An open community 
of Macintosh users,
for Macintosh users.

FineTunedMac Dashboard widget now available! Download Here

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Old Mac Upgrade
#56338 10/02/20 07:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
Update: Screen shots didn't work. I will try again.


OK, so now I am going to upgrade my older Mac to Catalina because Sierra won't work with my bank site now!

I included screen shots of Disk Utility so you could see that there is nothing on it but Sierra and no partitions.

Does this mean I can just d/l Catalina without all the complicated stuff I did before? I am not going to put it on a backup disk as I only use it for paying bills and as a backup if my newer Mac takes a dive.

Screen Shot 1

Screen Shot 2

Last edited by plantsower; 10/02/20 07:05 PM.

MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56339 10/02/20 07:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
Be sure that your older Mac can run Catalina. Which model is it? You can check it yourself with Mactracker if you like. You should also check out macOS Catalina - Technical Specifications

Last edited by jchuzi; 10/02/20 07:09 PM.

Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56340 10/02/20 07:09 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
Update: I went to Imgur and uploaded my screen shots as usual. Clicked "copy Link" and posted it in the Insert link section here. I don't know why it isn't working.



Screen Shot 1

Screen Shot 2

Last edited by plantsower; 10/02/20 10:24 PM.

MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
jchuzi #56341 10/02/20 08:50 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
I looked and I meet all the specs so I believe it's safe to d/l.



Originally Posted by jchuzi
Be sure that your older Mac can run Catalina. Which model is it? You can check it yourself with Mactracker if you like. You should also check out macOS Catalina - Technical Specifications


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56342 10/02/20 09:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
Online
Moderator

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Since you are not saving anything there is no need for all the gyrations we went through before. All you need to do is...
  1. Shut down your computer completely
  2. Press the power button then hold Option+Command+R (⌥⌘R) until you see a rotating globe icon to boot from the Internet Recovery Drive.
  3. If prompted, enter the password for your account on the computer you are upgrading
  4. If prompted, click at the far right end of the menu bar to select your network and enter your network password
  5. When the Internet Recovery Drive completes booting, select the option to Upgrade/Install MacOS. This will install the latest version of MacOS that is compatible with your computer
  6. Follow the on screen instuctions. Your computer will download the update and install it. Your computer will reboot multiple times during the installation so don't get anxious, don't unplug, don't restart, until you see the logon screen and you are "good to go".

Last edited by joemikeb; 10/02/20 09:25 PM. Reason: fat fingers

If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Old Mac Upgrade
joemikeb #56343 10/02/20 09:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
Well I did what you said and it caused me to have questions:

When I choose network, my only choice is Direct-vS-FireTV.9fe4 which is my Firestick. If it's okay to use that I will, but when you say password, do you mean my administrative password for my Mac or the router password?

I don't know why it isn't giving me the name of our network, but the last time I tried this years ago it gave me no network choices at all, so this may be better somehow.










Originally Posted by joemikeb
Since you are not saving anything there is no need for all the gyrations we went through before. All you need to do is...
  1. Shut down your computer completely
  2. Press the power button then hold Option+Command+R (⌥⌘R) until you see a rotating globe icon to boot from the Internet Recovery Drive.
  3. If prompted, enter the password for your account on the computer you are upgrading
  4. If prompted, click at the far right end of the menu bar to select your network and enter your network password
  5. When the Internet Recovery Drive completes booting, select the option to Upgrade/Install MacOS. This will install the latest version of MacOS that is compatible with your computer
  6. Follow the on screen instuctions. Your computer will download the update and install it. Your computer will reboot multiple times during the installation so don't get anxious, don't unplug, don't restart, until you see the logon screen and you are "good to go".


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56344 10/02/20 10:49 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
Online
Moderator

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Originally Posted by plantsower
Well I did what you said and it caused me to have questions:

When I choose network, my only choice is Direct-vS-FireTV.9fe4 which is my Firestick. If it's okay to use that I will, but when you say password, do you mean my administrative password for my Mac or the router password?

I don't know why it isn't giving me the name of our network, but the last time I tried this years ago it gave me no network choices at all, so this may be better somehow.
There are two places where you may be asked for your password...
  1. You may be asked for the password for an account on this computer which would be your administrative password
  2. When you are establishing a connection to your WiFi network for access to the internet which would the password for your WiFi network, If your WiFi network is not secured then it will not prompt for this password and may have joined it automatically. If you do not use WiFi to connect to the internet then there is no reason to logon to the network and you can skip that step. I would not recommend using the Firestick network.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Old Mac Upgrade
joemikeb #56345 10/02/20 10:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
I do use wi-fi. I'm wondering why I can't just go to the App Store and d/l catalina w/o going through recovery which obviously isn't going to work for me. frown





Originally Posted by joemikeb
Originally Posted by plantsower
Well I did what you said and it caused me to have questions:

When I choose network, my only choice is Direct-vS-FireTV.9fe4 which is my Firestick. If it's okay to use that I will, but when you say password, do you mean my administrative password for my Mac or the router password?

I don't know why it isn't giving me the name of our network, but the last time I tried this years ago it gave me no network choices at all, so this may be better somehow.
There are two places where you may be asked for your password...
  1. You may be asked for the password for an account on this computer which would be your administrative password
  2. When you are establishing a connection to your WiFi network for access to the internet which would the password for your WiFi network, If your WiFi network is not secured then it will not prompt for this password and may have joined it automatically. If you do not use WiFi to connect to the internet then there is no reason to logon to the network and you can skip that step. I would not recommend using the Firestick network.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56346 10/02/20 11:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Have you looked in System Prefs > Software Update, Rita?

Technically, it should offer you Catalina,


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Old Mac Upgrade
artie505 #56347 10/02/20 11:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
All it offers is Kindle, iPhoto and PDF OCRX Community Edition. I can find Catalina on The App store though. Maybe because I have Sierra 10.12.5. I think I need 10.12.6 so I may have to go up in Sierra and then Catalina? If I remember correctly, I had to have at least 10.12.6.


Originally Posted by artie505
Have you looked in System Prefs > Software Update, Rita?

Technically, it should offer you Catalina,


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
artie505 #56348 10/02/20 11:42 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
It doesn't. I only need OS 10.9 or later and I have 10.12.5. So I maybe should go straight to the App store and then to Catalina.


Originally Posted by artie505
Have you looked in System Prefs > Software Update, Rita?

Technically, it should offer you Catalina,


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56349 10/03/20 12:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by plantsower
It doesn't. I only need OS 10.9 or later and I have 10.12.5. So I maybe should go straight to the App store and then to Catalina.

According to macOS Catalina - Technical Specifications, you're correct about needing only OS X 10.9, so I don't see any reason why not.

Recovery is really a sort of emergency tool and isn't meant to replace the regular upgrade process.

How to upgrade to macOS Catalina directs you to a Catalina d/l in item 4.

More: It may be that you need 10.12.6 before Software Update kicks in, but it's apparently not a technical necessity for installation.

Last edited by artie505; 10/03/20 01:08 AM. Reason: More

The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Old Mac Upgrade
artie505 #56350 10/03/20 01:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
Thank you. I've started the download. We shall see how it all goes.



\\
Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by plantsower
It doesn't. I only need OS 10.9 or later and I have 10.12.5. So I maybe should go straight to the App store and then to Catalina.

According to macOS Catalina - Technical Specifications, you're correct about needing only OS X 10.9, so I don't see any reason why not.

Recovery is really a sort of emergency tool and isn't meant to replace the regular upgrade process.

How to upgrade to macOS Catalina directs you to a Catalina d/l in item 4.

More: It may be that you need 10.12.6 before Software Update kicks in, but it's apparently not a technical necessity for installation.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Old Mac Upgrade
plantsower #56357 10/03/20 11:37 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
All went well. Had a little trouble because my Apple ID wasn't being recognized for awhile but now it's fine. Had trouble staying connected to the internet too. Not sure what that was about. Seems to be working fine now, though.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8





Moderated by  alternaut, dkmarsh, joemikeb 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.024s Queries: 42 (0.018s) Memory: 0.6473 MB (Peak: 0.7621 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 17:40:50 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS