Updating Mac OS: Emails and Browser Settings?

[Rhymingmechanic]

I'm finally going to update my iMac from 10.6.8 to El Capitan. It's been a long time since I updated from one OS to another (probably from 8.6 to 9), and I have a fairly simple question.

Will my emails in Mac Mail and my bookmarks in Safari and Firefox still be there after the update? If not, will they be restored when I transfer files from Time Machine? Or do I need to save them somewhere else and then copy them back when the new OS is up and running?

I'm planning to just download the installer and update rather than doing a clean install.

Thanks in advance.

 

[2004tdigls]

from my experience the update is seamless,

just do the update

 

[Indydriver]

Not necessarily. You have to be able to access the App Store for starters. It rejected all my attempts to login and reset my password. I started the "account recovery" process and never heard back from Apple. I'm in limbo now. Guess I'll have to pay and haul it into an Apple Store. I'll be going back to PC next time.

 

[OVERKILL]

Yes, it generally should be pretty seamless.

 

[uc50ic4more]

OS updates generally just update the core of the OS and associated applications. An OS update should never touch a 3rd-party application and should never, ever, ever touch your personal data.

 

[bunnspecial]

As said, it will just install and that will be the end of it.

The only caveat will come if you are still running any PowerPC native applications. They will no longer work in any version of OS X newer than Snow Leopard.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Thanks, all.

The last update for Snow Leopard added the App Store, so I think I'm OK there. I also converted some old Appleworks files so Pages or Word can read them.

I'll do the update and hope for the best.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: Indydriver
Not necessarily. You have to be able to access the App Store for starters. It rejected all my attempts to login and reset my password. I started the "account recovery" process and never heard back from Apple. I'm in limbo now. Guess I'll have to pay and haul it into an Apple Store. I'll be going back to PC next time.


Just call them and get your account reset. They are good about that and should get you back up and running. If not, Apple does tech support at the store for free.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

I did the update from Snow Leopard to El Capitan yesterday. It went smoothly, and all files, emails and browser settings are still here. It seems a bit faster, too. Both the new Safari and Firefox 48 (the version I was using on SL) are quicker to load.

 

[Alfred_B]

The update was seamless on mine, nothing to worry about.

 

[Indydriver]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: Indydriver
Not necessarily. You have to be able to access the App Store for starters. It rejected all my attempts to login and reset my password. I started the "account recovery" process and never heard back from Apple. I'm in limbo now. Guess I'll have to pay and haul it into an Apple Store. I'll be going back to PC next time.


Just call them and get your account reset. They are good about that and should get you back up and running. If not, Apple does tech support at the store for free.


I eventually got this done but it was far from seamless. The frontline AppleCare rep couldn't figure out why the App Store wouldn't let me in. He booted me to a senior advisor. She tried a number of things but came up empty as well. She had me send them a number of files for engineering to review. After three days of back and forth, they resolved this first step of my OS upgrade adventure. Next, to back up my files, I ran out to Best Buy and picked up an external hard drive. It failed to be recognized by my computer. More phone tech attempts. Ended up returning it, it was faulty, BB replaced it and the second one fired up fine. Whew! Finally on to the actual OS change. Got Sierra downloaded but the install immediately hung up. More tech calls. Got that one fixed and finally, have a new operating system. Rewarded myself with a ram upgrade from 4 to 16 GB. Hopefully this computer is now good for another five years.

 

[Alfred_B]

@Indydriver Wow.