Lion can install

Based on our testing, the Lion installer refuses to install Lion onto a drive containing Leopard So how can you install Lion over Leopard? There are three ways: the official way, the brute-force method, and the quick-but-techie way. Whichever method you choose, you should—as with any OS installation—be sure to have an up-to-date, tested backup of your drive before you begin. As I mentioned above, the Lion installer will let you install Lion onto a bare drive when the installer itself is run under Snow Leopard or Lion.

So as long as you have a good backup; a 4GB-or-larger thumb drive or external drive; and either access to a Mac running Snow Leopard or Lion, or an already downloaded copy of the Lion installer, you can perform a bit of installer razzle-dazzle. For this purpose, I recommend a clone. Three quick notes here. Visit this Apple web page for details. The solution is either to delete the GM, after compressing it or copying it to a removable drive if you want to keep it handy, or to disconnect the drive on which the GM resides.

After installing Lion on a blank drive, you can transfer your data from another Mac, a Windows PC, another hard drive, or a Time Machine backup. Lion helpfully explains its new scrolling behavior. Despite the different banner text, this is otherwise the same as the Finishing Up window I described in the previous paragraph. Upgraders may also see a dialog informing you that some of the existing software on your Mac is incompatible with Lion, and listing that software.

Apple provides more information about such software in a support article. In either case, OS X automatically moves this incompatible software to a folder called Incompatible Software at the root level of your startup disk. The installation procedure is easier and quicker than ever. But you may find, despite your pre-installation checks , that some of your existing software needs updates. But, like Snow Leopard, Lion can determine which drivers you need and either download them automatically or, using Software Update, help you get them.

Choose one, and OS X will see if drivers are available. Lion can download the latest drivers for many recent printers.

You can start exploring Lion, but before you head off, use the Software Update service to ensure that you have all the latest patches, device drivers, and other undercover goodies your Mac may need to perform at its best.

From the Apple menu, select Software Update , and then follow the on-screen instructions. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Tom Nelson. Facebook Twitter. Updated on December 02, Tweet Share Email. Apple Macs iPad. In This Article. Gather the Essentials. Prepare the Disk or Partition. Perform a Backup.

Format the Destination Drive. Use the Lion Installer. Use the Setup Assistant. Use the Migration Assistant. Complete the Registration. Create an Admin Account. Learn to Scroll. Check for Software Updates. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up.

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