Updating the modern Mac
15/07/08 14:52 Filed in: Maintenance
I’ll only download an update using Software Update if Apple has chosen this as the only delivery method for the software. Even then, I find it best to select “Download Only” and then run the update as part of a sequence of installations. You’ll note that my “Check for updates” option is unchecked in Software Update.
In a recent BitDepth column, I wrote about issues surrounding updates and the changes that new applications and operating system software can bring to an upgraded computer.
Since switching to OS X, the process of updating Apple's operating system has become more streamlined and user friendly, but there's such a thing as too friendly.
Every Mac ships set to update itself on a regular basis and will ask politely if it's okay to proceed in that genuflecting, Alfred-awaits-the-Master's-wishes Macintosh way.
Unfortunately, my experience with these frequent, often fairly minor updates hasn't been particularly positive. Apple likes to push out its updates as fast as they become available, but with the exception of some security related upgrades that are usually related to either QuickTime or Safari, you'll find that you can normally ignore most of your computer’s persistent reminders to update something or the other.
In fact, I'd recommend that you skip Software Update entirely (you'll find the controls in System Preferences, under the Apple menu) and visit Apple's software downloads page to grab the so-called "monolithic" downloads, the big updates that are designed to work on all supported Macs, rather than the slimmer "delta" updates that the Software Update application cleverly designates for your specific Macintosh.
I've followed this process ever since Jaguar, version 10.2 and haven't ever had an issue with a major update. On the other hand, I get calls from time to time from Mac users who can't restart their Macs or have applications that won't launch properly after installing incremental updates.
In theory, it shouldn't make any difference which way you update your Mac, but in practice, I’ve found that Macs tend to be less funky when I update using the big updates.
I'm sure that at least part of the improvement in stability is the procedure and sense that something major is happening that a 500MB update forces on you.
My procedure for running a Mac update.
- Download big update.
- Quit everything.
- Repair permissions (launch Disk Utility, select the startup volume and click Repair Disk Permissions)
- Install system update.
- Restart.
- Install other updates.
- Restart as required.
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