How do you upgrade your OS?

[ironchef_marc]

I'm getting ready to move up to Lion (10.7.5) but not sure what strategy I should use.

I know the proper way is to install fresh, reformat drive and re-install everything from scratch, but for us having to re-authorize all software and plug-ins, that is such a painful task and takes days. I have used the MAC migration tool in the past with limited success. Not sure if I did not use it properly or maybe it's better these days?

Or perhaps a combo of both? Install on a blank disk and migrate software from a backup drive?

Anyway would love to hear how you did it and how it worked for you.

[bayswater]

I've tried using the migration tools in OS X, and it did nothing to save any effort in authorization. It ended up being as much effort as installing everything from scratch.

On the other hand, I've used simple OS X updates a number of times, and never had a problem. Now that it's so easy to make a backup of an entire partition, I'd only do a fresh install if I specifically want a new partition.

[FMiguelez]

I'd recommend an annoying but reliable fresh install.

Like Bayswater wrote, you'll have to reauthorize anything that is not in an iLok (or similar) device, no matter which method you use.

[bayswater]

Just letting OS X do an update on an existing partition doesn't usually lead to the need for any reauthorization.

I know there is a view that a clean install gets rid of disk "debris", but I've never seen a description of exactly what this debris is, and why it matters.

[FMiguelez]

Yeah, I assumed he'd use something like Mgration Assistant on a new HD or something. In that case, any directory or files problem would transfer too.

Small updates are usually never a problem, but moving from Leopard or SL to Lion is quite an OS change to be done on the same HD. At the very least, he should make a system clone of his current system before the upgrade, just for safety.

[bayswater]

Yes, a clone is essential, or there is no going back.

[mikehalloran]

Yes, a clone is essential, or there is no going back.

I disagree. Time machine is just fine. If having a clone makes you feel better, ok, I guess but you often run into major permission issues restoring from one.

I have tested and experienced everything below.

After you upgrade, it's a good idea to disable Time Machine until you have done your initial testing. Not critical as you can still go back to 10.6.8 even if it has been backing up ML for a while.

I am wondering why you would upgrade to Lion unless your hardware won't run 10.8. Your choice is going to be Mountain Lion if you go through the App store - and, by 10.8.2, it a lot better.

I would avoid 10.7.5 - not Apple's finest release and the Supplemental Update didn't fix everything they broke. If you have an installer for an earlier version of 10.7, run it then download the 10.7.4 Combo Updater from Apple. 10.7.4 has the fewest problems and the most fixes.

The easiest way is to do is the straight upgrade. Very few have problems with it. Most of your authorizations will stay intact including DP. For most people, all will be unaffected. If you are running DP 5 or 6 (or 7 before 7.24), this is the only way that they will still work.

If you have compatibility problems that are not solved by deleting files and preferences that are no longer compatible, then do an Option-Boot, select the reinstall partition that ML or Leo placed there. This will wipe your hard drive - you then restore your apps and documents from Time Machine. Only your iLok authorizations will survive. DP before 7.24 will not work. If you have internet authorizations (Final Draft, Masterwriter etc), deactivate them. Finale was never a problem as long as the hard drive and location stayed the same.

I have had exactly three issues, not counting those problems that Apple fixed in version upgrades to either 10.7.4 or 10.8.2 or applications that no longer work without Rosetta Stone.

Old DP files wouldn't run in 7.24 but would in 5.11 - 7.12. This was a DP issue and unrelated to Mac OS. Doing Get Info on my project folders, then fixing Sharing and Permissions fixed it. The affected projects had all been on other Macs first.

Spin Doctor (bundled with Toast from Roxio) and Temperature Monitor (freeware from Bresink) caused kernel panic issues when the 10.7.5 and 10.8.2 Supplemental updates (I have two iMacs) were installed. Spin Doctor was easy to fix; Bresink was a pain but, once the offending files were purged, the problem was gone.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

+1 for Time Machine - been working great here. According to the Apple guys who helped get me past my permissions problems a few years ago, migration assistant will simply copy incorrect permissions. A clean install is much better for a system that has any signs of problems. A "clean" system will install just fine with Migration Assistant, but why not get your new system as clean as possible. It's extra work, for sure, but how long are you going to be using that system? Years!!!

[Kubi]

If you don't have any problems, I don't see a need for a clean install. I have not done a 'clean' install in years and (knock on wood) have been problem-free throughout all updates.

Definitely have a way to quickly and reliably get back to where you were - clone, Time Machine, or both. (I like clone, because if push comes to shove I can restart directly from the clone and be back at work in minutes.) I have three or four clones floating around the house at any given moment, all labeled with the date and current OS on them. I usually update them in rotation, so right now I have a clone from late October, another from mid October (before I went from 10.7.4 to 10.7.5) another from mid September and one from late July.

[bayswater]

I suggested a clone rather than TM when installing a new system drive if you decide you don't like the result, and have to go back to the original setup on the same partition. Not as a part of an upgrade to a new OS.

When restoring (back to an original setup) from TM, I've had two problems. More re-authorizations required, and in one case, a friendly message telling me the TM verification failed and I should create another backup.

I know you'll say that the same thing can happen with other backups, but I've had three failures of this sort with TM, and zero over the same time period on the same drives using SD and CCC. TM is nice to go back to previous versions or files inadvertently deleted, but otherwise I don't trust it any more.

[HCMarkus]

I'm with Kubi and Bayswater here. TM is great for file backup-backup, but for a system drives, I'd go with a clone. As noted, if problems are encountered, a clone puts you back in business in minutes.

[mikehalloran]

I suggested a clone rather than TM when installing a new system drive if you decide you don't like the result, and have to go back to the original setup on the same partition. Not as a part of an upgrade to a new OS.

When restoring (back to an original setup) from TM, I've had two problems. More re-authorizations required, and in one case, a friendly message telling me the TM verification failed and I should create another backup.

I know you'll say that the same thing can happen with other backups, but I've had three failures of this sort with TM, and zero over the same time period on the same drives using SD and CCC. TM is nice to go back to previous versions or files inadvertently deleted, but otherwise I don't trust it any more.

Red herring. The TM Verification error happens when the hard drive is getting ready to fail (or already has). A clone would be different? Uh no except that it would give you a false sense of security. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.

[bayswater]

I stopped using TM on a networked backup drive early September after three verification failures and went back to timed backups with SD. There have been no problems with the drive since then.

[Gravity Jim]

I really like Time Machine. By if you are moving from 10.6.x to 10.7, your TM backups will be useless. Changes in disk structure mean that a Mac running Lion can't read the TM backups made in any other version.

Words again: YOU CANNOT GO BACK to 10.6.x from a Time Machine backup. If you don't clone the drive you'll have to start from scratch.

[ironchef_marc]

I updated my clone and I ended up installing 10.7.5 on top of 10.6.8. Although I haven't tested it extensively so far no problems in sight (touching wood here). Took a mere 30 min. instead of likely 3 days had I done a clean install. Worth the try I think. Thank you all for chipping in.