Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Snow Leopard, Apple's new version of Mac OS X which comes out this Friday. Questions include: How does the upgrade work, will third-party applications work, will I get back drive space by upgrading, and should I upgrade?
Comments: 15 Responses to “MacMost Now 284: Snow Leopard FAQ”
Bud James
14 years ago
Gary,
Great web site! Very informative and fun.
Cheers.
Bud
Person who is buying snow leopard at 8:00 in the morning on friday!
14 years ago
Hi, i originally had an intel mac with tiger - i bought the mac box set
i've only been using it for a bit - idon't have a backup drive. if somethings goes wrong during the install of snow leopardcan i boot and install from the leopard DVD that came with my mac box set. and do an erase and install - i didn't get the family pack and i was wondering "Does this count as a second install?"
No. You can re-install it on the same computer as many times as you like to troubleshoot problems, etc.
But I would highly recommend starting to use backups. Tiger doesn't have Time Machine, but you can use Carbon Copy Cloner or some other free program to do a backup until you update. Hard drives are cheap and your data (docs, photos, etc) are priceless.
Roland
14 years ago
I have mine on order and apparently it is on its way to me! I hope that it is as good as it looks.
I'm using this opportunity to increase my MacBook Pro 100 gig drive to 500 gig drive (Seagate). And installing Snow Leopard Box Set (with ilife and iwork), since I was using Tiger. Plus moving all data from old drive to new drive.
Using MicroCenter in Philly to do this work, since i don't want to hassle with it. They are suppose to have the box set in the store today Aug 27. I decided not to upgrade memory, have 1 gig (two 512's), which apparently will run Snow Leopard. Also have Word for Mac 04, so i'll see how this installs.
I'll let you know how MicroCenter does!!
Tyler
14 years ago
Hey Gary, sorry for the last minute question, but do you know if Apple stores will be giving out Snow Leopard t-shirts tomorrow as they did for Leopard?
I haven't heard anything about them giving away shirts.
Tyler
14 years ago
Ok, Thank You. As always, thanks for the helpful information you provide!
DB Wilde
14 years ago
Update on Snow Leopard install on MacBook Pro with a new 500 gig Hard Drive from Tiger using 3rd party service - MicroCenter in Philadelphia.
Not a good experience so far.
1. Vendor installs new 500 gig Seagate drive to replace 100 gig drive.
2. They next installed snow leopard only without Mac Box Set from Tiger OS. Not sure if this was even possible - Tiger to Snow Leopard. I correct vendor on Box Set. Apparently Mac Box Set Snow Leopard is different from Snow Leopard only install. (excluding ilife and iwork)
3. Vendor notifies me they don't have Snow Leopard Box set, my original request, so i go to Apple store, buy it, and hand over to MicroCenter Philly.
4. Vendor installs Snow Leopard Box Set on new 500 gig drive. Vendor places all old data files in folder on new drive. I thought service was to migrate data / music into their respective Mac apps. (Itunes, calendar, podcasts).
5. On my own now, Itunes is biggest headache. Since music is in multiple folders and libraries over three years, getting music into Snow Leopard is risky, may lose playlists. (On 60 gig of music.)
More later.
db wilde
14 years ago
RESOLVED: Moving itunes from original Tiger Macbook Pro to new internal 500 gig drive with Snow Leopard (SL).
The secret is to take your exact music folder structure for tunes on old drive, in my case having multiple folders with itunes music, and copy them exactly from old drive into new Snow Leopard drive. SL is so advanced, there is no need to "add to library", all done automatic, very impressive, path integrity is kept doing this way.
cmeatmidnight
14 years ago
HI...I've decided to upgrade to SL but I am dual-booted with Windows 7 and Office 2007. Is there anything special I have to do when I do the upgrade because of the dual-boot? Thanks
No. Your windows partition is separate. The snow leopard upgrade will only upgrade your Mac partition. I think it will add some things (compatibility) to your windows install, but there is nothing you need to do. Just back everything up like you would normally do before a major upgrade and run the installer.
Gary,
Great web site! Very informative and fun.
Cheers.
Bud
Hi, i originally had an intel mac with tiger - i bought the mac box set
i've only been using it for a bit - idon't have a backup drive. if somethings goes wrong during the install of snow leopardcan i boot and install from the leopard DVD that came with my mac box set. and do an erase and install - i didn't get the family pack and i was wondering "Does this count as a second install?"
Thanks, Connor
No. You can re-install it on the same computer as many times as you like to troubleshoot problems, etc.
But I would highly recommend starting to use backups. Tiger doesn't have Time Machine, but you can use Carbon Copy Cloner or some other free program to do a backup until you update. Hard drives are cheap and your data (docs, photos, etc) are priceless.
I have mine on order and apparently it is on its way to me! I hope that it is as good as it looks.
What happens with my G5?
You continue to run Leopard.
I'm using this opportunity to increase my MacBook Pro 100 gig drive to 500 gig drive (Seagate). And installing Snow Leopard Box Set (with ilife and iwork), since I was using Tiger. Plus moving all data from old drive to new drive.
Using MicroCenter in Philly to do this work, since i don't want to hassle with it. They are suppose to have the box set in the store today Aug 27. I decided not to upgrade memory, have 1 gig (two 512's), which apparently will run Snow Leopard. Also have Word for Mac 04, so i'll see how this installs.
I'll let you know how MicroCenter does!!
Hey Gary, sorry for the last minute question, but do you know if Apple stores will be giving out Snow Leopard t-shirts tomorrow as they did for Leopard?
Thanks
Tyler
I haven't heard anything about them giving away shirts.
Ok, Thank You. As always, thanks for the helpful information you provide!
Update on Snow Leopard install on MacBook Pro with a new 500 gig Hard Drive from Tiger using 3rd party service - MicroCenter in Philadelphia.
Not a good experience so far.
1. Vendor installs new 500 gig Seagate drive to replace 100 gig drive.
2. They next installed snow leopard only without Mac Box Set from Tiger OS. Not sure if this was even possible - Tiger to Snow Leopard. I correct vendor on Box Set. Apparently Mac Box Set Snow Leopard is different from Snow Leopard only install. (excluding ilife and iwork)
3. Vendor notifies me they don't have Snow Leopard Box set, my original request, so i go to Apple store, buy it, and hand over to MicroCenter Philly.
4. Vendor installs Snow Leopard Box Set on new 500 gig drive. Vendor places all old data files in folder on new drive. I thought service was to migrate data / music into their respective Mac apps. (Itunes, calendar, podcasts).
5. On my own now, Itunes is biggest headache. Since music is in multiple folders and libraries over three years, getting music into Snow Leopard is risky, may lose playlists. (On 60 gig of music.)
More later.
RESOLVED: Moving itunes from original Tiger Macbook Pro to new internal 500 gig drive with Snow Leopard (SL).
The secret is to take your exact music folder structure for tunes on old drive, in my case having multiple folders with itunes music, and copy them exactly from old drive into new Snow Leopard drive. SL is so advanced, there is no need to "add to library", all done automatic, very impressive, path integrity is kept doing this way.
HI...I've decided to upgrade to SL but I am dual-booted with Windows 7 and Office 2007. Is there anything special I have to do when I do the upgrade because of the dual-boot? Thanks
No. Your windows partition is separate. The snow leopard upgrade will only upgrade your Mac partition. I think it will add some things (compatibility) to your windows install, but there is nothing you need to do. Just back everything up like you would normally do before a major upgrade and run the installer.
Thanks Gary....love your website! cMe