Just purchased a MacBook Pro 15.4” (2012) with 512MB Nvidia 650m dedicated graphics.
The Macbook came with Lion and I'd like to upgrade to Mavericks.
Is it ok to do a clean install of Mavericks on the system without upsetting Nvidia?
This is my first experience with a macbook that has Nvidia graphics so I'd just like to make sure.
Thanks!
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)
Yes.
Back up your system first, as a precaution against the unexpected.
Yes.
Back up your system first, as a precaution against the unexpected.
Thanks John!
Time machine backup is sufficient correct?
I bought this used and have no idea how to restore the Nvidia graphics if anything happened to it.
Thanks
Time machine backup is sufficient correct?
Sufficient, yes, though more than just one backup is always preferable.
The NVIDIA drivers are incorporated with OS X so no particular action is required on your part. In fact, I recommend you do not attempt to install any graphics drivers that are not already included in the Mavericks installer, or otherwise distributed by Apple through App Store software updates.
If you purchased your Mac second hand be sure that you already properly prepared it for you own use: What to do before selling or giving away your Mac
Otherwise, you may be repeatedly harassed for its original owner's Apple ID credentials.
Thanks for all the advice John!
I have no experience with installing graphics drivers, that is why I purched this macbook with Nvidia already installed.
I am doing a "clean install" of Mavericks so I will be erasing the hard drive and starting from scratch. That is perfectly fine and wont uninstall the Nvidia driver? Is a clean install unnecessary?
I have no experience with installing graphics drivers, that is why I purched this macbook with Nvidia already installed.
You don't need any experience. The Mavericks upgrade will install all the drivers required for the hardware it detects.
I am doing a "clean install" of Mavericks so I will be erasing the hard drive and starting from scratch. That is perfectly fine and wont uninstall the Nvidia driver?
That's what I recommend for any previously owned Mac. Erasing it completely followed by installing OS X from the Recovery partition or through OS X Internet Recovery - capabilities included in all recent Macs - will effectively result in a "new" i.e. unconfigured Mac that you can subsequently configure to your liking.
Simple question. Is a clean install of Mavericks with Nvidia on macbook ok??
