hascallmarie7
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Upgrading Mac Book Pro mid 2012

I am currently running OSX 10.8.5 on my Mac book pro mid 2012. I've never done any of the big software upgrades because I am afraid of it changing the way by mac book runs.  It seems like I hear more bad things than good especially when reading reviews. 

 

Does anyone know if I am even receiving updates on this software since it is so old?  Is it too big of a jump for me to upgrade to Yosemite now?  I don't have anything too important on my computer that I am afraid of losing.  I'm more afraid of the way it will run and slowing it down. 

 

I would appreciate any advise!

 

Thank you!

Mac Pro

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 12:45 PM

by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended
Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit
Level 10 (120,618 points)
Apple Watch
A:

Yosemite is no longer available for download from the App Store but you can upgrade to the latest OS X El Capitan.

 

Just make sure to backup all  your important data prior to upgrading.

 

Your Mac definitely meets El Capitan requirements noted in this support article >  Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 12:53 PM

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hascallmarie7

Q: Upgrading Mac Book Pro mid 2012

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  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jul 29, 2016 12:52 PM in response to hascallmarie7
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 12:52 PM in response to hascallmarie7

    You have manually initiate an upgrade (i.e., 10.8 to 10.11). You only get notified for updates (i.e., 10.8.2 to 10.8.2) to an iOS version.

    To update to the latest, see:

    http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/?cid=wwa-us-kwg-mac

    Although 2 GB of RAM is the minimum, 4 GB is the minimum for satisfactory operation and more is better.

  • by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 29, 2016 12:53 PM in response to hascallmarie7
    Level 10 (120,618 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 12:53 PM in response to hascallmarie7

    Yosemite is no longer available for download from the App Store but you can upgrade to the latest OS X El Capitan.

     

    Just make sure to backup all  your important data prior to upgrading.

     

    Your Mac definitely meets El Capitan requirements noted in this support article >  Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 29, 2016 12:59 PM in response to hascallmarie7
    Level 9 (60,719 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 12:59 PM in response to hascallmarie7

    If it is operating properly, and you have not installed too much Junk**, it will not slow down with a later version of Mac OS. But the version you are running is no longer getting Security Updates, and its version of Safari has been declared obsolete (because it does not support the best encryption) by several banks, including Bank of New York (BNY Mellon).

     

    The version you seek is now so old it is no longer available for sale as new. What is available for "Purchase" is 10.11 ElCapitan, and it is on sale for $0. 10.11 runs in 4GB of RAM, but runs better if you have more than 4GB of RAM installed.

     

    --------

    **"Junk" in this sense is like the things in an old Attic -- it may be perfectly good, but you don't happen to need it right now.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 29, 2016 1:03 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 9 (60,719 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 1:03 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Carolyn Samit  makes an excellent suggestion about Backup. Installing a new version of MacOS writes more than 350,000 files. It does not do any wholesale erasing, and is not intended to delete any of your files or added Applications, but that sure is a lot of changes to your drive.

     

    It would be prudent to have a Trusted backup before proceeding. The Time Machine Application is already provided on your computer, and all you need to add is a large (but can be cheap and very slow) external drive -- about 3x the size of what you wish to backup is recommended)