Upgrading The Operating System

Using Combo Update

This procedure is a "belt and braces" alternative to Software Update.

• Take a backup of your important data if you can. (See Hard Disc Backup)
• Insert the DVD that came with your computer or your OSX Upgrade Disc whichever is later and restart while holding down the 'C' key. (the Leopard DVD does not require you to hold down the 'C' key.) This will start from the DVD rather than your hard disc.
• From the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Disk Utility - don't start the install!
• Select your start up volume (your hard disc) and click on the First Aid tab.
• Click Repair Disc. (The reason you started from the DVD is that Disk Utility cannot repair the disc it is being run from.)
• Disk Utility will either report that it has found errors and fixed them all or that no errors were found. If it did find errors, run it again until it reports that no errors were found.
• Re-start from your built in hard disc
• Load Disc Utility from there and click on Repair permissions.
• Quit Disc Utility. Download and run the Combo Updater.

The Combo Updater is available as a download from the Apple web site. There are several available. For pre-Leopard systems, use the correct one for your machine - Intel or Power PC.

Restart normally. It may take longer to start up the first time after an upgrade.