Take Control of Upgrading to Mavericks

Install Mavericks easily, and fly through important post-installation steps!

Gain confidence and stay in control as Mac guru Joe Kissell explains how to ensure that your hardware and software are ready for OS X 10.9 Mavericks, prevent problems with a bootable duplicate of your main disk, and decide on your best installation method, whether you’re upgrading from 10.4 Tiger, 10.5 Leopard, 10.6 Snow Leopard, 10.7 Lion, or 10.8 Mountain Lion.

You’ll find smart suggestions for managing the installer, with tips for installing on multiple Macs and dealing with bandwidth limitations. Joe walks you through installing Mavericks and then gives important advice for handling your Mac when it first starts up in Mavericks, including working through a pile of post-installation alerts, signing in with the right Apple ID(s), turning on iCloud Keychain, enabling enhanced (and local) dictation, managing user accounts, and quite a bit more.

Additional important topics include troubleshooting installation problems, upgrading from an older Mac or PC to a new Mac running Mavericks, and a brief look at installing OS X Server.You’ll experience an easy upgrade and quickly deal with post-installation quirks with these topics:

• Start fast: A short Quick Start overview links to detailed content behind each topic, letting you read lightly or more deeply, depending on your specific needs.
• Catch the wave: Find out what you can look forward to in Mavericks, and why this upgrade is important for Apple.
• Older cat upgrades: For people who are upgrading from 10.4 Tiger, 10.5 Leopard, or 10.6 Snow Leopard, Joe offers advice about the most effective way to carry out an upgrade.
• Compatibility check: Make sure your hardware and software are ready for Mavericks, and consider if this might be a good time for new hardware, even if it’s not essential for your upgrade. (Tip: if your Mac can run Mountain Lion, it can also run Mavericks.)
• Prep steps: Avoid upgrade calamities by ensuring you can go back to the previous state of your Mac – and that you can boot from your backup. This crucial step can save a lot of trouble, and Joe recommends software that can make a bootable duplicate without a huge hassle. Also, your operating system is getting a fresh start, but what about the rest of your stuff? Whether you need the disk space or just want to delete some digital detritus, you’ll find helpful tips. You’ll also run Apple Hardware Test (or Apple Diagnostics) and Disk Utility, to be sure your disk is good to go. Finally, for those who need it, Joe discusses special cases relating to disk encryption (including FileVault) and partitioning.
• Picking a plan: Decide on your installation method. Most people can go with an easy in-place upgrade, but some will want the more complex clean install. 10.5 Leopard users will find special help, and those still on 10.4 Tiger get a special sidebar.
• Installing: Find out the smartest way to download and store the installer, with special tips for people who want to install on more than one Mac or who have bandwidth limitations. And, although running the installer will be easy for many people, you’ll get full steps for what to click and when.
• Post-installation tune-up: Make sure your new system is running smoothly with a few important housekeeping tasks, including managing Spotlight, Software Update, Java Runtime, enhanced dictation, user accounts, Apple IDs, iCloud Keychain, FileVault, Time Machine, iTunes changes, and more. Plus learn how to unhide the user Library folder.
• Troubleshooting: Yikes! It is possible that something will go wrong during installation, or once you’ve booted up under Mavericks that you’ll discover an important incompatibility with an existing piece of software. Find time-tested troubleshooting advice to get your system working again. Plus learn what the Recovery HD volume can do for you.
• Migrating to a new Mac: If your “upgrade” includes moving from an older computer (Mac or Windows PC) to a new Mac that’s running Mavericks, learn the best way to move your user account to the new Mac.
• Installing OS X Server: Find a brief introduction to OS X Server, plus basic steps for downloading and installing it.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Read Me First
Chapter 2. Introduction
Chapter 3. Mavericks Upgrade Quick Start
Chapter 4. Welcome Back, Version 1.0 Readers
Chapter 5. Catch The Wave
Chapter 6. Older Cat? Learn New Tricks
Chapter 7. Check Your Mac For Compatibility
Chapter 8. Back Up Your Disk
Chapter 9. Clean Up Your Mac
Chapter 10. Make Sure Your Disk Is Ready
Chapter 11. Decide On An Installation Method
Chapter 12. Make Final Preparations
Chapter 13. Upgrade Using Plan A: In-Place Upgrade
Chapter 14. Upgrade Using Plan B: Clean Install
Chapter 15. Upgrade Using Plan C: Install Over Leopard
Chapter 16. Perform Post-Installation Tasks
Chapter 17. Configure Additional Features
Chapter 18. Troubleshoot Upgrade Problems
Chapter 19. Install Os X Server
Chapter 20. Migrate To A New Mac
Chapter 21. Use Recovery Mode