I have a 2007 MacBook Pro recently downgraded to OS X Version 10.6.8. Processor: 2.4 GHz Inter Core 2 Duo, Memory GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, Start up Disk Macintosh HD.
Following a recent upgrade from Mavericks > El Capitan, the computer began going haywire. I attempted to use disk utility to diagnose/fix, but a Google search of one of the problems suggested that I repair the disk, being sure to backup first. I thought it would be no problem, as I have an external hard drive plugged into my computer, originally set to backup constantly. However, in opening it, I saw that it hadn’t backed up anything since March (shortly following the El Capitan backup I had problems and apple care had me disconnect the external drive as we worked on the original problems, and I physically connected it, it was apparently never re-set with Time Machine.) I couldn’t access the preference settings, and so I called apple care for help re-setting Time Machine.
I explained to him 3 times during the call that before I “repaired” anything, I needed to first back up the hard drive. The tech support person said that he understood, and that he first needed to re-run disk utility to diagnose the overriding problem, but would backup the external drive before “fixing” anything. Unfortunately, he did went ahead and attempted to repair it prior to backing it up, and as a result, ALL of my files disappeared. Call was escalated to a level-2 tech who tried trouble shooting, but couldn’t fix it, and she sent a message to the engineering dept. Their response was that I most likely had a hardware problem, and should take it to a genius bar because they had ways to diagnose it beyond the capacity of phone support. I did so, and a wonderful tech guy was able to find and move the files to my backup drive.
He recommended that since the disc was in fact damaged, I should replace it with a new internal hard drive prior to re-installing the operating system. I did so, and the next day, took it back to the store so that the operating system could be installed. He had advised me not to go beyond Yosemite, as although newer versions could technically be installed, the other parts of the machine were not built to handle the likes of El Capitan. He wasn’t there when I took it back, and two other geniuses concurred, and went even further, strongly recommending that I go no further than Snow Leopard, (10.6.8), and so that is what was installed. They then manually copied the saved files from the external drive to the computer. The file organization was lost, but after a month or so of organizing, I should be able to straighten out that issue. Non-Apple applications seemed to be missing (Chrome and Adobe Reader).
Unfortunately, this downgrading inadvertently created a huge problem for me. I happen to also have an old Dell PC running XP that I keep because some important programs on it are not available on the Mac platform, and a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phone. I have been using Google chrome as the browser on all 3 devices, and was thereby able to wirelessly sync my Gmail messages, contacts, and calendars, as well as my chrome bookmarks between them. (I have thousands of files). Depending upon where I am working I use all of the Gmail functions on whatever device I am using, and often save articles, locations, directions, etc. to bookmarks that I can retrieve on my phone as needed when I am out and about.
Now that Google is pulling back support for Chrome, it no longer supports it on Macs running versions 10.8 or older, and Chrome’s website will not let me install the current version. In the mess of my files, it appears that Chrome version 49.02623 112 was there, and I was able to sign into Gmail and retrieve my messages this afternoon. However, this evening I started getting the perpetually spinning beach ball within a minute of signing in, and could get nothing accomplished. I deleted browsing history, cookies, cache, etc., and disabled all extensions, but it did not help.
It is urgent that I be able to retrieve some critical files associated with a project on which I have been working for the past 4 months, and email them to a colleague as a deadline is rapidly approaching. It would also be a huge loss of functionality for me to no longer be able to sync (preferably automatically and wirelessly) my Gmail messages, calendar, contacts, and my bookmarks across these devices with their unfortunately diverse operating systems.
I am hoping that some members of this community can weigh in as to:
1) Whether it would be safe for me to upgrade my OS X to 10.9 in order to install a better version of Chrome, and,
2) If so, to which version of Chrome, or
3) If, like the apple geniuses, you believe that it would be inadvisable to do so, whether there is an alternative app or workaround method via which I can sync (preferably automatically and wirelessly) my Gmail messages, calendar, contacts, and my bookmarks across these devices with their unfortunately diverse operating systems.
Any information that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Following a recent upgrade from Mavericks > El Capitan, the computer began going haywire. I attempted to use disk utility to diagnose/fix, but a Google search of one of the problems suggested that I repair the disk, being sure to backup first. I thought it would be no problem, as I have an external hard drive plugged into my computer, originally set to backup constantly. However, in opening it, I saw that it hadn’t backed up anything since March (shortly following the El Capitan backup I had problems and apple care had me disconnect the external drive as we worked on the original problems, and I physically connected it, it was apparently never re-set with Time Machine.) I couldn’t access the preference settings, and so I called apple care for help re-setting Time Machine.
I explained to him 3 times during the call that before I “repaired” anything, I needed to first back up the hard drive. The tech support person said that he understood, and that he first needed to re-run disk utility to diagnose the overriding problem, but would backup the external drive before “fixing” anything. Unfortunately, he did went ahead and attempted to repair it prior to backing it up, and as a result, ALL of my files disappeared. Call was escalated to a level-2 tech who tried trouble shooting, but couldn’t fix it, and she sent a message to the engineering dept. Their response was that I most likely had a hardware problem, and should take it to a genius bar because they had ways to diagnose it beyond the capacity of phone support. I did so, and a wonderful tech guy was able to find and move the files to my backup drive.
He recommended that since the disc was in fact damaged, I should replace it with a new internal hard drive prior to re-installing the operating system. I did so, and the next day, took it back to the store so that the operating system could be installed. He had advised me not to go beyond Yosemite, as although newer versions could technically be installed, the other parts of the machine were not built to handle the likes of El Capitan. He wasn’t there when I took it back, and two other geniuses concurred, and went even further, strongly recommending that I go no further than Snow Leopard, (10.6.8), and so that is what was installed. They then manually copied the saved files from the external drive to the computer. The file organization was lost, but after a month or so of organizing, I should be able to straighten out that issue. Non-Apple applications seemed to be missing (Chrome and Adobe Reader).
Unfortunately, this downgrading inadvertently created a huge problem for me. I happen to also have an old Dell PC running XP that I keep because some important programs on it are not available on the Mac platform, and a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phone. I have been using Google chrome as the browser on all 3 devices, and was thereby able to wirelessly sync my Gmail messages, contacts, and calendars, as well as my chrome bookmarks between them. (I have thousands of files). Depending upon where I am working I use all of the Gmail functions on whatever device I am using, and often save articles, locations, directions, etc. to bookmarks that I can retrieve on my phone as needed when I am out and about.
Now that Google is pulling back support for Chrome, it no longer supports it on Macs running versions 10.8 or older, and Chrome’s website will not let me install the current version. In the mess of my files, it appears that Chrome version 49.02623 112 was there, and I was able to sign into Gmail and retrieve my messages this afternoon. However, this evening I started getting the perpetually spinning beach ball within a minute of signing in, and could get nothing accomplished. I deleted browsing history, cookies, cache, etc., and disabled all extensions, but it did not help.
It is urgent that I be able to retrieve some critical files associated with a project on which I have been working for the past 4 months, and email them to a colleague as a deadline is rapidly approaching. It would also be a huge loss of functionality for me to no longer be able to sync (preferably automatically and wirelessly) my Gmail messages, calendar, contacts, and my bookmarks across these devices with their unfortunately diverse operating systems.
I am hoping that some members of this community can weigh in as to:
1) Whether it would be safe for me to upgrade my OS X to 10.9 in order to install a better version of Chrome, and,
2) If so, to which version of Chrome, or
3) If, like the apple geniuses, you believe that it would be inadvisable to do so, whether there is an alternative app or workaround method via which I can sync (preferably automatically and wirelessly) my Gmail messages, calendar, contacts, and my bookmarks across these devices with their unfortunately diverse operating systems.
Any information that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
