General questions about updating the OS

[Del Rei]

Hey, guys.

I'm downloading Catalina, but want to create a new boot for Mojave as well (if I need to downgrade for any reason).
I'm looking for the Mojave updates and there is a lot of options.

So, I have 2 questions:

1) If I download the actual Mojave OS from Apple's website will I need to download the updates as well, or the actually OS file already contains the latest updates?

2) In case I need to install the updates after main Mojave installation... If I download and install the 10.14.6 Combo will I need to install the previous updates as well (10.14.5 + 10.14.4 + 10.14.3...) one by one? Or just the latest one is complete enough...?

Sorry if it's stupid...

Thank you.

 

[staggerlee41]

I just upgraded to Mojave last week and I'm on 10.14.6, I did not have to install any additional updates.

 

[Del Rei]

I just upgraded to Mojave last week and I'm on 10.14.6, I did not have to install any additional updates.

But did you download the file from the Apple and created the boot disc? Or just updated from System Preferences?

 

[staggerlee41]

But did you download the file from the Apple and created the boot disc? Or just updated from System Preferences?

I updated through the App Store.

 

[richard2]

The official method of obtaining the macOS Mojave installer is to download it from the App Store. As the installer is updated whenever a new version of macOS Mojave is released, the current version of the installer will install macOS 10.14.6.

 

[Fishrrman]

TWO TIPS for upgrading:

First way:
Use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are free to download and use for 30 days) to create a BOOTABLE CLONED BACKUP of your internal drive BEFORE you attempt a major OS upgrade.

IF something goes wrong with the upgrade, or you just don't like it, having that cloned backup makes "getting back to where you once belonged" EASY:
1. boot from cloned backup
2. ERASE the internal drive
3 RE-clone the cloned backup BACK TO the internal drive.
... and you'll be "right back where you started from" in short order.

Second way (call it "Fishrrman's way"):
Get a small external USB3 SSD (you can buy a 120gb SSD for under $20 now).
Put it into a USB3 2.5" enclosure (about $10) -- or use a USB3/SATA dongle/adapter
Now... install the new OS onto the EXTERNAL SSD.
If you do it this way, you can experiment with it, move things over to try them, etc. -- all while leaving your internal drive (with the older working OS) alone.

The latter has worked for me through many OS upgrades.
Call it "try before you buy" (even though the upgrade is free).

 

[staggerlee41]

TWO TIPS for upgrading:

First way:
Use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are free to download and use for 30 days) to create a BOOTABLE CLONED BACKUP of your internal drive BEFORE you attempt a major OS upgrade.

IF something goes wrong with the upgrade, or you just don't like it, having that cloned backup makes "getting back to where you once belonged" EASY:
1. boot from cloned backup
2. ERASE the internal drive
3 RE-clone the cloned backup BACK TO the internal drive.
... and you'll be "right back where you started from" in short order.

Second way (call it "Fishrrman's way"):
Get a small external USB3 SSD (you can buy a 120gb SSD for under $20 now).
Put it into a USB3 2.5" enclosure (about $10) -- or use a USB3/SATA dongle/adapter
Now... install the new OS onto the EXTERNAL SSD.
If you do it this way, you can experiment with it, move things over to try them, etc. -- all while leaving your internal drive (with the older working OS) alone.

The latter has worked for me through many OS upgrades.
Call it "try before you buy" (even though the upgrade is free).

I used a combination of your methods. I purchased a new SSD, cloned the existing SSD with SuperDuper! using a USB3/SATA cable, swapped out SSD's then upgraded the new one. It couldn't get any easier.