Here's a guide aimed at all Mac users that will walk you through the upgrade paths for all the latest versions of OS X. How to update your system

Apple has released the new OS X Yosemite, the company called the most important advantages a 100% updated interface, the operating system has become more transparent and “flat”. Here we must admit that not all Mac users will like such revolutionary changes in design, and many in the reviews are not happy with such a “primitive” appearance. In terms of stability and speed, some compare it to Vista in Windows. This is due to the fact that some programs do not work correctly in the new OS + there are problems with Wi-Fi, but I think that the next updates to the operating system will correct such shortcomings and the new OS X Yosemite will work no worse than previous versions of OS X. In addition to the interface global changes have occurred in interaction with iOS, namely: now you can receive/answer calls/SMS from iPhone directly from your Mac. Applications running on iPhone can be viewed on Mac or iPad (Handoff function). The Instant Hotspot feature allows you to use your iPhone as a modem to access the Internet. In general, in my opinion, it’s worth trying the new operating system, especially for those who have an iPhone running iOS 8 or higher, plus OS X Yosemite is free, so at most you’ll lose this time.

Before you start upgrading to OS X Yosemite, I advise you to follow a few recommendations:

1 Check your Mac device's compatibility with OS X Yosemite.

Unfortunately, not all Mac devices are suitable for OS X Yosemite; below is a list of devices that are compatible with the new OS X:
iMac (Mid 2007 model or newer)
MacBook (late 2008 aluminum model, early 2009 model or newer)
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 model or newer)
MacBook Air (late 2008 model or newer)
Mac mini (Early 2009 model or newer)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 model or newer)
Xserve (early 2009 model)

To find out information about your Mac model, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen and select About This Mac.

In the window that opens, click the "Details" button.

A window will open in front of you, which will indicate the model and technical information of the Mac.

In addition, there are some other technical limitations:
You must have OS X 10.6.8 or later installed (this information can be found in “About this MAC”, see the print screens above).
The Mac must have at least 2 GB of RAM (this information can be found in "About This MAC", see the print screens above).
8 GB of free space on hard drive/SSD.

2 Make a system backup.

It is not known whether you will like the new OS X or not, everything will go smoothly during its installation, as is usually the case, or there will be failures, protect yourself and do system backup . If the new OS X Yosemite doesn't suit you, you can easily restore from a backup and work in a previous version of OS X.

3 Update all installed applications.

For all installed applications to work correctly, you must update all previously installed applications. To do this, connect your MAC to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable), click on the apple in the upper left corner and select "Software Update".

At the top there will be a banner asking you to upgrade to OS X Yosemite, and below all applications that require updating will be listed, click the "Update All" button and update them in one fell swoop.

Upgrading to OS X Yosemite

After this, you can start updating to OS X Yosemite, to do this, click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner and select “Software Update”, then click the “Free” button in the banner.

They made a lot of noise. And the most interesting thing is that in most cases, users frankly don’t care about “some kind of imaginary security.” Productivity is important to us.

So, because of those same patches that close holes in Intel chips, many computers began to work much slower. True, this is in theory.

In practice, we decided to conduct our own independent testing and monitor the performance of macOS. Does the performance of iMac, MacBook and other Macs deteriorate with the release of new firmware versions?

This is what we are trying to find out.

How events developed

Since January, Apple has been actively working to fix the Specter and Meltdown vulnerabilities. At the same time, the company learned about the presence of such in early December, although information about a potential slowdown reached ordinary users only in early January.

There are already two tests behind us:

• , when we compared the performance of the MacBook Pro before and after installing the December patch with macOS 10.13.2. The developers claimed that they had fixed the Meltdown vulnerability, but what we were most afraid of was Specter.
• , when another update with macOS 10.13.2 appeared in the Mac App Store. The hefty update promised to fix a security hole in Specter.

Luckily, none of the updates hurt the MacBook's performance. The laptop works as stable as before the vulnerabilities were discovered.

But in order to sleep peacefully (or restlessly), we decided to continue testing Apple operating systems. After all, we all know that evil awaits where you don’t expect it.

Yesterday Apple released another update in the form, and at the same time they fixed a security hole. We decided to find out whether the system performance had changed after the next update.

Test laptop

We continue to adhere to “ideal” testing conditions. The same 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2014 was chosen as the experimental laptop.

Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.2 GHz per core, Intel Graphics Pro, 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD drive.

When testing, we used a set of software that has already become a standard:

• GeekBench 4 to determine processor performance.
• CineBench- to calculate graphics performance.
• Black Magic Disk SpeedTest- to test the read/write speed of the drive.
• PeaceKeeper- to determine browser performance.

Before testing, close all third-party applications, restart the Mac and check the number of running processes. On average, this value varies between 300 - 310.

Let's start testing.

macOS 10.13.2 from January 8

We are re-testing the MacBook Pro on the macOS 10.13.2 operating system. According to Apple, this version of the OS already includes Specter and Meltdown security patches.

Install the macOS 10.13.3 update.

macOS 10.13.3 from January 23

The update weighs about 2 GB (depending on the Mac model). Installation took about 15 minutes. There are no visual changes. Let's start testing using the same set of utilities.

It's time to draw conclusions and compare how Mac performance has changed since the patches were released.

Visual comparison of results

Since the day we learned about the Specter and Meltdown vulnerabilities, Apple has released three public versions of the macOS operating systems.

As a reminder, macOS 10.13.1 comes without a patch. macOS 10.13.2 was released twice - first with the Meltdown patch, and a couple of weeks later with Specter. Update 10.13.3 was released only yesterday. It contains both patches and, according to Apple, is highly optimized.

And now a rather interesting situation is emerging.

From the four operating system versions tested, several conclusions can be drawn.

Positive points:

• CPU performance has improved slightly (according to the Geekbench 4 test);
• CPU performance in the Cinebench test has improved by almost 13%;
• Graphics performance remained at the same level.

Negative points:

• you can trace the active degradation of the performance of the standard Safari browser;
• There will be a noticeable drop in the performance of the drive.

The last point raises especially many questions. With the release of all versions of macOS, in which the Specter and Meltdown security hole was patched, the SSD read/write speed dropped significantly.

Any user may need to update the system on their Mac. However, hardly 25% of the population can boast of the ability to do this. But there are many ways that won’t be difficult to learn. This method is very simple and fast. The OS can be “refreshed” in just three steps. The first step is to make sure that this system will fit your Mac model. To do this, at the top of the screen on the left side, click on the “Apple” icon, select “About this Mac”, and then “More details”. Next, personal information must be indicated. Models that are suitable for OS X Mavericks - iMac (from 2007), MacBook (2008-2009 or later), MacBook Pro (from 2007), MacBook Air (2008 onwards), Mac mini (from 2009), Mac Pro (from 2008), Xserve (from 2009).

Step two - in the “About this Mac” item you can also find out what version of the OS is installed. Mavericks will only replace Snow Leopard (10.6.8), Lion (10.7) or Mountain Lion (10.8), however, if you have an older version, updating to the latest will allow you to use this service. The third step is to open the Mac App Store, “Download” the desired OS. Next, installation will be very simple using the built-in instructions. If for some reason you can’t handle it yourself, don’t take your device to dubious technicians. Contact consultants from stores or user support centers.

Updating MacBook OS

The second step mentioned updating the operating system to a newer version. How to do this? The Mac App Store provides notifications about programs and the system itself when they are ready to be updated. On the notification, click “More details”, after which, if the “Update/Install” buttons are available, download the program or OS. The “Reboot” button may also be active; this usually happens when installed software/OS requires a reboot to be “assimilated” by the computer.

Reinstalling OS X

Sometimes it becomes necessary to reinstall the operating system on a MacBook. An important reinstallation factor is Internet access. Restart your Mac by holding down the (⌘) and R keys. Make sure the Internet is connected. Select the reinstallation option, and then “Continue”. Detailed instructions will fully describe further steps; when selecting a disk, select the current Mac OS X disk. Next, click on the “Install” button.

Mac OS X Lion has a built-in recovery disc that can be used to either reinstall the OS or recover hard drive or Time Machine data. In order to call this disk, you need to restart your Mac by holding down the keys (⌘) + R, as before. You also have the opportunity to create an external recovery disk, but this will be discussed in detail in another article.

This article examined in detail the simplest ways to reinstall an operating system. But it is worth remembering that if you do not follow simple rules, you can harm your MacBook. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to entrust the matter to professionals.

Minimum system requirements for Tiger:

• PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 running at 300 MHz or higher
• FireWire port
• 256 MB RAM
• 3 GB hard drive space
• DVD drive

Leopard minimum system requirements:

• Intel or PowerPC G4 or G5 processor at 867 MHz or higher
• DVD drive
• 512 MB RAM
• 9 GB hard drive space

If you have an old PowerPC Mac that you want to completely upgrade, put the 10.5 Leopard DVD in your drive and follow the instructions. Leopard is the latest version of OS X to support PowerPC Macs, so it's a good idea to have the latest version. However, you won't be able to work on your Mac anymore until you get a newer Intel-based machine.

If you have an early Intel-based Mac, it's smarter to skip Leopard and go straight from Lion to Snow Leopard—if you can accommodate the memory and hard drive requirements.

Upgrade from 10.5 “Leopard” to 10.6 “Snow Leopard”

Snow Leopard system requirements:

• Intel Mac
• 1 GB RAM
• 5 GB hard drive space
• DVD drive

Snow Leopard is the latest version of OS X, available strictly on DVD. This DVD is also the only way for Macs running older versions of OS X to access the Mac App Store and update it with Snow Leopard. If you have an Intel Mac, simply place the Snow Leopard DVD in your drive and follow the update instructions.

As we said earlier, if you still have a Power PC Mac, you're stuck with 10.5 Leopard since it was the last version to officially support non-Intel compatible Macs.

Please note that 10.6 Snow Leopard is the minimum version to run our Mac optimization application, . Therefore, upgrading to Snow Leopard is wise!

Upgrade from 10.6 “Snow Leopard” to 10.7 “Lion”

Lion system requirements:

• 64-bit Intel Mac
• 2 GB RAM
• OS X 10.6.6 or later
• 7 GB hard drive space

You cannot upgrade from the earliest version of Snow Leopard to Lion. You must patch Snow Leopard to 10.6.6 first on Apple's website (and Apple recommends going to 10.6.8). That's because 10.6.6 is the first version of OS X to introduce the Mac App Store, which allows online updates from a Mac in major versions. Before this, you could update the same version of OS X through Apple's support site on their website, but you couldn't upgrade to the next major version without a DVD.

And there are actually no DVDs for 10.7 Lion and later versions of OS X. You need to upgrade to the digital version or not at all, which means 10.6.6, the earliest version to support the Mac App Store, is also the earliest version that can upgrade digitally up to the latest version of OS X.

However, you will first need to upgrade to 10.6.6 or 10.6.8 through the Apple support website. Once you've done this and you have the Mac App Store installed, go there to update. In fact, you can no longer upgrade to Lion as it has been removed from the Mac App Store since July 2012. You should upgrade straight to Mountain Lion. If you already have Lion installed and need to reinstall it, hold Option and go to the " Purchased» in the Apple Mac Store to see the download link again.

Upgrade from 10.7 Lion (or 10.6.8 Snow Leopard) to 10.8 Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion System Requirements:

• 2 GB RAM
• 8 GB hard drive space
• OS X 10.6.8 or later

The earliest Mac models supported were: Mid-2007 iMac, late 2008 or early 2009 MacBook, mid-2007 MacBook Pro, late 2008 MacBook Air, early 2009 Mac Mini, or early 2008 Mac Pro

If you have a system that meets the above specifications, you will be able to upgrade your Mac from Lion to Mountain Lion (or even the later Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion) through the Mac App Store. It will cost $19.99 US, with different prices for other regions.

Upgrade from 10.8 Mountain Lion to 10.9 Mavericks

Mavericks system requirements are almost the same as Mountain Lion. It is due out by the end of 2013, but a release date has not yet been announced. Just like the Mountain Lion upgrade, the Mavericks upgrade will be done through the Mac App Store and will likely cost $19.99, with different prices for other regions.

MacReviver includes all the necessary tools to help you clean, optimize and maintain your Mac and restore its performance and stability.

And its update. Before you begin, it is important to decide what exactly you need to do. That is, it will be necessary to understand whether a complete reinstallation of the operating system or a simple update is required. You will also need to prepare the device for reinstallation (for example, if you are going to sell your device).

Additionally, you can restore from a TimeMachine backup if you have configured this. So, first things first:

1. If you want to update your Mac OS, you can create a backup copy just in case, so that in case of unforeseen circumstances, you can restore the system.
2. If you are going to restore the operating system, then no action is required. However, you can check for backups if you want to install one of them.
3. For a complete reinstallation, you will need to create a copy, just as in the first point. Then be sure to deauthorize your computer or laptop from iTunes. To do this, launch the program, open the “Account” tab, select the authorization item, and then open the deauthorization item. Please note that your Apple ID password may be required. Next, sign out of iCloud after disabling Find My Mac if it was previously enabled. Also log out of your iMessage and FaceTime account. At this point, your preparation ends. Let's move on, friends.

Reinstallation

• First of all, please note that the following instructions provide for reinstallation with the installation of the version of the operating system that was installed when purchasing the device. That is, if you purchased a Macbook with OSX Mavericks, and then upgraded it to ElCaptain, then after reinstallation the laptop will have Mavericks again. It is also worth remembering that all your data will be deleted from your computer. This method is suitable for those who want to sell their device, give it to someone, or simply receive the device “out of the box.” If this method does not suit you, then go to the “Recovery” paragraph.
• So, let's get started: immediately after turning on the computer, hold down the key combination Option+Command+R.

• Once you see the Apple logo, you can release the buttons.
• If you did everything correctly, Disk Utility will launch, with which you will need to clean up the built-in hard drive. Please note that Extended journal format must be used. After this you can close the window.
• Now click on “Reinstall mac OS”. Follow the prompts on your computer or laptop screen to complete the steps indicated.
• When your device restarts, you'll see the Setup Assistant that opens when you turn on macOS computers for the first time. If you don't want to configure it (for example, as mentioned above, when selling the device), then use the Command+Q combination to turn off the Mac. This way, you will give the opportunity to configure the settings to another user, your future buyer. Ready! This completes the reinstallation.

Update

Updating macOS is much easier than any other operating system on your computer. This process is accompanied by fewer problems and questions. This will be especially noticeable by those people who have updated Windows at least once. In order to update your Mac computer or laptop, you only need an Internet connection and a little time.

• Launch the Mac AppStore.
• In shopping or in other sections of the store, find the new version of the operating system. Most often it is in the first places of the “Top Chart” or in the “Selection”.
• Click the “Download” button or “Install” if the system has already been downloaded previously. Wait for the operation to complete and continue using the now updated mac OS.

Recovery

Recovering with Time Machine

If you have a Time Machine backup, you will need to boot the device from the recovery partition using Command+R when you turn on the computer. In the mac OS Utilities window, select the item of the same name. Please note that all data from the disk will be cleared and replaced with the information and files from your backup. The recovery itself is easy to do using the instructions on the computer screen.