

Oct 13, 2012 8:23 AM in response to ksangasy

I too am facing the same problem. Am using an old macbook running 10.5.8 and this was fine until I got my new iPhone 5.... So now I need to upgrade to 10.6.8.in order to upgrade to iTunes 10.7 before I can sync my new iPhone 5....


ngray101, i upgraded to iTunes 10.6.3 but my iPhone 5 still can't sync, so looks like I'll have to do it the long and hard way....

Oct 13, 2012 9:17 AM in response to apps2012

Apple really has a lot of problems with iTunes, IOS6, MAC OS 10.8 because they are not backward comparable.

Not from Apple's perspective. It may annoy owners of older equipment but Apple has long observed a pattern of completely dropping support for equipment older than 5 years and generally for operating system versions older than second generation (so it is unusual they still support Snow Leopard but perhaps that is because Mountain Lion appeared only 1 year after Lion vs. the usual 2 year pattern). Even if you have younger equipment you have to expect it to see decreased compatibility after a couple of years as software features are brought out that only support new hardware. This applies across the board but it particularly noticeable when you have multiple Apple hardware items since the i-device has to work with the iOS, and the iOs has to work with the iTunes, and the iTunes has to work with the operating system, and the operating system has to be able to run on the computer.

How to update os x 10.5.8 to os x 10.6.8

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