2001AudiS4

I love their products, but I hate Apple. I picked up a new first gen iPad for my gf for very little money that a family member had won. I went to set everything up, and forgot I can't use any iDevice with her APPLE computer because the software is too old. Seriously? She has OSX 10.4.11.

So I try to update not knowing if it will simply update. After backing up all her data, I try to download the upgrade. Oh, no can do. I try to find the link to at least buy the upgrade to Leopard, cannot find. The only think I can find is the upgrade to Lion, which I cannot upgrade straight to, and a link to upgrade to Snow Leopard which is a disc, not a download. I am fairly certain I cannot upgrade straight to that either, but am unsure. Trying to find any straight info on their site is a headache inducing process. All I want to to get her computer up to date in order to get her iPad working, which I cannot do without getting her computer updated. The only way to get her iPad going would be to hook up to one of my computers and then wipe it out and resetup when we get her computer updated. It's such a joke. Amazing that Apple supports 10 year old PC OS's but their own OS that is maybe 4 years old is not supported, and next to impossible to simply upgrade . Can someone PLEASE point me in the right direction as I am too frustrated to look at their site any longer tonight. These are the specs of the machine:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07
SMC Version: 1.17f0
Serial Number: WQ730E1PYA3
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

I would also like to upgrade the memory but will tackle that next. Appreciate some guidance from someone that can stand Apple.

#1 STUNNA

Fuck 'em! Torrent a Leopard or Snow Leopard install disc and call it a day

jupitersolo

TeknoKing

Whiskers

Give up

#1 STUNNA

You can upgrade from Tiger to Leopard but to go from Tiger to Snow Leopard you'll need to do a clean install and wipe off all the data.

#1 STUNNA

Get a Mac!

Whiskers

wow, is that real?

jupitersolo

I wanna those eyes are those DSL's are

Professor

The old Dell Studio with Vista can communicate with iTunes and my Sammy phone.

Anachostic

Backwards compatibility is a blessing and a curse. Ask Microsoft.

2001AudiS4

Funny thing is I don't mind paying for the upgrade, they just make it so hard to do that. I see why the Apple Stores are so busy with people wanting to go to the Genius Bar. They make it aggravating as hell to find the correct info. And I am a technical guy.

#1 STUNNA

If they didn't want you to copy it then they would've put some sort of copy protection on the disc.....

jupitersolo

If you are using a computer that's older than two years old, you're poor and should just give up.

ez12a

tbh 10.4.11 to lion is like upgrading from XP to 7. There's no direct way because it's too damn old lol. Seriously that's the OS version I was using 5 or 6 years ago.

You can do it piecemeal but it'll take you a few hours (like a good part of the day). Back up your data and do a clean install of Lion. Also upgrade the RAM while you're at it. I think yours does 3 GB usable max (32bit memory bus, despite C2D)

also lion requires 2GB RAM. So you'll need to do that first, otherwise it'll run very slow if it even installs.

also, if you want to do an upgrade to lion, you'll either have to find someone with it on a USB drive or buy it for $79...or torrent/usenet it. Still need to create the bootable usb drive in the end though.

2001AudiS4

Every single device I have works on Windows 7 and Windows XP. All of them. So I am not sure it is a good comparison. I have already backed up the data, but would still like to avoid a full install. Not being a Mac guy I am not looking forward to it. I also do not want to be forced into paying more then a minimal upgrade fee being that the only reason I have to upgrade is to get THEIR device to be compatible.

ez12a

the minimal upgrade fee is $30, but that's if you've been keeping up with each point release. the $79 for Lion on a usb thumb drive is for people who havent upgraded for more than 1 iteration of OS X. If you think about it, that's about right since the computer is at 10.4, vs 10.7. If you go the legal route you'll have to pay up anyhow.

and i meant XP to 7 in terms of upgrade ease. I wouldnt know about compatibility with devices.

Itunes will work at Mac OS X version 10.5.8. I suggest getting to at least that point with leopard if you can find installation media.

and Apple does support pretty dang old Macs, but not in the sense you're thinking about. I can grab your computer and have it run off my OS X Lion (sys req. withstanding) installation on my Macbook (via Target Boot). If you have the installation media you can do a clean install etc. Just the upgrade process isn't very smooth.

They are culling the older Intels in 10.8 though. So eventually you'll be SOL.

WILLDOGS

I'm currently using a late 2006 iMac with almost the same specs as you posted. When I got it used a while back, it was running 10.4 but I wanted Lion.

Here's how I did it.

- Torrented Snow Leopard and upgraded from 10.4 to Snow Leopard
- Legit purchased Lion via the App Store and downloaded/installed it.
- Followed on-line instructions on how to get the lion installer onto an USB drive
- Wiped the Hard Drive and Installed Lion Fresh from USB

I didn't feel bad torrenting Snow Leopard as I was only using it as a stepping stone to get a legit copy of lion running.

Also, MAX OUT YOUR MEMORY! Very important. Lion will run like shit with the current 1GB you have.

On my imac, the guys on the forums were saying to install 4GB (Even though the imac only see's 3GB Max...they claim it still uses 4GB somehow)

Anyways, my 2006 imac runs like a champ and never skips a beat. Fast for a 6 year old mac and comparing it to my sisters 2011 imac...not much difference unless processing video or something heavy duty. Surfing the web and launching several apps...no slowdown

Best $250 for a computer I ever spent. Thank God for Craigslist and dumb rich college girl who had no idea what the 20" imac was really worth

ez12a

it will work with 4 gb but not use it. I had an old 2.33 GHz Macbook Pro. A windows installation in Bootcamp will confirm this. OS X does not have a way to utilize all of the memory as it is a chipset limitation.

(i currently have the current 15" i7)

MaxMike93

Your iMac will use 4GB RAM because OS X is a 64-bit operating system. Not like in Windows where you have to pick that disc (and I think pay more for it too). I think that model MacBook only supports 2GB RAM max (the later ones could support 4), so I'd put Snow Leopard on it. I would get Snow Leopard and leave it at that. I have 4GB RAM in my MacBook Pro (running Lion) at the moment (my 8GB kit went bad so I have to get a replacement from Kingston) and I have about 450MB RAM free. Snow Leopard is probably best for that machine because of the limited upgradability. That is why you can only get AppleCare for up to 3 years, because Apple believes that after 3 years enough has advanced in their line to justify upgrading to a newer machine.

Cliffs:
-Get Snow Leopard (do a clean install, that way you get rid of any junk that could get carried over, and a fresh install will run better anyway)
-Use the computer until Snow Leopard is too outdated, then consider getting a new Mac. The Intel Sandy Bridge models are awesome

2001AudiS4

I never planned on upgrading to Lion. Wasn't even concerned with Snow Leopard as I believe Leopard is good enough to support iTouch devices

ez12a

32bit and 64bit windows are the same price. (x86 and x64 licenses are interchangeable).

The amount of usable memory goes beyond what the OS version is. For the older intel macs, their chipsets simply cannot address more than 32bit memory. A 2x2GB kit would theoretically work better because you retain Dual Channel, but the differences between a 1 GB + 2 GB setup are only visible in benchmarks. This again, is a hardware limitation and no software will be able to utilize a full 4GB.

Now i'm not sure what chipset is used in the early intel iMac, but just know that it's not simply just a matter of x86/x64 OSes. If you got a Core 2 Duo Mac that's at least 2.2/2.4Ghz it will support at least 4GB. I believe these were the 2007 models. Aka "penryn" intel macs.

sorry, just wanted to clear up some misinformation.

Sarlacc

My iMac has been running like shit lately. Dog slow, constant beach balls, and rebooting takes a bit. Its also the first gen Aluminum iMac...whatever the top model for the 24" was at the time. And I have maxxed out the RAM since then.

Where as my 2 year old powerbook runs like a powerhouse. Especially now that I have a SSD driven it.

I probably need to blow away my iMac and start with a fresh install of Lion and then restore everything else with time machine. Might be a project I undertake this month.

I honestly don't want to buy a new iMac...#1 the money isn't there to spend right now...and #2 since its in my kids nursery I barely get to use it anymore. So, I think my next mac upgrade will go in a totally different direction (laptop with thunderbolt, and the 27" monitor to dock with when I want a larger screen to interface.)

ez12a

Do what you can yourself by running Disk Utility and verifying the hard drive state. Unfortunately the hard drive and other diagnostics that are worth a damn are only available to Authorized service providers or apple stores. Worst case scenario if your HD is on its way out, the hard drive isnt easy to replace on those and is quite involved. You'll need special tools to do a clean job.

Sarlacc

I've already run disk utility, many times.

I've cleaned up my hard drive so I'm only using 50% of the drive space.

Now, its time to attempt the next level.

Ken1997TL

I recently had to replace a family friend's 24" iMac's hard drive. It acted just like yours did and one day, just died. Fortunately they backed almost everything up.

I believe it had a Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Blue drive, they apparently have had many complaints. Listen for a 'tick tick' sound upon startup, the 'arm' that holds the reader/writer heads gets stuck and doesn't swing the entire way.

Swapping the drive took just under an hour, I can give you step by step directions if you're inclined. You'll need a glass suction tool (they're about six bucks at Home Depot) and some hex screw drivers.

WILLDOGS

Install and run Onyx
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx

It's similar to CCleaner for PC.

It checks your drives and cleans up old logs and other useless build up

Keeps things running smooth and speedy. Noticed a big difference first time I ran it.

Sarlacc

Oh trust me...I know what sounds to listen for...having my macbook drive shit the bed in Nov...and then my drobo taking a crap AND taking all the redundant drives with it just a month later...

I don't think I could handle ANOTHER drive failure. But luckily I have seen any signs of potential drive failure yet...its just become dog ass slow.

And the cost of a 500GB SSD drive is still retarded right now...which is what I would do.

#1 STUNNA

You don't always get a sound but yeah a constant ticking from the drive head or a whining from the ball bearings going out.

Is there a HD benchmark utility for mac like HDTune? HDTune can run a speed test and if the numbers are really low then that's a sign your drive is on it's way out. Also if your CPU and RAM usage is normal but your Mac is still slow to open apps and boot up then your drive is on the way out. Another cause could be antivirus but I'll assume you're not running AV....

Sarlacc

Not running an anti-virus.

I'm not seeing the signs of drive failure that I've seen in other of my machines that went through it....thats not to say that it isn't the case.

I just feel like the drive is gunked up.

Actually, I feel that way about my iPhone right now as well. Where as my wife's is running nice and fast. Same deal, I need to blow it away and restore from a back up.

#1 STUNNA

Maybe, but I wouldn't be surprised that a drive that's 5-6 years old is starting to die on you....

Sarlacc

Its completely possible.

but $1k for a 500GB SSD = Id rather spend that on a the thunderbolt monitor and get a new laptop...and I wouldn't want to buy a new laptop until they release their next batch.

Anachostic

What's the equiv on a mac of Windows task manager or performance monitor? Maybe there's a background process consuming a lot of the CPU and drive access?

One of the few things that can make a PC lock solid is the network card. I think with the architecture of OSX, it won't cause pointer freezeups, but still could be suspect. If you have an extra USB NIC, you could try that.

Costco

Why not just get a smaller SSD and put the OS and a couple of other essentials on it, then have a separate, much larger HDD for all your other documents?

my friend explained it to me this way.... made sense to me at least.

Whiskers

CCleaner for OSX is out and works nicely. Also, agree with Costco, get a small SSD for the OS.

2001AudiS4

When you restore from Time Machine, does it only restore the data or does it restore everything? What I mean is if you wipe out your machine that is on an older OS and install a new OS and then restore with Time Machine, it will not overwrite the new OS? I thought it essentially works like Ghost in which it just takes a capture of your machine and would restore everything to that point.

Professor

Do you use a cooling plate? Very cheap, but I really think keeping the computer cooler than what the internal fans can provide extends the life and performance.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

I love threads like these.

"I hate this company because my 7 year old OS doesn't support newer hardware."

Intel Mac, install away. Christ what does Lion cost, $30? Lol

2001AudiS4

My 11 Year old OS does support the same hardware. My 11 year old OS from a different company supports that hardware, while the company that produces the hardware does not support that hardware. So yeah, F-Apple.

Lion Upgrade is $29. Cannot upgrade to Lion from Tiger. So no, not $29. Also, the fact I have to search for this info which is a bit cryptic as Apple dances around it a bit. For instance, I am still trying to figure out if I can upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard without upgrading to Leopard first. I BELIEVE that there is no DRM in Snow Leopard upgrade making it possible but have not confirmed this. Every other upgrade has has DRM in place so you cannot skip (to my knowledge). Apple supports their customers by telling them, buy something new or you're out of luck. Maybe this practice would make more sense if you already didn't have the highest priced hardware out there.

phee

iTrader: (5)

stop complaining and download the torrent. its allover the net. i have both actually.