How to upgrade OS 10.5.8 to 10.8

You must go through Mac OS X 10.6, which is available from the online Apple Store.

(71982)

Start by checking if you can run Snow Leopard:

Requirements for OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575

Whilst Apple withdrew Snow Leopard from their stores, you can still get it from Apple by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE (if you are in the USA) and they will supply the SL DVD for $20 for a single user, or $30 for a family pack that covers up to 5 Macs. You can also purchase the code to use to download Lion from the same number (Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM, running the latest version of Snow Leopard), or you can purchase Mountain Lion from the App Store - if you can run that:

http://www.apple.com/osx/specs/

If you are outside the US call your national Apple Helpline:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

If you're in the UK, use this number: 0871 508 4400

When you have installed it, run Software Update to download and install the latest updates for Snow Leopard.

UPDATE:

OS 10.6 Snow Leopard is once again available from the Apple Store:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

and in the UK:

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

but nobody knows for how long it will be available.

To use iCloud you have to upgrade all the way to Mountain Lion:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759

What country are you in?

Try calling this number:

(852) 2112-0099*

UPDATE:

OS 10.6 Snow Leopard is once again available from the Apple Store:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

and in the UK:

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

but nobody knows for how long it will be available.

To use iCloud you have to upgrade all the way to Mountain Lion:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759

I was able to order a copy from the Apple online store, even through the China Apple online store!

Thank you Klaus1!

I have OSX 10.5.8 and have not yet seen how to upgrade in any way. From what I hear I cannot go straight to Snow leopoard or snow lion - need to upgrade to 10.8 first. How do I do that?

Do I have to format? Do I lose all my files?

http://store.apple.com/hk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

That should help billykwok168, it is the direct link to purchase Snow Leopard.

Snow leopard is 10.6. Once you purchase Snow Leopard and then run software updates to get to 10.6.8, you can then open the App Store from the apple menu and purchase Mountain lion which is 10.8. As long as your Mac is compatible, of course.

"I have OSX 10.5.8 and have not yet seen how to upgrade in any way. From what I hear I cannot go straight to Snow leopoard or snow lion - need to upgrade to 10.8 first. How do I do that?

Do I have to format? Do I lose all my files?"

You will not lose any files.

If you're going to make a non-recommended leap, it's best you back up your information to an external hard drive before trying anything. Also make sure that your iMac meets the system requirements for Mountain Lion 10.8. You'll need an iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) AND at least 2 GB of RAM.

You would probably need a friend or family member's mac (Running 10.8) to do that. You can download Mountain Lion Recovery Assistant onto an external hard drive from their computer. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433

You will also need their Apple ID information, or to buy Mountain Lion on their App Store using your own Apple ID to authorize the download -- so expect to pay $20 to do this.

Probably the safest this you can do is, boot to the Recovery Partition (from http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433 ) on your external hard drive, erase your internal Hard Drive (likely called MacIntosh HD) using the Recovery Partition's Disk Utility, then use the Reinstall OS X Mountain Lion option to install 10.8 onto the MacIntosh HD that you just erased. Once the install is complete, do software updates until no more are available, then use Migration Assistant to move your backed up information back onto your computer. You may want to uncheck the Settings box when setting up the Migration.

ALSO BE AWARE that if you installed 3rd party applications years ago while using 10.5.8 (like Microsoft Office 2004), those will likely not be compatible with OS X Mountain Lion 10.8

I found a little something that might help. I just used it to go from 10.4 Tiger to 10.8 Mountain Lion in one step on an older MacBook. It involves a little trickery and decieving the computer by editing a plist file, but it works. Enjoy!

http://mac-how-to.wonderhowto.com/how-to/upgrade-mountain-lion-from-leopard-os-x -10-5-10-8-0138304/

Does this mean that Mountain lion works fine on older Machines than apple says? What model do you have?