Logic 8 to 9, Mac migration strategy, and OS choice?

Considering your work, I would definitely stay with Snow Leopard, Lion and ML have proved to be erratic performers so far, supposedly a fix for Logic's problems in ML is coming with ML update 10.8.3 but word is it's been delayed.

Since you're starting with a Clean install of Snow Leopard I would try Migration Assistant before purchasing/installing Logic 9. Since you have a working PPC machine this will give you time to see how well the migration fared. Lgoc 8 will run perfectly well in Snow Leopard. Rosetta ia also available in Snow Leopard. You can then purchase Logic 9 and download all of the additional content.

Make sure you have a backup or install disk of Snow Leopard in case the migration flops you can do a clean install of 10.6.8 and go the long haul install route.

Hopefully others will chime in with some opinions...

p.s. I still have my PPC machine in the back room, Leopard 10.5.8, very solid.

While I almost compelely agree with everything Pancenter said....

I personally, wouldn't use MA at all but manually install everything from scratch.. using a manual backup of my personal data.. and 'hand' copying and restoring that data after doing a fresh install of SL and Logic...

I have just come across too many issues with MA at times when moving data not only across different computers but also across different OS/Logic versions...

I'd also stick to using Logic 9 (9.1.5) and Snow Leopard 10.6.8... and not upgrading any further than that... using the Logic updates available in the following link.. to update Logic to just that version and no more...

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1519

Only after getting a successful setup working.. would I then clone my System Disk using CCC or Superduper! and then maybe try to upgrade to a newer OS X version such as Lion or ML if needed... and Logic 9.1.8...

If is all goes belly up, you can then quickly revert back to your SL and 9.1.5 setup without stress or hassle...

Either partition your hard drive or add an external hard drive and install Snow Leopard (with the optional Rosetta and IMHO, QuickTime 7) on that. This will give you "dual-boot" capability between Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion.

I assume you have the orignal disc that came with your 8 core Mac Pro, as I am not sure that a retail Mac OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD 10.6.3 will work on that Mac. If you do not have the original disc, you will have to search the Internet for how to make the Install DVD 10.6.7, which is apparently possible (I have not tried it... yet!) and after it is installed, use Software Upgrade to 10.6.8.

I recommend a Clean Install. There is quite a bit of discussion about problems with PowerPC elements brought over, which will not run on Mountain Lion. Of course you could Migrate over to your Snow Leopard partition, which should avoid those problems.

Also, check out:

A Basic Guide for Migrating to Intel-Macs from PowerPC G3, G4, and G5 Macs

Lastly, remember that Mountain Lion does not have Rosetta, so that you will only be able to run your PowerPC applications in the Snow Leopard partition or in virtualization in Mountain Lion, if you want to be able to run them concurrently with Mountain Lion:

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Hi

Further to all said by other posters

All of this is on the assumption that your "new" MacPro will actually run on OSX.6. Often (not always) new Macs will not allow a downgrade of OS, especially 2 major OS versions earlier than current.

Is it a "brand new" or "previously used" MacPro?

CCT

The common convention is to refer to Snow Leopard as Mac OS X 10.6; leaving out the 10 can cause confusion.

According to MacTracker, the 8 Core Mac Pro original came with Snow Leopard installed (10.6.4); so this resolves the question that a retail version can indeed be used to install Snow Leopard:

[click on images to enlarge]

Hi

Nonetheless, I'm sure that you would agree that it might be relevant to check that the Op's MacPro will run the desired OS.

CCT

There are four commonly accepted workarounds for running PowerPC applications (five, if you consider purchasing a used Mac that will run it as a workaround; although that is really included in options 1 or 2):

1. If the Mac will allow it, revert to Snow Leopard (with Rosetta).

2. If the Mac will allow it, install Snow Leopard (with Rosetta) on either a partion of the hard drive or an external hard drive and use the "dual-boot" method.

3. Upgrade all PowerPC software to Intel versions if available, and/or convert to substitute software that will open, modify and save the PowerPC's data files; and

4. Install Snow Leopard (with Rosetta) into Parallels, which will allow the PowerPC applications to run concurrently with Lion/Mt. Lion.

Your suggestion to check that the OP's Mac Pro will run Snow Leopard is only relevant to options 1 and 2. Unless MacTracker is wrong, the fact that they claim the 8 core Mac Pro came with 10.6.4 installed means that both of these options are available to the OP.

His "checking" that the Mac Pro will run Snow Leopard will occur when he either reverts to Snow Leopard or installs it into a partion or external hard drive to dual-boot from it.

Are you suggesting that the OP should perform any other "check" before he decides which of these options to implement?

Hi

MlchaelLAX wrote:

Are you suggesting that the OP should perform any other "check" before he decides which of these options to implement?

I am merely suggesting that, as neither you or I know the year of manufacture of said MacPro, nor the OS it was originally supplied with, it might be prudent to check that the particular MacPro will actually run the proposed OS. Nothing more, nothing less.

I personally would do that check before thinking about building a complete installation.

Clearly, you feel otherwise.

CCT

Hi

Bejeeber wrote:

Wow, thanks people, this is some seriously helpful linfo/advice.

I should've mentioned that due to my peskily TIGHT budget this is a used Mac Pro indeed - a 2008 3,1 in fact.

I am definitely SOLD on sticking with 10.6.8 for now, thank you, and based on PanCenter's post last night I clean installed 10.6.3 from the supplied DVD, along with Rosetta, on a new drive on the new (to me) Mac Pro, then updated to 10.6.8.

Thanks for that info.... kinda makes any further discussion a moot point :-)

CCT

CCTM wrote:

I personally would do that check before thinking about building a complete installation.

Just out of curiousity (and addition to the great knowledgebank offered on this forum), could you let me know how you would "check before thinking about building a complete installation?"

Especially since you state that I "clearly... feel otherwise."

Glad it worked out for you.

You can normally only install 9.1.5 if you have the Boxed version of Logic 9 which provides you a means of installing the original 9.0.0 which you can then update to any of the Logic 9 versions, including 9.1.5, using the link I posted up earlier in this thread...

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1519

You might be able to use Pacifist to extract what you need from one of these updates but frankly, I don't know of anyone who has managed to go back from 9.1.8 successfully using the Pacifist method and not had issues later...

So, as far as I am aware, the only reliable method is to purchased the boxed Logic Studio 2 version from a store or eBay etc... There are still some floating around... and luckily, because of the lower cost of Logic from the App store you can often buy a boxed set at much the same price point these days... especially the Logic 8 to Logic 9 upgrade version of the boxed set which is what you need... rather than the full version