I recently got an iMac MB324LL/a with 4 gigs of PC2-6400 DDR2 ram. The computer also came with a legal install of Mountain Lion which just flies on this machine. The App Store offers me a free install of El Capitan but I want to know if my hardware configuration is sufficient to run El Capitan as least as fast as Mountain Lion or even faster (there is more free El Capitan software on the App Store, Mountain Lion is somewhat limiting)? My iMac is my only piece of Apple hardware so syncing among other Apple devices is not a problem. Is it just better to think that "if it ain't bust, then don't fix it!!" Thanks, Ken.
Can El Capitan Run Successfully on am iMac MB324LL/A
- Thread starter pixturesk
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Yes, El Capitan can run on your iMac. But, there are tasks you need to perform before applying the upgrade, and continuing tasks you need to be doing, no matter which Operating System you are using.
First, for tasks you should be doing on a continuous basis:
1. You need to make frequent backups to an external drive. Time Machine (comes with the Apple OS, and is free) is OK, but a backup/cloning program that makes bootable backups is better. The two best choices are SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner. Here are links for each of those:
SuperDuper! - http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Carbon Copy Cloner - https://bombich.com/
2. You need to perform periodic disk cleanup/maintenance/repairs on your internal hard drive. Disk Utility, again comes with the Apple OS and is free) is OK, but again it would be wise to invest in a more robust disk maintenance program like TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior. Here are links for each of those:
TechTool Pro - https://www.micromat.com/products/techtool-pro
Disk Warrior - http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
There is also an excellent, venerable, and free product called Onyx that is useful. For that one, you need to choose the correct version based on the OS you are using. Here is the link to that fine product:
Onyx - http://www.titanium.free.fr/onyx.html
Understand that Onyx is not a replacement for TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior. The tasks it performs are limited, but it is wise to use Onyx in conjunction with either TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior (or even Disk Utility).
3. Keep all third party software you are using up to date. That is so, so critical.
4. Finally, given that the machine is 7 years old, and assuming it contains the original internal hard drive, the drive could go "bad" any time, especially if little, to any, disk maintenance has been performed on the drive. Hard disks typically last 5 to 7 years, even with periodic disk maintenance. So, it's important that you are aware of that. The speed of the internal drive (again assuming it is the original one) is 7200 rpm, which is good. But, if you either want to, or need to, replace it, you can replace the optical drive (the one that takes CDs/DVDs) with an SSD drive. Or, you can just replace the internal hard drive with another 7200 rpm drive.
Now, for the upgrade from Mountain Lion to El Capitan, you will still need to perform 1 through 3 above. You can then upgrade to OS 10.11.3, the latest version of El Capitan. If you do decide to upgrade, when you download the El Capitan file from the App Store, do not start the upgrade process right away. A file entitled "Install OS X El Capitan" will be in your Applications folder after the download completes. Make a copy of that file somewhere else on your machine. And in fact, make a copy of it on yiur external drive. Once you do that, you can either do an upgrade, or what could be better is a complete Erase and format of your internal drive, then a fresh, clean installation of OS 10.11.3. You would then use Migration Assistant to "migrate"/copy all the needed "stuff" from the external backup.
First, for tasks you should be doing on a continuous basis:
1. You need to make frequent backups to an external drive. Time Machine (comes with the Apple OS, and is free) is OK, but a backup/cloning program that makes bootable backups is better. The two best choices are SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner. Here are links for each of those:
SuperDuper! - http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Carbon Copy Cloner - https://bombich.com/
2. You need to perform periodic disk cleanup/maintenance/repairs on your internal hard drive. Disk Utility, again comes with the Apple OS and is free) is OK, but again it would be wise to invest in a more robust disk maintenance program like TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior. Here are links for each of those:
TechTool Pro - https://www.micromat.com/products/techtool-pro
Disk Warrior - http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
There is also an excellent, venerable, and free product called Onyx that is useful. For that one, you need to choose the correct version based on the OS you are using. Here is the link to that fine product:
Onyx - http://www.titanium.free.fr/onyx.html
Understand that Onyx is not a replacement for TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior. The tasks it performs are limited, but it is wise to use Onyx in conjunction with either TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior (or even Disk Utility).
3. Keep all third party software you are using up to date. That is so, so critical.
4. Finally, given that the machine is 7 years old, and assuming it contains the original internal hard drive, the drive could go "bad" any time, especially if little, to any, disk maintenance has been performed on the drive. Hard disks typically last 5 to 7 years, even with periodic disk maintenance. So, it's important that you are aware of that. The speed of the internal drive (again assuming it is the original one) is 7200 rpm, which is good. But, if you either want to, or need to, replace it, you can replace the optical drive (the one that takes CDs/DVDs) with an SSD drive. Or, you can just replace the internal hard drive with another 7200 rpm drive.
Now, for the upgrade from Mountain Lion to El Capitan, you will still need to perform 1 through 3 above. You can then upgrade to OS 10.11.3, the latest version of El Capitan. If you do decide to upgrade, when you download the El Capitan file from the App Store, do not start the upgrade process right away. A file entitled "Install OS X El Capitan" will be in your Applications folder after the download completes. Make a copy of that file somewhere else on your machine. And in fact, make a copy of it on yiur external drive. Once you do that, you can either do an upgrade, or what could be better is a complete Erase and format of your internal drive, then a fresh, clean installation of OS 10.11.3. You would then use Migration Assistant to "migrate"/copy all the needed "stuff" from the external backup.
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Thanks honestone. The seller gave me a 1TB Seagate hard drive which is much newer than the original, also gave me 4gigs of ram instead of the 2 gigs that came with the computer. I just make a backup of essential files + folders to a 32gig Lexar USB Flash drive using CCC, that I can copy back after installing a fresh new copy of El Capitan, then I reinstall all my applications, some of which require newer versions compatible with El Capitan, then I copy back the files + folders from my flash drive. I use Onyx, as well as CCleaner, not into paying for the other programs. The more I think about it, I think I'll stay with Mountain Lion, everything works so well. I also checked with a local Mac techie who says just stick with Mountain Lion, that it is the best fit for my iMac, that Yosemite is the highest I should go. That's why I am picking as many brains as I can before making a decision. Thank you so much for your input. Ken.
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It is best if you purchase an external hard drive, partition it, and make CCC backups to it. You could also partition the internal 1 TB drive, and make CCC backups to one of those partitions. That is an "OK" backup strategy, but a backup to an external drive is much, much better.
Also, it looks CCleaner performs just about the same functions a Onyx, so you might be performing "over kill".
As for disk maintenance/repairs, there is the hidden Recovery partition on your drive where you can run Disk Utility in an "isolated" environment. Here is a link that shows how to boot to that partition, and what it can do:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
Again, no matter what product you use for "true" disk maintenance, it is best to have a complete backup to an external device.
Finally, it is ultimately up to you how you want to proceed. I am just offering some proven suggestions/software. Besides what I already mentioned, such practices/software will also go a long, long way to keeping your Mac "lean and clean", along with few, if any, issues.
Also, it looks CCleaner performs just about the same functions a Onyx, so you might be performing "over kill".
As for disk maintenance/repairs, there is the hidden Recovery partition on your drive where you can run Disk Utility in an "isolated" environment. Here is a link that shows how to boot to that partition, and what it can do:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
Again, no matter what product you use for "true" disk maintenance, it is best to have a complete backup to an external device.
Finally, it is ultimately up to you how you want to proceed. I am just offering some proven suggestions/software. Besides what I already mentioned, such practices/software will also go a long, long way to keeping your Mac "lean and clean", along with few, if any, issues.
Thanks