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What OS can I upgrade to?

Ambrosia7177

Ambrosia7177

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Feb 6, 2016
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I have an old 13" MBP, that I think is from 2012, and under "About This mac" it says..
Code: 
Procesor: 2.9GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 8GB 1600 MHz DDR3


Currently I am running Mountain Lion.

What is the newest macOS that I could upgrade too?
 
Texas_Toast said:
Thanks for the link, but something doesn't jibe...

It says I could run all the way up to Catalina, yet when I tried to check my bootable Sierra installer on this old Mac, I got a blank screen with a circle with a slash on it...
Click to expand...

Just open System Preferences and click on Software Update.
What do you see?
 
About This Mac will also tell you exactly which model you have (eg. "13-inch, Mid 2012" or "Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012"). Regardless, either of those models can run Catalina.

https://support.apple.com/HT201475 lists Catalina system requirements, and a footnote in the first section explains that
To upgrade from Lion or Mountain Lion, first upgrade to El Capitan, then upgrade to Catalina
Click to expand...

Obtaining the El Capitan installer requires a link found in the upgrade to El Capitan article that is linked in the above quote: https://support.apple.com/HT206886. You'll see a "Download OS X El Capitan" link in Step 4 of the El Capitan support article.

There is no reason to get "fancy" with bootable installers, etc.
 
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Mr_Brightside_@ said:
Does the installer work on your retina?
Click to expand...

Yep.

And I forget the exact sequence, but it went something like this...

Last weekend I needed to rebuild my botoable USB installers since pple's security certificates expired.

I downloaded the full versions of High Sierra and Mojave onto my rMBP, and successfully created two separate USB installers.

For some reason I placed one of those two instalelrs into my MBP and tried botoing from it and ended up getting a black screen with a circle and a cross through it.

I just assumed that High Sierra/Mojave were incompatible with the hardware in my old MBP.

Both installers do work on my rMPBs, and I know this because I was able to successfully install both evrsions of macOS onto external HDDs plugegd into my rMBPs.

HTH.


@Mr_Brightside_@

Edit:
This old MBP says...
Code: 
MacBook Pro, 13-inch, Mid 2012
 
Mr_Brightside_@ said:
Do you need to update to Catalina?
Click to expand...

I am trying to figure out...

1.) Why I saw the error screen that I did with my bootable installer(s)

2.) Which versions of macOS that I might be able to upgrade to on this MacBook Pro, 13", mid 2012 laptop.
 
Texas_Toast said:
I am trying to figure out...

1.) Why I saw the error screen that I did with my bootable installer(s)

2.) Which versions of macOS that I might be able to upgrade to on this MacBook Pro, 13", mid 2012 laptop.
Click to expand...
1. I don't know, if they are known good on another Mac they should work.
2. Catalina
 
I just got my two bootable USB instalelrs out of the drawer, and otion-booted to each.

The first time, when I chose High Sierra, my machine btoed again - which is not the expected results. Then I option-booted a second time, and was able to get to the Utitly window where you choose "Install macOS". (I don't think I could click any father wthout actually installing High Sierra, right?)

Booted from my Mojave instalelr and that one worked better. Again, got to the Utility window and stopped to avoid installing Mojave.

So it appears that both of my installers will work on my older MBP.

Not sure why I got that grey screen with a circle and a cross last week? :-/
 
KeesMacPro said:
There have been several FirmWare updates ,so you cant "jump" from ML to Catalina .
As has been stated by @ApfelKuchen and @pidelisle : "To upgrade from Lion or Mountain Lion, first upgrade to El Capitan, then upgrade to Catalina"
.... same procedure for High Sierra or Mojave...
Click to expand...

Okay, I didn't notice that.

So I'll have to download El Capitan and make a bootable USB installer like I have before, and then I can work towards a newer macOS (when I am ready).

Presumably that link will allow me to get a full copy of El Capitan?
 
KeesMacPro said:
There have been several FirmWare updates ,so you cant "jump" from ML to Catalina .
As has been stated by @ApfelKuchen and @pidelisle : "To upgrade from Lion or Mountain Lion, first upgrade to El Capitan, then upgrade to Catalina"
.... same procedure for High Sierra or Mojave...
Click to expand...

  • APFS BootROM Support: If you have a machine that supports High Sierra natively, you MUST ensure you have the latest version of the system's BootROM installed. If you have NOT previously installed High Sierra, you can download and install thispackage (if running OS X 10.10 Yosemite or later) to install the latest BootROM version (you MUST reboot after installing the package to apply the firmware update). When installing, ensure your system is plugged in to power, or the update will not be installed.
From http://dosdude1.com/catalina/

You must at least be on High Sierra or Yosemite + firmware patch.
 
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So: EC> HS > Catalina
Or: EC> BootRom Package > Catalina.

Note that if your MBP still uses a HDD , performance will be hmm.. not good with APFS format (new format from Mojave upwards) since its more optimized for SSD.
If you're willing to invest a few bucks buy an SSD ,install it after the BootRom update HS and install Mojave or Catalina.
Keep the OEM HDD , the firmware updater can be very picky on OEM hardware installed (just in case).

Personally i prefer Mojave instead of Catalina: its very stable and running flawlessly on all my Macs.
 
@KeesMacPro,

You're losing me with all of the acronyms?!


KeesMacPro said:
So: EC> HS > Catalina
Or: EC> BootRom Package > Catalina.
Click to expand...

???


KeesMacPro said:
Note that if your MBP still uses a HDD , performance will be hmm.. not good with APFS format (new format from Mojave upwards) since its more optimized for SSD.
If you're willing to invest a few bucks buy an SSD ,install it after the BootRom update HS and install Mojave or Catalina.
Click to expand...

Can I find out if I have a HDD or a SSD without cracking open my MBP?

I think I upgrade to a SSD a few years ago, but I forget?!


KeesMacPro said:
Keep the OEM HDD , the firmware updater can be very picky on OEM hardware installed (just in case).
Click to expand...

Okay.


KeesMacPro said:
Personally i prefer Mojave instead of Catalina: its very stable and running flawlessly on all my Macs.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if I upgrade I was leaning towards Mojave.
 
Texas_Toast said:
Okay, I didn't notice that.

So I'll have to download El Capitan and make a bootable USB installer like I have before, and then I can work towards a newer macOS (when I am ready).

Presumably that link will allow me to get a full copy of El Capitan?
Click to expand...

You don't have to make a bootable installer. That part is optional, on the assumption that you'd like to have one lying around just in case you may need it again.

Most people are just going to download the installer to the machine that they're planning to upgrade. Then they run the installer. The installer auto-deletes when they're done.

But sure, during the process, if you want to make a bootable installer from the installer you downloaded to that same Mac, go right ahead.
 
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ApfelKuchen said:
You don't have to make a bootable installer. That part is optional, on the assumption that you'd like to have one lying around just in case you may need it again.

Most people are just going to download the installer to the machine that they're planning to upgrade. Then they run the installer. The installer auto-deletes when they're done.
Click to expand...

Which is why I always create bootable USB installers moving forward!


ApfelKuchen said:
But sure, during the process, if you want to make a bootable installer from the installer you downloaded to that same Mac, go right ahead.
Click to expand...
 
In case you got a SSD :
It's recommended to activate TRIM (you could do that after all the install hassle )
Open Terminal and type:

sudo trimforce enable

It will ask your password and some warning you can ignore .

EDIT:
Texas_Toast said:
Yeah, if I upgrade I was leaning towards Mojave.
Click to expand...
Mojave is considered one of the most stable OS :)
 
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