Rob-F
Likes Leicas
If I were to upgrade my Snow Leopard OS10.6.8 to whatever is the current version, am I correct that I would have to reload all my pictures and other data back off the Time machine backup? If so, I don't want to. Apple changed out my hard drive a couple of months ago, and it has taken this long for the iMac to get all my photos reloaded and reprocessed; and I seem to have lost a few for good.
Is there a way to keep my photos on the iMAC while upgrading the OS?
Is there a way to keep my photos on the iMAC while upgrading the OS?
Matus
Well-known
I have updated my MacBook 13" (unibody) from Snow Leopard to Lion completely seamlessly. I have have different software on it and photos and everything works as it did before. I did not upgrade to Mountain Lion yet, but just because I was lazy 
I am using Carbon Copy Cloner and so have a second hard drive ready to be installed in the computer if the old one should fail (I tested it and it works) - I stopped using Time Machine once I started to use the CCC as the Time Machine is not a bootable backup and I did not need the versioning system (though CCC probably has one of some kind too).
EDIT: The short story is - this is not update of an old Windows where you had to do everything from a scratch. Do not worry.
I am using Carbon Copy Cloner and so have a second hard drive ready to be installed in the computer if the old one should fail (I tested it and it works) - I stopped using Time Machine once I started to use the CCC as the Time Machine is not a bootable backup and I did not need the versioning system (though CCC probably has one of some kind too).
EDIT: The short story is - this is not update of an old Windows where you had to do everything from a scratch. Do not worry.
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
I didn't have any problem with mine (no reloading images or anything). But it may depend on how your image libraries are set up and what programs you are using.
GaryLH
Veteran
Why would u on an upgrade unless u go thru a rebuild from scratch approach? There are multiple paths thru the upgrade process. The normal is upgrade the os stuff only. U can take a path which re formats the HD, but if memory serves me correctly this is not the normal.
A good general practice is to do a full backup before an upgrade anyway just to protect yourself from something bad happening. Does not matter if we are talking about Apple, Microsoft or Linux.
Gary
A good general practice is to do a full backup before an upgrade anyway just to protect yourself from something bad happening. Does not matter if we are talking about Apple, Microsoft or Linux.
Gary
NicoM
Well-known
It's an upgrade, not a clean installation (unless you choose to do a clean installation). This means that your files and folders will remain as they are.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
OK, that sounds encouraging!
TVR
Established
i never back up anything and have upgraded several time no problem, thats the great thing about mac
willie_901
Veteran
As pointed out above, only a clean installation requires extra work. Even then, Migration Assistant should automatically keep TimeMachine intact. TimeMachine fies are linked to you conputer's mother board.
An appointment at the nearest Apple Store would not be a bad idea. The Apple Support pages should have explicit instructions.
I also Google simple questions because various blogs also provide specific instructions.
An appointment at the nearest Apple Store would not be a bad idea. The Apple Support pages should have explicit instructions.
I also Google simple questions because various blogs also provide specific instructions.
Updating Mac OS is about as seamless as it gets.
thegman
Veteran
Agreed, I use Windows and Mac, upgrading the Mac is much simpler and less invasive. Generally, you'll turn it back on after the upgrade and very little has changed, except you're on the latest OS.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Going from 10.5 to 10.7 or 8 can be more involved than the update you're asking about. That should be very simple.
Rogier
Rogier Willems
Normally when you upgrade your Mac nothing will be arranged.
The User folder will remain unchanged. Just the underpinnings (OS X) will change.
You will find some new features and things might change a bit but your files all should still be there!
Apple doesn't transfer the data any more. They merely plop in a new hard drive, load the appropriate OS X and tell you to restore from your back-up.
As a former Genius bar slave I see where the decision no to transfer data any more comes from. There were a couple of folks with messed up data / faulty hard drives who claimed that the Geniusbar was responsible for the lost data and claimed huge damages and were crying wolf all over the internet
You and only you are responsible for your own data and the backup thereof!
If you want to have a smoother transition and/or a 2nd backup beyond Time Machine I highly recommend you to create an image of the entire drive using:
- Disk utility
- Super Duper
If you make this clone on a Firewire / USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt drive it will be very fast!
Once the drive has been replaced rather than using the Migration assistant simply use the same tool to image the data back to the new drive.
Whenever I replace a stil working hard drive with a bigger / faster one. I extract the drive and use some dedicated tools to copy directly from drive to drive saving some time in the process.
Hope this helps,
Rogier
Thardy
Veteran
marcr1230
Well-known
if you are upgrading the OS in place, on the same laptop, time machine will not be affected. time machine creates a "sparse bundle" style disk image on the backup devise (time capsule usually).
Time Machine should only add to your backup when a file has changed. An OS upgrade only impacts the system files which are not backed up.
I've personally had no problems lately with Time Machine, although early instances sometime got corrupt and the system would tell you to erase and redo the backup.
having multiple backups of important file is crucial. My understanding is the the current Time Machine software lets you backup to different backup disks (for multiple copies), early versions did not.
So you should be fine. but sometimes technology bites you in the @$$, so always take precautions
I have never had a problem with a Mac OS upgrade and have done many. very unlikely that it would damage your computer's data or time machine backup
Time Machine should only add to your backup when a file has changed. An OS upgrade only impacts the system files which are not backed up.
I've personally had no problems lately with Time Machine, although early instances sometime got corrupt and the system would tell you to erase and redo the backup.
having multiple backups of important file is crucial. My understanding is the the current Time Machine software lets you backup to different backup disks (for multiple copies), early versions did not.
So you should be fine. but sometimes technology bites you in the @$$, so always take precautions
I have never had a problem with a Mac OS upgrade and have done many. very unlikely that it would damage your computer's data or time machine backup
Boris Stupak
Well-known
This statement totally makes no sense. You are misunderstanding some process. Nothing needs to be reprocessed or "reloaded". Certainly nothing takes a matter of months.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I have Time Machine, which I believe is a proper backup. What I am saying is that after restoring via Time Machine, the little spinner wheel with the message "processing" within Aperture continued spinning every time I used Aperture, for several weeks. It's the kind of precessing that has to happen before the pictures look sharp, and in some cases right-side up.
I also lost a few shots in the process. There were empty dotted-line rectangles where pictures had been, but no longer were. So there was some price to pay, even with the Time Machine backup.
I don't understand the comment that I have no proper backup. If Time Machine isn't a proper backup, what is? (I do have many picture files backed up on two other external hard drives, but didn't need them to reload my pictures.)
I also lost a few shots in the process. There were empty dotted-line rectangles where pictures had been, but no longer were. So there was some price to pay, even with the Time Machine backup.
I don't understand the comment that I have no proper backup. If Time Machine isn't a proper backup, what is? (I do have many picture files backed up on two other external hard drives, but didn't need them to reload my pictures.)
Boris Stupak
Well-known
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
You are not being helpful.
Film dino
David Chong
Rob-F, if you're running "legacy" scanner software you may wish to check that the new OS X will support this.
Cheers,
David
Cheers,
David
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Simple answer: no and yes, that is the normal case. Upgrading from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion should be a painless process and not touch your data files. Do be certain that your Time Machine backup is up to date before you do it, just for your own protection.
If you're at all unsure as to how to do it properly, I strongly suggest you make an appointment at an Apple Retail Store Genius Bar and have an Apple technician help you do it. It's worth the effort to be helped by someone who is trained to do this task, and does it all the time for many people.
G