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by Joe Kissell
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Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard
Start on the right foot with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard!
Little is more exciting and unnerving than a major operating system upgrade for your Mac, but thousands of people have upgraded to Panther and Tiger calmly and successfully with the advice in Joe Kissell's previous hit Take Control of Upgrading... titles. Joe's expert guidance, developed over innumerable test installations, walks you through the six steps necessary before upgrading, which of Leopard's three installation options is right for you, how to perform the actual upgrade, and
post-installation checking and cleanup.
Want help with Snow Leopard? Check out Take Control of Upgrading to Snow Leopard, which has steps for a smooth upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
- More Info
- Contents & Intro
- FAQ
- Reader Comments
- Blog
Worried that something might go wrong? Joe provides in-depth discussions of what exactly each installation option does (and does not do), how to restore missing files, practical troubleshooting tips for the most common problems, and even step-by-step instructions to downgrade to your previous system if necessary. You'll also find tips on a few things that may surprise you, including special notes on Spotlight, Apple Mail, Keychain, and Time Machine. Bonus Section! Direct links to software update sites for FireWire hard drives, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, video cards, audio equipment, common utilities, and more.
Read this ebook to learn the answers to questions like:
- Will my Mac and peripherals work with Leopard?
- Which upgrade method should I use?
- Should I partition my hard disk before upgrading?
- Which files aren't copied by Archive and Install?
- What if I can't print after upgrading?
- Do I need new versions of my utilities for Leopard?
- What should I do if my Mac refuses to boot under Leopard?
- What should I do if Time Machine wants me to let it start backing up?
Book Info
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About the Author
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Book Reviews
Reviews of Previous Editions
Author Interviews
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Joe Kissell has written numerous books about the Macintosh, including many popular Take Control ebooks. He's also Senior Editor of TidBITS, contributes frequently to Macworld, and previously spent ten years in the Mac software industry.
Table of Contents
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Read Me FirstUpgrading to a new version of Mac OS X can be a daunting prospect, but with some expert advice, you'll be running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard in no time. This book eliminates the uncertainty and the confusion, guiding you through every step of the process. This book was written by Joe Kissell, edited by Tonya Engst, and published by TidBITS Publishing Inc. |
Introduction
In one of Apple's popular I'm a Mac/I'm a PC TV ads, PC was worried about his impending upgrade to Vista. Mac didn't understand what the problem was, and asked, "Isn't it just straightforward?" But PC compared the upgrade to major surgery, adding that he must first replace his graphics card, memory, and perhaps even his processor. The message: upgrading your PC is difficult and scary, while upgrading your Mac is easy and painless.
Apple does have a reputation for creating Mac OS X installers that are easy to use, certainly more so than the Windows XP installer. But the Vista installer—I've used it numerous times—is tremendously improved, and is actually not bad at all. Meanwhile, although you probably won't have to upgrade your Mac's graphics card to run Leopard, you could easily find yourself with a processor that's too old, or too little RAM or disk space. Despite what the commercial implied, some people won't be able to install Leopard without upgrading or replacing their computers, and others, even with suitable hardware, will discover some hidden gremlins lurking beneath that shiny installer.
I know this because I've installed Mac OS X upgrades hundreds of times on dozens of computers over the years, and listened to many other people describe their own experiences. Even on a Mac, a major upgrade such as this one is a complex operation with many potential pitfalls. Some users will find that they can't complete the installation process but won't know why. Some will be unsure which options to choose, or what effect they'll have. Some will be unable to reboot their Macs after the installer finishes. Some will be unable to print or access the Internet. Some will lose important data, encounter software incompatibilities, or find that their peripherals no longer work.
At one time or another I've run into all these difficulties and more, and I want to spare you such inconveniences. I've learned how to prevent, solve, or work around most of the problems that can occur, so that you will have a fantastic experience upgrading your own Macs to run Leopard. With a little extra guidance, it truly can be a worry-free experience.
Quick Start
This book contains a lot of details, not all of which you need to know. But before upgrading, you should be familiar with the overall process. And, regardless of the order in which you read this book, you should perform the listed tasks in the order given—for example, back up your files before cleaning out cruft. Here's a brief overview of the steps you should take:
Prepare to upgrade:
- Find out what's new in the Leopard installer. See Learn about Leopard Installer Changes.
- Make sure your computer can run Leopard. See Check Your Hardware for Compatibility.
- Back up before you go forward! See Back Up Your Disk.
- Get rid of clutter that could interfere with the upgrade, make sure key software is up to date, and test your hardware for errors. See Clean Up Your Mac.
- Read Consider Partitioning Your Hard Disk to find out whether dividing your disk into multiple volumes will help or hinder you.
- Classic is dead! If you're still using it, you need to complete a few extra steps before upgrading. Read Say Goodbye to Mac OS 9.
Finish last-minute preparations:
- If it's been more than a few days since you last did so, verify your hard disk once more, turn off login items to avoid certain software incompatibilities, and if necessary, bring your bootable duplicate up to date. See Carry Out Final Preparations.
- Decide which upgrade method (Upgrade Mac OS X, Archive and Install, or Erase and Install) is best for you. See Choose an Upgrade Method.
Perform a customized upgrade:
- Make some initial selections in the Leopard installer. See Select a Destination and Select an Upgrade Method.
- Be sure you have all (and only) the Leopard components you need. See Choose Optional Software.
- Proceed with the installation. See Go for a Jog.
- Perform basic setup tasks, and if appropriate, transfer files from a backup drive. See Use Setup Assistant and Transfer your old data.
After the upgrade:
- Run Software Update , in order to update Mac OS X and important applications.
- Get your new system configured, and avoid unpleasant surprises. See Set Up Your Leopard Environment.
- Restore missing files, applications, drivers, Unix software, and login items. See Restore Missing Files and Appendix A: Software Sources.
- Perform one final check to be sure your disk is still healthy. See Verify Your Disk (Again).
- Problems? If your computer isn't working properly after the upgrade, don't panic; instead follow the steps in Troubleshoot Upgrade Problems.
The crisply written [text] eliminates the uncertainty and the confusion of upgrading, guiding you through every step of the process. Added notes and tips provide a wealth of additional information for those who like to probe more deeply. —Harry Babad, in MacCompanion
Before I go to the effort of buying this ebook, can you tell me if my Macintosh is fast enough to work with Leopard?
Sure! Leopard requires an Intel processor, a PowerPC G5 processor, or a PowerPC G4 running at 867 MHz or faster (a dual-processor Mac whose processors add up to more than 867 MHz won't do the job; you need a processor that is at 867 MHz or more).
Can I read this ebook on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch?
There are lots of great ways to read PDFs on these devices. For more details, please read our latest Device Advice.
Ask a Question
Feel free to ask us if you have a question about this book!
Irwin Mortman writes:
I salute Joe Kissell.
Yesterday I finally took the plunge and decided to upgrade to Leopard. I was very reluctant after reading many disaster stories online. So I read Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard once again. In addition, I hate doing major upgrades, but after the second read of Joe's explanation that was so clear that I decided to do an Erase and Install. Without Joe's explanation I would never ever try such a task. In fact, after reading about Erase and Install it is really the easiest safe approach.
I was a wuss same as Adam and had two backups. Although the process took me many hours it was flawless in the end.
David Jenkins writes:
I did the upgrade yesterday and followed your advice to the letter. I used the Archive & Install option, and it went very smoothly. The first step—verification of the DVD—was the longest part of the process. Thanks—this made the whole process very easy.
Shane McRae writes:
My son, who has been a TidBITS fan for many years, highly recommended that I buy Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard and Take Control of Customizing Leopard. So I have him and you to thank. I have spent the whole weekend reading both ebooks and tweaking the computer as suggested. As a result I have a friendlier computer, I understand it better, I've had a number of "Wow!" moments, and it will be quicker to use. Thanks to all of you who made this possible.
Alex Arancio writes:
Joe, I'm a switcher (about a year ago) and I haven't looked back since. As a "techie," "nerd," "veteran-of-getting-screwed-by-Windows" type of guy, I decided to do a little research in anticipation of my upgrade to Leopard. A quick Google search and a few clicks later, I happen upon your book. I will admit that I didn't really consider the purchase for long because the cost was so low. I thought, "Even if it sucks, I will probably still get $10 bucks worth of info out of it." I'm very happy I made that leap of faith. I almost feel like sending you the extra $30 that you should have charged for this very valuable text.
Even the pre-release copy of the book gave me incredibly valuable insight into what to expect. After reading through the ebook, I was able to go from less than 10 GB of free space (on an 80 GB PowerBook G4) to almost 18 GB free. My system is now fully backed up and ready to receive the upgrade. My external hard drives are now prepared to function as a solid backup platform with Time Machine. My folders are organized, my system runs faster, and I now know more about the Mac than I did a few short hours ago.
I just wanted you to know that I am very grateful for your work. The ebook is an incredible value, especially considering the discount you offer with the bundles of other useful ebooks. I'm about to go read the Take Control of Customizing Leopard ebook now. Know that you have a friend and very happy customer in the U.S. as you lounge in France with your wife, enjoying the dream.
Michael deStefano writes:
I bought your "5 pack" of Leopard Take Control ebooks and wanted to say thank you and well done. I used your archive and install instructions to install Leopard on my Mac Book Pro, and it worked flawlessly.
in his book review for Bonzer! magazine
Leopard is an exciting new OS with plenty of bells and whistles and some fundamental improvements on previous operating systems. This Take Control book provides comprehensive coverage to the average, non-technical user, and I thoroughly recommend it. Highly recommended. *****
Send Us Your Comments!
How could we not publish such kind words? If you'd like to send us your comments (good or bad, though we hope they're all good), just click the Feedback link on the cover of your copy of the ebook. Be sure to let us know if we can publish your comment. Thanks!
Update Plans
August 2009 -- We don't plan to update the Leopard edition of this ebook again, but a Snow Leopard version is available.
—Tonya Engst
Giga Designs Kaput
June 24, 2008 --
On page 11, I mention Giga Designs, manufacturers of CPU upgrade cards for Macs. The company has apparently gone out of business, and the URL I included no longer works. Therefore, I would not recommend trying to install Leopard on a Mac that uses a Giga Designs processor upgrade, as you may have trouble getting it to work initially and will be unable to get any support in the future.
—Joe Kissell
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