Upgrading to 10.5 Leopard: Best Approach?

[dnanian]

Well, I think the first thing I'd try, after a full backup with SD!, of course, is an upgrade install. You can do the clean install if you have trouble with the upgrade, eh?

[Coolcmsc]

Of course - thanks, C

[scstrr]

Paranoid user with Power Mac G4/933 about to upgrade to Leopard.

Four HDs, 2 int and 2 ext.

int HD 1 - 120 GB

1. 120 GB - Macintosh HD (main Tiger volume, base for Sandboxes)

int HD 2 - 250 GB

1. 120 GB - ARCHIVE: Tiger + OS 9 boot + older User files
2. 30 GB - OS 9 Clean
3. 30 GB - Sandbox 0: Tiger Clean
4. 30 GB - Sandbox 1: Tiger (no longer used)
5. 30 GB - Sandbox 2: Current Tiger boot partition

ext HD 1 - 500 GB

1. 500 GB - Documents (aliases from system partitions link to folders here)

ext HD 2 - 500 GB

1. 500 GB - Smart Update BACKUP of Documents from ext HD 1

Gratuitous emoticon.

I think you'll need to have a second partition. Migrate from the Tiger partition, which'll bring over your data, and make sure you like it...
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No, I really would not use a Sandbox to install Leopard against a Tiger/Panther install.
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Well, I think the first thing I'd try, after a full backup with SD!, of course, is an upgrade install. You can do the clean install if you have trouble with the upgrade, eh?
__________________
--Dave Nanian

Judging from your comments, you would suggest NOT using Leopard to upgrade any Sandbox -- correct? p39 in the manual talks about applying System Updates freely to a Sandbox: but you don't suggest it for a *major* System Upgrade, right?

"Usage Tip" on p38 of the manual talks about keeping new application images and installers in a folder on the desktop in the Sandbox. Since it's shared with the original volume, you can restart under the original volume, and then apply those installers to the original volume.

You seem to say, then, that one should try an upgrade install of Leopard on the original volume (after backing it up!). Correct? If that doesn't work, one can wipe and reinstall Leopard clean, and using migration assistant to transfer files from the backup.

You seem to say that Sandbox won't work between different system versions: therefore, if I upgrade my base Macintosh HD partition above to Leopard, my three Sandbox Tiger partitions will stop working, correct?

Now the first BIG questions: when I use SuperDuper! to create Leopard Sandboxes, can I simply Smart Update, or will it be necessary to Erase the existing Sandbox partitions? I think I would only lose installed apps on a Sandbox, if I used the "Erase" option in SuperDuper! Sandbox, so the impact wouldn't be too bad. Or is there something else that would get lost?

Finally the second BIG question: suppose I erase the two 30 GB partitions containing Sandbox 0 and Sandbox 1. Suppose I clean install Leopard on Sandbox 0, and then use migration assistant, taking care to create aliases to the ext HD 1 with Documents folders so the 30 GB doesn't fill up. Suppose I then create a Leopard Sandbox on the Sandbox 1 partition. Now I would have partitions with Tiger, Tiger Sandbox, and also Leopard, Leopard Sandbox. Would this work? Is it advisable?

Or is there a better plan? Maybe you could mention the steps you at Shirt Pocket are taking?

All of the above presumes the use of the updated version of SuperDuper! after Leopard arrives. I'm presuming you don't suggest trying the existing version for either Smart Updates or Sandboxes?
__________________
--Suman

[dnanian]

That's right: do NOT use a Sandbox for Tiger -> Leopard updates.

What I always do is back up and try an upgrade. If there's a problem, it's easy enough to clean install/migrate or restore and wait for the next version.

You will likely be able to Smart Update an existing Sandbox, but erasing won't hurt, since it's smaller than a full backup anyway (and likely to copy nearly everything again)...

Linking Documents probably would work -- but don't try to share too much of your Home folder, especially between different major OS versions.

[NickRich]

My setup is pretty simple with just one external hard drive dedicated to a SuperDuper clone of my Mac hard drive.

Assuming I just can't wait to install Leopard (!) could I check your recommended procedure? As I understand it, Leopard will detect my external drive and offer to use it for Time Machine. Since I want to continue to use SD, presumably I should say no and wait for the Leopard compatible version of SD?

Or should I use Time Machine for now and reallocate the external drive to SD when the new version is available? I'm assuming I can't use the one drive for both?

Thanks.

Nick

[dnanian]

You can partition your external drive into two volumes, one for Time Machine and one for SuperDuper. Or, you can get a new drive for Time Machine (since it really likes extra space -- given its intended use, the more the better.

[NickRich]

Thanks for the quick reply Dave. My present external drive is getting pretty full, so a new drive seems the best option.

[scstrr]

Originally Posted by dnanian

That's right: do NOT use a Sandbox for Tiger -> Leopard updates.

What I always do is back up and try an upgrade. If there's a problem, it's easy enough to clean install/migrate or restore and wait for the next version.

You will likely be able to Smart Update an existing Sandbox, but erasing won't hurt, since it's smaller than a full backup anyway (and likely to copy nearly everything again)...

Linking Documents probably would work -- but don't try to share too much of your Home folder, especially between different major OS versions.

All right, I will *upgrade* my base HD with Leopard then: the one which my Sandboxes point to. In fact, that's going on now (2 hrs 19 mins left).

My Sandboxes will be orphaned until I recreate them: I will recreate a single Sandbox using erase instead of Smart Update, as you suggest. I will do this using the *current* version of SD 2.1.4, even though it's only partially compatible. I will treat it as a beta test, and see how it does.

The key answers seem to be to BACK UP your main system volume, and then upgrade its OS version, realizing that you will orphan any Sandboxes based on that main system volume. Then, you recreate the Sandboxes -- because of a major system change, Smart Update won't buy you much time savings, probably, so using the erase option is indicated.

Will do. If I find anything as a "tester" I will post it.

P.S. I link Documents mostly for iTunes. That has the lions share of storage (near 200 GB now). I link the "iTunes Music" folder inside the iTunes folder. That leaves all the settings files within the home folder. I also follow the "Kinkless Desktop" by putting all my own documents in an Archive folder, leaving the actually Documents folder alone for "Microsoft User Data" and other such application detritus.

[scstrr]

Originally Posted by scstrr

All right, I will *upgrade* my base HD with Leopard then: the one which my Sandboxes point to. In fact, that's going on now (2 hrs 19 mins left).

My Sandboxes will be orphaned until I recreate them: I will recreate a single Sandbox using erase instead of Smart Update, as you suggest. I will do this using the *current* version of SD 2.1.4, even though it's only partially compatible. I will treat it as a beta test, and see how it does.

Note 1: When SD took 5 mins or so while repairing before copying, I halted it. Ran repair permissions from Disk Utility. Repair Permissions took almost 20 minutes under Leopard.

Note 2: Then I ran SD 2.1.4 to erase/create a Sandbox in a 30 GB partition. I set it to reboot from that Sandbox, but it's spent 15 minutes at the grey apple logo screen with the circle of rotating pills. YMMV, but it seems Dave wasn't kidding when he said the current version of SD is not fully compatible. I'll do a hard power down and then see if it boots (maybe I'll even zap the PRAM).

Question: Say you have 3 partitions: Sandbox, Main System, and Data. The user folder in the Main System partition has aliases to Documents folder in Data partition. Currently, I emphasize backing up Data, figuring I can always reinstall system software. But ideally, should you have a backup drive which has matching partitions and back up each using SD? Dave, do you (Shirt Pocket) clone your main system and all Sandbox partitions regularly? If so, would you mind saying if you do it weekly or daily or whatever your scheme is? Anyone else clone their Sandbox and Main System partitions?
__________________
--Suman (all hail Dave Nanian)

[dnanian]

I never clone the Sandbox: I only back up my partitions that I can't recreate easily (a Sandbox, being based on a main partition, isn't backed up).

And, no, I wasn't kidding about Leopard compatibility. The data's all there, but the metadata isn't perfect due to changes in Leopard...