Can I upgrade to Lion from OS X 10.5.8 (Leopard)? Do I need to install Snow Leopard first? If so, Which version?

There are only two versions of Snow Leopard, the ordinary one and the server edition. Most people have no need of the server edition. Any Snow Leopard retail disc, no matter how old, even 10.6.0, can be updated to 10.6.8, so the version is pretty much irrelevant. You need to make sure your hardware is up to scratch for Lion though - you have to have an Intel processor, Core 2 Duo or better - NOT Core Duo.

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I have a dual core mac pro tower , can I upgrade to lion from snow leopard?

I have a dual core mac pro tower , can I upgrade to lion from snow leopard?

The 2006 and 2007 Mac Pros can be upgraded as far as Lion. Mountain Lion can be installed on Mac Pros from 2008 onward. See below:
Upgrade Paths to Snow Leopard, Lion, and/or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard — Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.
     Snow Leopard General Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
       2. 1GB of memory
       3. 5GB of available disk space
       4. DVD drive for installation
       5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
           fees may apply.
       6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
           terms apply.
Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service — this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
     Lion System Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
           or Xeon processor
       2. 2GB of memory
       3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
       4. 7GB of available space
       5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
     OS X Mountain Lion — System Requirements
       Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
         1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 7,1 or later
         2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) —
             Model Identifier 5,1 or later
         3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 2,1 or later
         5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         7. Xserve (Early 2009) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
Are my applications compatible?
         See App Compatibility Table — RoaringApps.
     For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion.

I have created a new partition on the Mac HD for Lion as I would like to dual boot. Do I need to install Snow Leopard on that partition before installing Lion? If so, can I use one of my Time Machine backups to do this?

I have created a new partition on the Mac HD for Lion as I would like to dual boot. Do I need to install Snow Leopard on that partition before installing Lion? If so, can I use one of my Time Machine backups to do this?

zoominnana wrote:
Can I set up 2 different time capsule backups? one for the lion partition and one for the snow leopard partition?
No, you can't partition a Time Capsule's internal HD. Both partitions will back up to the same sparse bundle. keeping the backups for each partition separate.
Time Machine will not take the two OSX partitions as two different computers, but for best results, exclude the Snow Leopard drive from backups on the Lion partition, and exclude the Lion partition from backups on the Snow Leopard partition.
There may be some files on the Lion partition that Time Machine on Snow Leopard won't like, among other things. See #10 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions for details.

Can you upgrade to Lion from 10.6.6?

Hi, I was just wondering if it's possible to upgrade to Lion from OS X 10.6.6, or if you have to be on 10.6.8. Thanks!

If you have the Mac App Store, it is possible. But it is HIGHLY recommended that you run Software Update before installing Lion, to make sure you have the newest software - this is also required if you want iWork and iTunes to run in full screen in Lion.

IMac i7 need to install snow leopard NOT Lion - Will it allow the install of 10.6?

I have a bit of a quirk to deal with, a client has a Snow Leopard Network but just recently had a replacement iMac i7 delivered for a previous box from earlier in the year. The IT Contractor is stating that the machine can only take Lion and will not install Snow Leopard. The problem is there is some FileMaker issues that have come up with some deep level custom functions that have exposed a critical problem and the machine needs to run Snow Leopard. This would be until the work around is developed for the software solution or FMI comes out with the next version of FileMaker resolving the issue.
Is the IT Contract full of it ? If not is there a way to force the iMac i7 to accept a Snow Leopard installation ?

For years Macs have not be able to run earlier versions of OS X than they originally shipped with so this is nothing new. It also makes a lot of sense when you think of it, one of the reasons Mac's run so well is the software and hardware are optimized to run well together. Attempting to install an earlier version of OS X than what the machine was designed for is technically possible but it also comes with significant risks because you're then dealing with a system that wasn't designed to run well together...in other words you're emulating the MS Windows world. While there can be some temporary inconvenience as you're experiencing in this case Apple makes these decisions for a reason. While not always obvious to we end users but there are good reasons none the less.

Need to install Snow Leopard--seems complicated. Can I pay Apple store to do it?

While I'm mostly a right brain type (writer), I can still do a lot of semi-geeky on my Mac Book Pro and even recently figured out how to rescue my mother's iMac from the "death screen" by using some keyboard shortcuts after unplugging all her cords. (After that feat of techno-heroism I was immediately written back into her will.)
Having said THAT, for some reason, the idea of installing a new operating system myself freaks me out. I have this fear that my 4-year-old MacBook Pro is going to crash, or something almost as bad will happen. (Yes, of course, I would back it up first.)
Every "guide" I read about installing Snow Leopard starts out simple, then it starts to look complicated. "If you want this, then don't do this..." If you don't want this, then do this..." etc.
Also, I may not even be able to do it anyway as my DVD drive doesn't work anymore. Won't I need that to work anyway--or a tech person for that matter--in order to be able to install the installtion disc?
OR WILL I NEED TO GET THE DRIVE FIXED FIRST? DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WILL COST TO GET THIS FIXED?
At this point, I would be willing to pay someone $50 to do it (a pro of course). Can I pay an Apple store tech person to install it for me? At the same time they can run a diagnostic and maybe figure out a way for me to remove duplicate files and all that junk that I have filling up up my hard drive.
I need to do this ASAP because I am limited in my speed in selling on eBay (I also sell vintage and designer clothes) because I can't bulk list upload, etc.
Please, can someone help? Would an Apple store do this for me if I paid them? I would have more peace of mind if they did it.
Thanks!

After posting my concern/question, especially in regards to the optical drive, I read this on this forum:
Jul 11, 2011 5:21 AM
I would like to update my macbook pro from Tiger to Snow Leopard, but my optical drive is not working. Can I take my macbook pro into the apple store and have them install it via a portable drive?
MacBook Pro, Optical drive is no longer working
Another poster replied, "Yes, I believe they will."
Is this true? Can someone verify this? Any idea of cost? I really don't need my optical drive. Besides, end of year, I'm getting a new Mack Book Pro.

Can I upgrade to Lion from OS X 10.5.8 or do I have to go to Snow Leopard first?

Hello,
Can I upgrade from OS X 10.5.8 straight to Lion or do I have to first upgrade to Snow Leopard? We're a little behind.
Thank you for your help!
Karen

Limnos,
Here is that info:
Hardware Overview:
Model Name:          MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:          MacBookPro5,5
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.26 GHz
Number Of Processors:          1
Total Number Of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          3 MB
Memory:          2 GB
Bus Speed:          1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version:          MBP55.00AC.B03
SMC Version (system):          1.47f2

Can I upgrade to Lion from Snow Leopard?

I currently have a MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard installed. I'm planning on getting one of the new iMacs as well. I was considering using the migration assistant to copy user, applications, etc., from my MacBook Pro, to the new iMac. So I'm thinking that for compatibility purposes, I should NOT wait and get an iMac with Lion, then try to use the migration assistant to migrate from Snow Leopard to Lion. So please tell me if this plan seems reasonable:
1. Purchase an iMac now, and use the migration assistant to copy stuff from my laptop.
2. Then upgrade the laptop and iMac from Snow Leopard to Lion when it's released.
My concern would be whether installed apps are compatible with Lion.
I'm a longtime linux user, and must say I am very impressed with Mac OS X! I still prefer linux for running server applications, but Mac OS X on the desktop is better than linux AND windows!
-Thanks

But most important of all: Can it run crysis ? Jokes apart:
I wouldn't get excited about Lion. I can spend hours about making an OS a real "think different" experience.
But since nobody will be paying for that and since many people before me tried hard to make Apple developers understand what to be improved, Apple just trash those suggestions. For Example:
It must have been how many versions of Preview where if you type in a PDF document search a phrase like "I want to Go" the Preview shows each I each Want each To each Go in a PDF. C'mon.
Did you see Spaces in Lion? Was it really necessary to change it? C'mon this is like a psychotic housewife that likes to move furnitures around once in a while until some furniture got broken.
You know when Apple was really different when there weren't any "OMG and I was lik you knoww, really and it was like you knowww yeah cool yeah cool" college girls who know have an apple just to show off the apple logo on front of their device. Is this the payback for a 1000 $ computer? It's humiliating. Truly. Now if we want to be serious let's be truly serious.

HT1338 How can I upgrade to LION from 10.5.8? THX

Do i need to upgrade to SNOW LEOPARD first or can I just go straight to LION?
Model Name:          MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:          MacBookPro5,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.4 GHz
THX

You need to go through Snow Leopard(phone the Apple Store.) If you want to upgrade to Lion 10.7 but not Mountain Lion 10.8, ask them for a Lion download code at the same time.
(69048)

I can't upgrade to Lion from Snow Leopard

Hi,
I'm trying to upgrade an older MacBookPro to Lion from Snow Leopard. The MBP was built in 2007, and has a 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo, with 4GB of RAM. It's currently running OS X 10.6.8, which means the computer should be able to run Lion.
I have purchased Lion before for other machines, and so if I log into the App Store on this MBP, and then click on the "Purchases" tab, I see OS X Lion at the bottom of my list of App Store purchases, with an active "Download" button next to it. If I then click on "Download", the App Store puts up a spinning logo for a few seconds (up by the nagivation links in the top bar of the App Store), and then the spinner disappears, the "Download" button goes from greyed-out to active, and then that's it. No indication that Lion has started downloading or anything like that. I'm stumped. By all indications, I should be able to download Lion, and not only does it not download, but it gives me no information as to why it didn't.
Help!?!

Wait...I may be an idiot...
I went through this whole rigamarole of downloading the "Install OS X Lion" app onto a second mac, then copying that App over to the "Applications" folder of the old mac I'm trying to update. Then, when I looked in the "Applications" folder of the old Mac, sitting there right next to "Install OS X Lion" was an App called "Install OS X Mavericks". I have no memory of downloading that particular app, but perhaps it did, and perhaps once it did, the system prevented me from downloading the Lion installer...which would make some sense.
As of this moment, I am upgrading the machine to Mavericks, which seems like a win all around.

How do I totally remove the 'ghost' of mountain lion from my ibook G4? I erased and restored to panther then Snow Leopard but ML still causing problems

I am not very tech savvy but work from home and have used Macs for about 18 years, so know the basics. Have had iBook G4 for almost 5 years, it came with Panther Discs and later added Snow Leopard. Never had even the slightest issue until about 2 months ago. Kept getting "browser no longer supported" on websites and eventually could no longer edit my own Jimdo website or publish on YUDU, so downloaded Mountain Lion and installed it on my iBook.
Straight away it was much slower to start up, wasn't that keen generally, but used it for 6 weeks hoping I would get used to it. At that point my older Mac Mini (also running on Snow Leopard) died and as I wanted to continue using my printer and scanner (neither had drivers to work with Mountain Lion) I went to Time machine and restored my iBook to the day before I installed Mountain Lion.
iBook was better immediately and started faster again, everything fine for about 3 weeks and then last wednesday my iBook would not come back on. The grey start up window showed the apple and whirly wheel for between 5 to 10 minutes, then just a blank blue screen. I could move the cursor but that was it. Tried to start up again many times, eventually the grey apple was taking up to 15 minutes before the blue screen. Refused to go beyond that blank blue screen when holding down C and starting up from either Panther or Snow Leopard discs or from Disk warrior disc. Disc Warrior and Utilities said nothing was wrong with the hard drive but always showed the HD icon with a yellow exclamation sign over it.
Because of work pressure, after 48 hours with no improvement, I wound up buying a new iMac, so can work but still would love to have my iBook back, plus use of my Printer and scanner again. Last night finally managed to Panther reinstalled after erasing 4 times and many failed attempts at install. Everything seemingly fine but Snow Leopard first reinstall failed so erased once more. Second time SL installed but gave a warning in red saying something to the effect that as I am installing an older OS over a newer one, there will be issues. This leads me to believe that somehow, despite Time Machines and now 5 separate Hard Drive erasures through utilities, Mountain Lion is STILL on there? How on earth can I get rid of it and return just to Snow leopard. Any help really welcomed as I am at the end of my tether but don't want to give up on my old faithful (until now) iBook
PS: Sorry if I post in the wrong section

First, that cannot be an iBook G4 as that machine cannot run Snow Leopard let alone Mountain Lion. To run Snow Leopard it has to be an Intel processor, not a G4. What does it show as the Model Identifier in About This Mac, More Info, System Report, Hardware, Model Identifier?
Second, if you have erased the hard drive there should not be remnants of any prior content. Even though Disk Warrior is saying nothing is wrong with the hard drive, it sounds as though there are problems. You may want to consider simply replacing the hard drive so there are no questions about faults. A good source is OWC, http://www.macsales.com where they also have on-line videos showing how to do the replacement.
Third, you could also try again to restart using the Snow Leopard DVD/CD and use Disk Utility on that install disk to erase again, and do it a couple times, then try to install. If it continues to refuse, then it sounds as though there is a fault with the hard drive.

How can I reinstall Mountain Lion (already bought before) after I restore my MacBook unibody (restores it to snow leopard)?

Originally I had upgraded my MacBook unibody to mountain and used time machine to back up my data. I then wanted to restore my MacBook so I did but it restored my MacBook to snow leopard. After restoring to an old time machine backup some of the apps aren't compatible because they require mountain lion but my system got restored to snow leopard. How can I reinstall my already purchased mountain lion if snow leopard doesn't have an App Store?

10.6 Snow Leopard will get the App Store when you update it to 10.6.8. Download the 10.6.8 combo updater to bring it up to 10.6.8. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

HT201364 Can I upgrade my 2010 Power Mac G 5 that has OS 10.5.8, going through Snow Leopard and then to OS X Mavericks?

Can I upgrade my current Power Mac G 5 that has OS 10.5.8 from 2010 to the current OS X Mavericks if I first install OS Snow Leopard? My computer has 1.8 Ghz, 3 GB DDR SDRAM, 2 CPU with 512 KB L2 Cache (per CPU) and 500 GB Hard Drive, about half full.

No. A G5 can't be upgraded past 10.5.8.
(104197)

Need Help Installing Snow Leopard over Mountain Lion!!!!

Hey!!! I REALLY NEED SOME HELP!!! I had Mountain Lion installed on my Macbook Pro. I didnt like it and I wanted to downgrade to Snow leopard. I have the Install Disk with me. I went ahead and formatted my Macbook Pro. Now Im not sure what to do. Should I put the disk in?? And will it install?? And how should i install it??? All I can do as of now is boot into the Recovery HD.

Hi.
I have the same problem with an iMac - everybody gives the same response and none of the them work. Why? Possibly because the iMacs come with bluetooth keyboards and by the time the bluetooth connection has been made, it's too far into the boot sequence for "holding down the C" or "holding Option whilst pressing R", etc. to have any effect.
(Oh yeah, I've tried connecting USB keyboards and they don't work either. - possibly because they are usually Windows and I don't know which keys map to which).
It's bad enough being told to press the "Option" key on an OSX keyboard when there isn't one - at least not on English keyboards. If the Yanks mean the "Alt" key, then they should say so.
I do not get the Installer Utilities options to enable me to clear the old operating system from my hard drive, because I can't find the key combination to force a boot from my DVD drive.
I also get a message that I can't run "the (Snow Leopard?) Installer" on the current software (Mountain Lion) in order to start the regression to Snow Leopard.
So, how do I trash my current system and start again? I suppose that I could always install Windows and then OSX over the top of it. Or take the disk out and start from scratch - but I've done that once and it's a bit boring.
P.S. I was the "Backup Man" at a computer installation, so " Make sure you save this...." goes without saying.
Any different ideas guys?

I need to install Snow Leopard onto partition on OS Lion iMac but it keeps beeping after pressing/holding 'C' to start installation.

Hi All,
I bought a used iMac (2011 model, Lion OS X) and I need to install OS Snow Leopard onto a partition I have already created.
I have tried rebooting from the SL installation disk which does not work as the computer only beeps at me (beeps 3x then pause, beeps 3x then pause, etc) whilst showing the white screen with apple logo. I then have had to 'force quit' out of the computer to shut it down to stop the beeping.
I've tried holding down 'C' whilst restarting the computer to bring up the start up disk options & it beeps again in the same screen.
I've read through many threads in forums to try to find a solution but have been unsuccessful in doing so.
Please someone help me?
Thank you in advance,
Gina

Your RAM may not be passing a check.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5860?viewlocale=en_US
Try running a memory test.
Memory Test
Memory Test (2)
You can also try holding down the option/alt key during a restart, select the disk there, and see if it will boot.

Can I upgrade to Lion from OS X 10.5.8 (Leopard)? Do I need to install Snow Leopard first? If so, Which version?

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