[JaneC]

Hi. I am goin to upgrade my OS to OSX 10.1.5 if not I can't install QT pro6 on my imac.
But my imac got 2 OS, they are OS9.2 & OSX10.1.2 what should i do before i upgrade it to OSX10.1.5? Pls guide me. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Grant_G]

If you're set on staying with 10.1.x, then you don't need to do anything special to upgrade. Just go to Apple's site and download the 10.1.5 combo upgrade (make SURE you get the combo, otherwise you must do each step individually). Also, I'd upgrade your OS 9 to 9.2.2. Suggestion: Once Panther (OS X 10.3) arrives late this year, consider upgrading. It's gonna be a great ride, methinks.
G

[JaneC]

Hi Grant_G, thanks for your reply.
what you mean is that if I still in OSX.1.xxx (OSX.1.2 to OSX.1.5) I don't need to backup my files. But if I am goin to upgrade later to OSX.3 then I have to backup all my files etc. am i right?
But, can i straight upgrade from OSX.1.5 to OSX.3? and not upgrade OSX10.2 first then go to OSx.3?

[Grant_G]

Jane,
It's always a good idea to back up files, but technically, no, you don't have to to do this upgrade. Nor will you need to to upgrade to Panther. (Too many double to's in there, hope it's clear as mud).
And no, you also won't have to do the intermediate step of installing Jaguar before you make the leap to Panther ... as long as you spend the money for the full install CD set, said to be $129. I'm sure it will have something similar to Jag's "archive and install" whereby it installs the new OS without touching the old one other than to rename it so that it is no longer recognized as a System.
G

[JaneC]

"you don't have to to do this upgrade. Nor will you need to to upgrade to Panther."
Oops, don't understand this clause. You mean don't have to upgrade from OSX.1.2 to OSX.1.5? As for OSX.3 I understand what you mean.
But if I want to install QT6 PRo I have to upgrade to OSX.1.5
And.. I don't know how to backup files! and I don't know what things need to backup... If next time I want to upgrade to OSX.3... I better not try it, I am afraid I will lose many important files or folders.
Can you teach me how to do backup?

[Grant_G]

(Sorry, I knew those double "to's" would cause problems). What I meant to say was that, strictly speaking, you do not have to back up anything JUST to do these updates/upgrades. 10.1.2 to 10.1.5 is an "update". 10.1 to 10.2 or 10.3 is an "upgrade". Neither the updaters nor the upgrade CDs require you to erase anything or to reformat your hard drive. With the CDs, you can if you WANT to but again, it isn't necessary usually.
However, that said, it is ALWAYS a good idea to have current backups -- just in case anything bad happens. It usually doesn't, but one can never be too careful when dealing with important files that cannot be replaced. For instance, my digital camera is always with me. I take and download up to 20-30 pictures a week even here at home, 21 just this morning (gorgeous sunsets this week). More after a weekend outing somewhere. But iPhoto is set (my choice) to erase the camera when it downloads the pictures.
So if I didn't have a backup, I would lose all those photographs if anything happened to the hard drive in my computer. Same thing with financial and medical records. And my high school class's 50th reunion this year, which I'm working on the details of with the senior class VP. All things that are too important to lose.
G

[JaneC]

/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif thanks Grant, at least I know what you want to talk to me. Hahahaha.
So backup is so so important. But I never ever try backup my files/folders etc..
because I don't know how.. Can teach? Now I only have Zip drive/CD-RW to save my important files. But I prefer all audio files can be save in an external HD so I can keep all songs in it and play a long list from there.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Grant_G]

You can use either your Zip or CD-RW to back up personal files (you don't need to back up the System or your applications, as long as you have the CDs for them). I used to use CD-RWs until my files got too big for them (photos will do that). I can't teach you because I don't know where on your hard drive you keep the things that you create. But you do, so those are the files you want to back up at least every month to CD-RW or Zip (both erasable, so you can use them over and over).
Yes, putting your music collection on an external drive is doable. It isn't the place iTunes would normally store music though, so you will have to use its "import" command to find the music and create play lists.
G

[Azzgunther]

Grant's approach is great for a simple backup of files. You can put a CD-RW into your drive and fit about 650 megabytes of data onto it. It will pop up onto your desktop as an icon. Drag whatever files(or folders) you want to back up onto the CD icon and fill it as much as you want. Then, simply right click (or hold keyboard key "control" down and click) on the CD icon and click burn. There are programs out there that make this more visceral like Roxio's Toast, but they usually cost money. Look it up if you're interested...it's about $90.
If, however, you want to preserve your current system's state exactly you can get a program called Carbon Copy Cloner HERE. If you plug in another hard drive (even external hard drives) it lets you completely copy everything.

[JaneC]

"If, however, you want to preserve your current system's state exactly you can get a program called Carbon Copy Cloner HERE. If you plug in another hard drive (even external hard drives) it lets you completely copy everything."
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif Ooh. so I use the "CCC" its like I duplicate another Mac HD on my external HD with same OS. But my imac has 2 OS (OS9.2.2 & OS10.1.2) it will duplicate both OS to the external HD? But how it work? Like I power on my Mac which HD it read from? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Grant_G]

Azzgunther,
I didn't mention CCC to Jane because she's running 10.1.2. If I recall correctly, CCC requires Jaguar. Or is there an earlier version that would work that's still available? It's a great app that I've used for a few months now -- it even saved me once.
G