I just picked up a used mid-2011 27" iMac that has Snow Leopard installed. What are my options for upgrading to Mountain Lion? That is, do I have to simply purchase the $20 ML upgrade and apply to Snow Leopard, or is there a way that I can wipe the drive and install ML from scratch? I would prefer the latter option, rather than upgrading from someone else's system, with whatever they may have had on it or done to it. It is my understanding that ML is only available online. If I can install to a blank hard drive, how do I go about doing this? Do I create a separate bootable drive with ML install on it? Thanks.
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Upgrade to Mountain Lion or fresh install
- Thread starter Lastmboy
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You may find some useful information in some of the many threads on this topic:
Clean install vs upgrade?
Clean ML install required?
Clean install of ML??
Clean install vs upgrade?
Clean ML install required?
Clean install of ML??
I guess I'm paranoid, coming from a Windows environment, where upgrading is evil. If it were initially my own machine, I would likely upgrade. However, with it being someone else's, and me not knowing what all they may have installed on it, it seems cleaner to just start from scratch and know what I'm dealing with.
It sounds like a fresh install isn't all that complicated. Does the $20 license from Apple work for fresh installs or is that only an upgrade license? It sounds like I can just format a USB drive to be bootable, then copy the Mountain Lion download onto it. Is there much more to it than that?
There are many things different about Mac OS X vs Windows. Upgrading a Mac isn't evil. It works very well. It takes time to get "de-progammed" from the Windows way of thinking, but if you try it, you'll find life is much simpler with Mac OS X.
Also unlike Windows, Mac OS X doesn't come in two flavors: a full install and an upgrade only. The $20 is for a full install.
I haven't had any issues upgrading Windows in a while, but it is nice that there's no "upgrade" vs "new install" distinction with OSX.
Upgrade
I upgraded on top of Snow Leopard and used this trick to reset the dock
it all seems fine nice and tidy!
I upgraded on top of Snow Leopard and used this trick to reset the dock
it all seems fine nice and tidy!TWO flavors? Windows 7 comes in at least 18 flavors. Let's see... you've got Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate. Double this, as you have all of these in full install as well as update only. Then add on another six of them, as they all come in OEM (non-supported) versions, too. This has always ticked me off. Only a retard could come up with a marketing scheme like that!
Here's a little story for you, that I doubt would ever happen with Apple (at least I hope not). I built a new PC and paid around $250 for a full, licensed version of Windows 7 Ultimate. Two months later, the motherboard died. Warranty covered it, but they didn't carry that motherboard anymore, so they sent me the latest edition. As Windows won't let you change hardware, I had to re-install windows. Except, when I went to activate it, it wouldn't let me. I called Microsoft, who told me I would have to buy a new copy, as I was installing it on a new PC. No amount of explanations or arguing would convince them that this was NOT a new PC... just the existing one fixed with a new part. I finally snapped and asked to speak to his supervisor, then that guys supervisor, etc. I finally got to the top of the hierarchy, tore a strip off the guy, and he finally gave me a phone number to call to get a new activation code. Last week, my pc crashed and would no longer boot up. I had visions of going through all this again. Thus, I now own an iMac.
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I upgraded on top of Snow Leopard and used this trick to reset the dock
That looks handy. Thanks. I keep spotting a bunch of these neat little tricks.
I upgraded and everything seems perfect for me. I had problems when upgrading my old MBP from SL to Lion...Fortunately this time I have no issues.
Went Smooth over the existing OS!
I started downloading ML last night and went to bed. I got up with a "Ready to install" went on with the process which took about 20 minuets! I then updated my iWork and iLife Apps. Everything is humming right along! I have been on the new OSX all day now with no issues. I love all the new features. I think the new notifications will help me stay better organized and on track. Things seem to be a little faster and work smoothly.
The only issue I have had is not with the OSX but I had to pay for it and I was supposed to get it free. I contacted customer support and started a new ticket on it and will get a refund in time.
Overall I am very pleased with it and how the whole process went well.
That's my story!
Peace
2011 iMac 27 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 32 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
I started downloading ML last night and went to bed. I got up with a "Ready to install" went on with the process which took about 20 minuets! I then updated my iWork and iLife Apps. Everything is humming right along! I have been on the new OSX all day now with no issues. I love all the new features. I think the new notifications will help me stay better organized and on track. Things seem to be a little faster and work smoothly.
The only issue I have had is not with the OSX but I had to pay for it and I was supposed to get it free. I contacted customer support and started a new ticket on it and will get a refund in time.
Overall I am very pleased with it and how the whole process went well.
That's my story!
Peace
2011 iMac 27 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 32 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
I did both with Lion. Upgrade from SL to Lion, then later did a "fresh" install. I could not tell a difference between the two . . . looked and acted like the same computer to me. I could not tell any performance differences.
So today I am upgrading to ML and am not going to worry about trying to fresh install ML.
So today I am upgrading to ML and am not going to worry about trying to fresh install ML.