Manually run Software Update on Mac OS X Leopard

« Previous Guide.
Next Guide. »
If you want to manually check for Mac OS X and/or application updates for a  Mac running Mac OS X Leopard, you can launch Software Update.  For the most part, Software Update on Mac OS X Leopard works in much the same way as it does on Mac OS X Tiger.
What's new in Mac OS X Leopard?
Instead of installing an update one by one and then showing you the status in Software Update (a behavior in Mac OS X Tiger), Software Update in Leopard will download all the updates you have selected and then installs them.  See the following link that describes how Software Update works in Tiger.  Pay close attention to the image in step five.

Another change in Leopard is that you can allow Software Update to automatically check for new updates in the background.  It will then notify when a new update is available.  You can choose to install the updates immediately, defer it to a later time, or tell Software Update to ignore the update.

Manually running Software Update
  1. Choose Software Update from the Apple Menu.  You'll see a a check for new software will initiate.

    software_update_leopard_01.png

    If during the check updates are identified, a list will be created that shows the available updates.  Software Update displays information about a particular update.  Just click on an item to view its description in the lower pane.  Some update will show a left pointing arrow, an indication that in order for the update to be installed your Mac, a restart will be required

    software_update_01.png
  2. Select the items you want to install (uncheck the items you don't want to install)

  3. Click Install on the lower right corner.  Notice that in this example there are eleven updates hence the button states "Install 11 Items".  The button automatically updates based on the number of updates that will be installed.  This will change based on the checking / unchecking of boxes or the number of updates identified the next time you run Software Update.

  4. A box will pop up asking you to enter you Mac Admin user name and password
    (I've have removed the name in the image below)

    software_update_leopard_03.png
  5. You'll see a progress of the update in that it will first download updates as follows:

    software_update_leopard_04.pngsoftware_update_leopard_05.pngsoftware_update_leopard_06.png
  6. The next round of screens will depend on whether or not a restart is required or not.

    (a) If a restart is required you will be shown the following box.  If you click 'Restart', the install will proceed.

    software_update_leopard_07.pngAfter this screen, Software Update will transition to a procedure that takes over control of your Mac, installs the updates, then restarts.

    (b) If a restart is not required, the install will proceed as follows (note that the following screens are from another run of Software Update, not the one shown above):

    software_update_leopard_08.png
    software_update_leopard_09.pngIf you click 'OK', Software Update will subsequently check if any other updates are available.  It does this because you might not have selected to install a particular update or because some updates show up after prior ones have been installed.  Notice that it places a green checkbox to the ones that have already been installed.

    software_update_leopard_10.png
  7. Once all updates have been installed, Software Update will show the following:

    software_update_leopard_11.pngThis will be shown immediately after all updates that do not require a reboot have been installed or after Software Update is re-run following the installation of updates that required your Mac to be rebooted.
Created: 4:39 PM on May 1, 2009
By: switchtoamac

Topics:

Recent Guides

Visit the Guides List

Recently Updated

Recent Articles


Apple to offer free OS X Lion upgrade for new Macs via the Mac OS X Lion Up-To-Date program

Forbes: Apple Gets Predatory With Lion OS Pricing

Town of Wellesley Massachusetts - 'Macs Apple of their eye'

WWDC 2011 - Apple's SVP of Product Marketing Phil Schiller, discusses the State of the Mac

WWDC 2011 begins today - Mac OS X Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud unveiling sets the stage for a Unified Apple Platform

Apple CEO Steve Jobs to introduce Apple's next generation software Mac OS X Lion, iOS 5, and iCloud during WWDC Keynote Address on Monday, June 6

Amazon launches a Mac Download Store - software and games for your Mac

AllThingsD - The Mac is kicking ass

Where in the world are Mac sales growing? Everywhere.

Corporate Mac sales surge 66 percent as Apple makes significant enterprise headway

Parallels Transporter an app that makes it easier to switch from a Windows PC to a Mac

Get Started

How to Use The Site

Must Read Guides

Macs

iMac

Mac mini

Mac Pro

MacBook

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

Mac OS X

OS X Basics

Aqua

Dashboard

Desktop

Dock

Exposé

Finder

Menu Bar

Menulets

Sidebar

Spotlight

Software Update

System Preferences

Windows

Applications

Address Book

DVD Player

Front Row

iCal

iChat

Mail

Photo Booth

QuickTime Player

Safari

Utilities

Activity Monitor

Airport Utility

Boot Camp Assistant

Disk Utility

Grab

Keychain Access

Migration Assistant

Network Utility

System Profiler

Terminal

iLife

GarageBand

iDVD

iMovie

iPhoto

iWeb

RSS Feed · Guides RSS Feed · About · Shop · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Best viewed in Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 7 or higher
Copyright © 2011 Switch To A Mac · All rights reserved. · All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.