Book Info

• 95 pages
• Version 1.0.2
• Updated 03-Oct-05
• 873K download
• ISBN: 0975950312
• Free sample with Table of Contents, Introduction, Quick Start, and section starts.

About the Author

Joe Kissell has written numerous books about the Macintosh, including many popular Take Control ebooks. He's also Senior Editor of TidBITS, contributes frequently to Macworld, and previously spent ten years in the Mac software industry.

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Table of Contents

Read Me First

Introduction

Tiger Upgrade Quick Start

Check Your Hardware for Compatibility

Choose an Upgrade Method

Disable Login Items

Back Up Your Data

Make Sure You Have a Mac OS 9 Installer

Verify Your Hard Disk

Consider Partitioning Your Hard Disk

Perform a Customized Upgrade

Run Software Update

Set Up Your Tiger Environment

Restore Missing Files

Upgrading from Mac OS 9?

Troubleshoot Upgrade Problems

How to Downgrade

Appendix A: Software Sources

Introduction

Upgrading your Mac's operating system is a bit like removing your house's existing foundation to add a new garage underneath-- something that happens frequently here in San Francisco. In both cases, the procedure is conceptually simple: set aside the parts you want to keep; remove some old pieces; add some new pieces; replace the original structure onto the new foundation; and reconnect all the infrastructure that was severed in the process. Assuming all goes well, the final product is more stable and has wonderful new features.

In the case of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, tens of thousands of pieces--the files that make up the operating system and your data--must go into just the right places with just the right settings. Ensuring that this happens is the job of the installer application, which knows what needs to go where. Apple wants you to think of the process as a simple one: double-click the installer, answer a few easy questions, wait for the installation to complete, and enjoy your new operating system. And to their credit, Apple has made some wonderful improvements in the Tiger installer that promise to eliminate many frustrations of earlier upgrades. Many users will have just the sort of trouble-free upgrade we all hope for.

Even so, a major system upgrade such as this one is a complex op- eration with many potential pitfalls. Problems can and do occur. Some users will find that they can't complete the installation process but won't know why: Some will be unsure which options to choose, or what effect they'll have. Some will be unable to reboot their Macs after the installer finishes. Some will be unable to print or access the Internet. Some will lose important data, encounter software incom- patibilities, or find that their peripherals no longer work. I've run into all these problems and more at one time or another, and I want to spare you such inconveniences.

I have performed hundreds of operating system installations and upgrades, including, at last count, 48 of Tiger (no kidding). I've learned how to prevent, solve, or work around most of the problems that can occur, and I share that information here so that you will have a fantastic experience upgrading your own computers to run Tiger. This ebook is your anti-anxiety guide to every step of the process.