EZ Jim Pages at Ralph Johns UK

iSight : How I Update My Mac OS X

As mentioned in the Title box - there are pages that were written a little while ago by EZ Jim, a poster on the Apple Discussions, who contributes to iSight and iChat Discussions. The words the following pages are EZ Jim's

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How I Update My Mac OS X

Here are a couple more ideas for your consideration if you are having unsolvable problems after updating. Before you go see your local Apple Service Tech, you might want to try the following....


  1. When you update your OS, do you disconnect all external Firewire devices? If not, you may want to run the Combo Updater as explained in (2) below.

    • For Tiger users, About the Mac OS X 10.4.10 Update (combo) (Edit 2024:- This Updated link is from CNET and has links to Intel Power PC and Univeral Binary versions as single (OS 10.4.9 to .10) and Combos). or the (10.4.10v1 INTEL version) (Edit 2024:- Way Back Machine link). doesn't actually say anything about disconnecting at all, but I don't want to take chances, so I disconnect ALL external Firewire.
    • Apple includes caveats regarding third-party software patches and update interruptions here. You might want to consider the tips in Macintosh System Stability.
  1. When notified of an Apple "Software Update..." to OS X, do you quit "Software Update..." and run permissions repair before installing the update?

Some users have problems after updating OS X by just clicking "Install" after receiving Apple's Software Update... notification. For some, reinstalling (after a permissions repair) using the Combo version of the same update (followed, of course, by another permissions repair) corrects their problem. Users have reported fixes to a variety of audio, video, connectivity, and software conflicts and unreliability issues after properly applying the Combo updates.

Apple makes Combo versions of OS updates available in their download site. I have been using the Combo Updaters exclusively since 10.3.5, and it is working for me. When notified of an Apple "Software Update...", I always quit the Software Update and use the Combo version instead. If you want to try this now, proceed as follows:

  1. Download the Combo Updater from the Apple Download site.
    • At an attempt at future proffing, between updates to these pages, I have conducted this Search at Apple Dowloads. I put in 10.4. in the search field. It will include anything that has 10.4. in the title. The main Updates Download page is here where you could use a more refined Search. It is a lot more visual since the most recent Apple update to the style of their pages.
  2. Disconnect all Firewire devices, including iSight and iPod.
    • Repair permissions (Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance for why)
      • Run the Combo Installer. Restart (if required).
        • Finish the update with another Permissions Repair.

        When I get an OS X update notification, I always quit, use the above procedures for the OS X part, and then go back to "Software Update..." after my permissions repair to install any updates reported after the OS Combo Updater has been applied. I finish the process with one more permissions repair.

        This page was updated with some links 25/08/2007

        Ralph's Signature Pic

        Writen By EZ Jim


        Made on Mac
        Made on a Mac®

        © 2005, 2006 EZ Jim


        © 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
        Updated September 2006. Moved to Gargoyles Mar 2007. Major review October 2024 towards HTML5


        Information Column


        Plain Text links to related Pages

        For Screen Readers

        EZJim Folder
        EZJimindex Index of EZ Jim's iSight and Other Info

        Using iSight Using iSight

        EZJim page2 Where to Find Help for iSight

        EZJim page3 About the Built-In iSights

        EZJim page4 How to Test your iSight is Functional

        EZJim page5 Improving your (External) iSight's Picture

        EZJim page6 Possible Conflicts with iSight an iChat

        EZJim page7 Some Applications you can Use with an iSight

        EZJim page8 iSight V DV Camcorder or other Web Cam

        EZJim page9 Mounts for your External iSight

        EZJim page10 iSight Versions (External)

        EZJim page11 How to Turn your iSight Really Off

        EZJim page12 iSight and the PC

        EZJim page13 Common PC Applications and Chatting

        EZJim page14 Mac Video Chat with PCs

        EZJim page15 Using An iSight with iChat

        EZJim page16 Help for iChat 3 Problems

        EZJim page17 How to Get iChat working again

        EZJim page18 Check your Broadband Speed

        EZJim page19 OS X Maintenance

        EZJim page20 Updating the OS

        EZJim page21 Reinstalling the OS

        EZJim page22 Macintosh System Stability

        Made on Mac
        Made on a Mac®



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