avidart
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Need to upgrade OS and running out of time.

Can I safely partition the same external hard drive that contains all my backups via time machine to install the cloned OS on a partition or do I have to get another hard drive? Backup drive:My Book for Mac 3TB. Upgrading from Snow Leopard to El Capitan.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Snow Leopard

Posted on Oct 10, 2016 11:29 PM

by Brian Nesse,Solvedanswer
Brian Nesse Brian Nesse
Level 4 (3,027 points)
A:

It's really your CPU, not the OS, that's going to determine how far you can advance. If Sierra doesn't support your system, you shouldn't be offered it... in which case El Capitan should continue to be available to you.

 

As long as you've been backing up your user data, which it sounds like you have, you should be safe. Updating the OS should only modify the System data, not the user data.

Posted on Oct 11, 2016 10:44 AM

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avidart

Q: Need to upgrade OS and running out of time.

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  • by Brian Nesse,Helpful

    Brian Nesse Brian Nesse Oct 11, 2016 9:45 AM in response to avidart
    Level 4 (3,027 points)
    Oct 11, 2016 9:45 AM in response to avidart

    10.6 does not support live repartitioning. You would have to erase all your backups to achieve this on your current drive.

  • by avidart,

    avidart avidart Oct 11, 2016 9:50 AM in response to Brian Nesse
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2016 9:50 AM in response to Brian Nesse

    Thank you Brian. I am not sure what live partitioning is but it sounds like I need a separate hard drive for cloning the OS. My only other question is if I am upgrading to El Capitan is it absolutely necessary to clone Snow Leopard OS if I will no longer be using it because it is no longer supported with updates?

  • by Brian Nesse,Helpful

    Brian Nesse Brian Nesse Oct 11, 2016 10:21 AM in response to avidart
    Level 4 (3,027 points)
    Oct 11, 2016 10:21 AM in response to avidart

    Sorry, live partitioning is re-partitioning a drive while "live"... i.e. without completely destroying it and starting over. Newer OS version support this. Snow Leopard does not.

     

    Honestly, unless you have some piece of software that will not run on El Capitan, there's no real point in keeping a bootable Snow Leopard volume around. The only other reason to do what you are suggesting, is if you're afraid you will really hate El Capitan, and want to return to running Snow Leopard on the system.

  • by avidart,

    avidart avidart Oct 11, 2016 10:33 AM in response to Brian Nesse
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2016 10:33 AM in response to Brian Nesse

    Thanks again Brian. I don't think I have any software that would not run on El Capitan. If I do, good riddance. I pretty much use a computer as is. I have no other reason to return to Snow Leopard and would just as well move on. I have grown tired of problems with SL associated with lack of updates. I would rather not bother with cloning and all that I just thought it was necessary after researching these forums.

    This was all meant to be temporary anyway, until I can start over with a new computer which I can't quite afford now.

    I know I don't have much time since Sierra came out which Snow Leopard can not upgrade to. El Capitan is still available but who knows for how long.

    As long as there is no danger of losing files, photos etc I won't bother with cloning Snow Leopard OS, thats all I care about.

  • by Brian Nesse,Solvedanswer

    Brian Nesse Brian Nesse Oct 11, 2016 10:44 AM in response to avidart
    Level 4 (3,027 points)
    Oct 11, 2016 10:44 AM in response to avidart

    It's really your CPU, not the OS, that's going to determine how far you can advance. If Sierra doesn't support your system, you shouldn't be offered it... in which case El Capitan should continue to be available to you.

     

    As long as you've been backing up your user data, which it sounds like you have, you should be safe. Updating the OS should only modify the System data, not the user data.

  • by avidart,

    avidart avidart Oct 11, 2016 10:58 AM in response to Brian Nesse
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2016 10:58 AM in response to Brian Nesse

    Yes, according to Apple's App Store Sierra does not support any version before 10.7, I have 10.6.8

     

    My data is automatically backed up via Time Machine but I know I can also a manually backup at any time which I will do just before the El Capitan download.

     

    Unless there is something I have missed, a critical step you know of, I will upgrade.

    Thank you for you expertise and help!