Some of you were talking about SSDs in another thread and I got jealous, so I bought one for my late-2009 iMac. I know how to take it apart and install the drive, but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips as to the best way to keep my old OS.
I have a full Time Machine backup of the current drive. It is running El Capitan and I would like to keep it that way with the new drive because I have some older software (before Adobe went al subscription) that I'd like to keep functional. I could potentially go up to High Sierra but would need to research that before commiting.
Can I just re-image the whole magilla from Time Machine? Should I? I know it's better to put a fresh install OS on a new drive but it might be tricky to find an installer for El Cap, plus it would have to be bootable?
I used to know how to do this stuff but it's harder/more complicated than it used to be.
Since you have a full time machine backup I would install your chosen OS fresh on the SSD and then use the migration assistant to bring back your account and all of your apps. I have had good luck with all of the adobe apps coming over intact and ready to run. Just make sure your older apps will still run on the OS you are going to install.
I think that might be the issue - finding an installer. I haven't looked too hard but I know in the past it's been a pain. I don't think I can install over the internet unless I'm installing latest and greatest OS.
I'll have to do some digging when I get around to actually taking the plunge.
I think using the internet method it will put the OS on it that it shipped with. Or at least it used to. Apple might have changed that though.
I have an El Capitan, Sierra, and High Sierra installer if you need it.
I'd love to get the El Cap one from you.
Uploading now. It is going to take awhile as it is about 6 GB.
Cool, thanks. I won't be downloading it til tonight at home anyway.
Here ya go: [Link Removed]
Just Unzip and you will have the file that you install directly from within OS X. If you need a bootable disk like a USB stick you need to create it with something like Install Disk Creator (https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/) or DiskMaker X (https://diskmakerx.com/).
Much obliged!
If you don't want to do a fresh install and just want your system as is but on the ssd, you can also create a disk image using Disk Utility.
I've done it successfully both ways now (Time Machine & disk image).
I found it best/easiest to put the ssd into a usb housing and get the system running on that first. Of course you need to do it from recovery.
I like the idea of installing the OS onto the SSD in an external housing first. I didn't think I had one, then I just took apart my external time machine drive and as luck would have it the connection inside is the same so I'm going to put a fresh OS install on it while it is still external, then boot from it to test it out before cracking open the iMac to install it. Then I will use the Migration Assistant to bring everything from my TM backup (after re-assembling it, of course.)
I wanted to get all this done and tested before my next 2-week stint of working remotely from home, but that starts next week and I'm not sure I'll get around to it but we'll see what happens.
Well, that was fun. NOT! I attempted to install El Capitan onto the new SSD in an external housing and kept getting an error about package contents.
Did a little interwebs research and apparently there is a certificate in the installer that checks the date and if it is after a certain date it just won't install (but of course won't tell you that's the reason.) So I turned off automatic time/date in System Prefs, changed the date to mid 2017 and tried again but still no joy. Made a few more attempts (every attempt takes at least 10 minutes to know if it was successful) and it kept changing the date back on its own. Eventually I turned off wi-fi and disconnected my ethernet cable, changed the date and then it worked.
Then while it was hooked up and running I just imported user data and applications from the still-installed old HD. So now all I have to do is crack open the iMac and put the new SSD in and everything should already be in place and ready for action.
Very frustrating when software has a sunset date like that programmed in. I get that Apple doesn't want to support old OSes forever, but at least let us use it easily as long as we are willing to forego official support.
Oh yeah. I had run into that with Sierra and High Sierra installers but didn't think they did that back in El Capitan. I have the updated installers for Sierra and High Sierra though. Have you tried running the new install of El Capitan with the internet connected and the date set. I would not be surprised if it doesn't run once it checks the date since it is a security certificate issue. Seems like it could update to get the new certificate but who knows. Apple thinks differently than me most times.
Yes, I had it running off the external SSD today with auto date/time. Also it is and has been running on the original hard drive all along.
OK that is good.
In case anyone needs installers with the correct certificates:
Redownload Archived macOS Installers to Address Expired Certificates (https://tidbits.com/2019/10/28/redownload-archived-macos-installers-to-address-expired-certificates/)
New installers for:
- macOS 10.15 Catalina
- macOS 10.14 Mojave
- macOS 10.13 High Sierra
- macOS 10.12 Sierra
- OS X 10.11 El Capitan
- OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Up and running - after dinner I installed the SSD into the iMac (great instructions from OWC) and it's a nice improvement - super quiet and boots up fast. I was hoping it might solve my "can't turn the screen brightness past 3 or the whole screen turns black and won't come back unless I press the power button to put it to sleep, then jiggle the mouse to bring it back up and real quick turn the brightness back to 3" issue but that would just have been a fringe benefit.
Now to find the Java SE 6 Runtime - for some reason my old CS apps won't run because it say it can't find it, which is strange because I brought everything from the old system but I think I have something at work that I can dig up to remedy that.
Download Java for OS X 2017-001 (https://updates.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/041-88384-20191011-3d8da658-dca4-4a5b-b67c-26e686876403/JavaForOSX.dmg)
Joe, you magnificent bastard! Whatever I tried and downloaded yesterday wouldn't install but yours magically did. Thanks!
:rotf: Greatest compliment I've ever received! Thank you. :rotf:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJXKVOxqkWM
I *just* did this on Windows 10 to a regular HD and not SSD and AOEMI partition assistant software was totally worth the $40 for OS migration. https://www.diskpart.com/download-home.html
Quote from: Joe on May 13, 2020, 05:21:15 PM
Here ya go: [Link Removed]
Just Unzip and you will have the file that you install directly from within OS X. If you need a bootable disk like a USB stick you need to create it with something like Install Disk Creator (https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/) or DiskMaker X (https://diskmakerx.com/).
Joe...could I get the link to the High Sierra installer, please. Thanks!
High Sierra is still available in the App Store. High Sierra Installer (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12)
Quote from: DCurry on May 19, 2020, 06:49:42 PM
Up and running - after dinner I installed the SSD into the iMac (great instructions from OWC) and it's a nice improvement - super quiet and boots up fast. I was hoping it might solve my "can't turn the screen brightness past 3 or the whole screen turns black and won't come back unless I press the power button to put it to sleep, then jiggle the mouse to bring it back up and real quick turn the brightness back to 3" issue but that would just have been a fringe benefit.
Now to find the Java SE 6 Runtime - for some reason my old CS apps won't run because it say it can't find it, which is strange because I brought everything from the old system but I think I have something at work that I can dig up to remedy that.
2009-2010 iMac? I have one with this same problem. At first it seemed to happen only when it got hot. Then it was every 10 seconds. And it didn't matter what the brightness was. It was useless to me.
In my case, it's a communication problem with the graphics card not signaling the led to turn on. The graphics card for that last I checked was almost $900 after shipping. I would just get a brand new iMac before I spent that to fix it so I never did anything with it. There is a way to bypass the graphics card using a diagnostic LED but I never tried it.
Fast forward 2-3 years, I'm picking up some freelance so I bought an adapter so I can mirror onto a different monitor. I set it up last night and the iMac is working fine. :wtf:
Off topic....we have an identical Mac here at work and one morning I got weird vertical stripes and it faded to nothing. Restarted, then it was worse. I read up on it and the graphics card separates after many years sitting vertical and the fix I was reading was to bake it in the oven to rebridge the solder and apply new thermal paste. I asked our IT guy if we can try it in the toaster oven. He said "WE ARE NOT BAKING COMPUTER PARTS!" Said he was going to figure out another way. He came back the next day, took it home and baked it in his oven. :rotf: Fucking worked. It's been about 6 months and still ok.
throw some chocolate chips on there and then you have an awesome snack!
:lmao:
You got me thinking, Skryber. Seems like every time I ever research this issue I never find a definitive answer as to what the real problem is, and like you I don't want to throw gobs of money at a 10 year old computer. I also don't want to by a new one either, because this one is otherwise perfectly fine.
I think I might try replacing the LED driver board - looks like an inexpensive thing to try and if it doesn't help I'm only out 20 or 30 bucks.
This one is a 2008 but it's where I saw the option to bypasss the graphics card.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMihRCvTs9U
I'll let you know what happens with mine after I start using it. I'm sure the problem will be back.
Quoteadapter so I can mirror onto a different monitor.
We have done that several times to extend an iMac life at work. Works great.
You can get around graphic hardware problems also by accessing the bad iMac with screen sharing from another iMac. Of course this is useless if two different people need to be using these two iMacs at the same time.
I have replaced the display adapter on an older iMac before. A lot of them though are soldered to the logic board but there were a few older ones that had a separate display adapter that could be replaced. I think the one I did was around a 2008 iMac and the new video card was under $100 so it was worth that to fix it at the time. Not sure I would fix one that old now though.
Quote from: Joe on May 28, 2020, 07:42:52 AM
High Sierra is still available in the App Store. High Sierra Installer (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12)
The Mac I wanted to upgrade showed it already downloaded but damaged. I downloaded it on a different Mac and will try moving the installer to the Mac I actually want to upgrade.
It was probably originally downloaded with the old certificate. This download should have the new certificate.
Quote from: DCurry on May 28, 2020, 08:03:52 AM
I think I might try replacing the LED driver board - looks like an inexpensive thing to try and if it doesn't help I'm only out 20 or 30 bucks.
Well, I found a used one on eBay for $13 and ordered it. When it arrived, it was not the same board as pictured. I would have tried it anyway, but one of the ports that accepts a cable was broken off. The seller refunded my money instantly. Found another one on eBay (also $13) and ordered that, it arrived yesterday and I installed it. So far, so good - I was able to turn the brightness up past 3 and it didn't go black. I'm working from home next week so if it doesn't black out again I'll consider the issue solved. Wish I had done it sooner!