macOS 10.12.4 Recovery mode now able to install latest compatible version

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in macOS edited March 2017
As of macOS 10.12.4, released on Monday, a new keystroke combination at launch will allow Macs to netboot, and download the latest OS compatible with a computer when performing a recovery, potentially saving time and bandwidth.




Users holding Command-Option-R at startup will force a netboot, and will install the latest version of the operating system, up to date with all patches.

The previous recovery method, still done by hitting Command-R during startup, restores a Mac to the original version of macOS/OS X that that the machine shipped with, blogger Thomas Brand noted on Thursday. The original behavior had been in place since OS X Lion, which shipped in July 2011.

Apple appears to be implementing a strategy similar to iOS reinstalls, but retaining flexibility. Once updated, iPhones, iPads, and iPods typically can't be restored to a previous version of iOS, except during a brief window when Apple is signing both new and old releases in case of technical glitches.

With iOS, some users have complained of slowdowns after major updates. In fact Apple has faced multiple lawsuits over the issue, arguing that company knowingly ignored compatibility issues since it could push people into buying newer hardware.

Monday's releases included iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2. Notable features for each include Find my Airpods on iOS 10.3, Night Shift on macOS Sierra 10.12.4, Theater Mode on watchOS 3.2, and better device management on tvOS 10.2.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    petiegpetieg Posts: 24member
    Is Command-R really going back to previous version?  Or does it go back to the original version that the machine came with? 
  • Reply 2 of 8
    SoliSoli Posts: 10,035member
    petieg said:
    Is Command-R really going back to previous version?  Or does it go back to the original version that the machine came with? 
    I thought Command-R would allow you to get the most up-to-date version of macOS available for your Mac.
  • Reply 3 of 8
    taugust04_aitaugust04_ai Posts: 106member
    The previous recovery method, still done by hitting Command-R during startup, restores a Mac to the version of macOS/OS X that it was on before the problems started, blogger Thomas Brand noted on Thursday. The original behavior had been in place since OS X Lion, which shipped in July 2011.

    With iOS, some users have complained of slowdowns after major updates. In fact Apple has faced multiple lawsuits over the issue, arguing that company knowingly ignored compatibility issues since it could push people into buying newer hardware.

    This isn't true - Macintosh Internet recovery previously installed the original operating system that shipped with the hardware - not when problems were occurring.  This is a drastic timesaver in terms of bringing a machine up to the current OS in an easy fashion if booting from Internet recovery is required.

    As for the "slowdowns after updates", its all about the cruff.  As much as Microsoft and Apple have tried, upgrades still never beat a clean install.  I've had friends with Macs and iOS devices with slowness problems, and a clean install usually resolves the issues about 99% of the time.  The problem is that most folks are "lazy" and don't want to put the effort into a clean install.


    magman1979
  • Reply 4 of 8
    SoliSoli Posts: 10,035member
    taugust04_ai said:
    The previous recovery method, still done by hitting Command-R during startup, restores a Mac to the version of macOS/OS X that it was on before the problems started, blogger Thomas Brand noted on Thursday. The original behavior had been in place since OS X Lion, which shipped in July 2011.

    With iOS, some users have complained of slowdowns after major updates. In fact Apple has faced multiple lawsuits over the issue, arguing that company knowingly ignored compatibility issues since it could push people into buying newer hardware.
    This isn't true - Macintosh Internet recovery previously installed the original operating system that shipped with the hardware - not when problems were occurring.  
    So if I had done a clean install last week on a 4yo Mac, you're saying it wouldn't have installed 10.12.3, but whatever version of 10.8 or 10.9 that it originally shipped with?
  • Reply 5 of 8
    Mike WuertheleMike Wuerthele Posts: 6,861administrator
    taugust04_ai said:
    The previous recovery method, still done by hitting Command-R during startup, restores a Mac to the version of macOS/OS X that it was on before the problems started, blogger Thomas Brand noted on Thursday. The original behavior had been in place since OS X Lion, which shipped in July 2011.

    With iOS, some users have complained of slowdowns after major updates. In fact Apple has faced multiple lawsuits over the issue, arguing that company knowingly ignored compatibility issues since it could push people into buying newer hardware.

    This isn't true - Macintosh Internet recovery previously installed the original operating system that shipped with the hardware - not when problems were occurring.  This is a drastic timesaver in terms of bringing a machine up to the current OS in an easy fashion if booting from Internet recovery is required.

    As for the "slowdowns after updates", its all about the cruff.  As much as Microsoft and Apple have tried, upgrades still never beat a clean install.  I've had friends with Macs and iOS devices with slowness problems, and a clean install usually resolves the issues about 99% of the time.  The problem is that most folks are "lazy" and don't want to put the effort into a clean install.


    Ah, you're right- that's actually MY fault, not Roger's. I'll fix that now.

    Honestly, I've never had to reboot into the restore partition. I'm a big fan of physical, external boot drives for this.
  • Reply 6 of 8
    ktappektappe Posts: 824member
    So if I had done a clean install last week on a 4yo Mac, you're saying it wouldn't have installed 10.12.3, but whatever version of 10.8 or 10.9 that it originally shipped with?
    Correct. That's why this news of the new function is awesome for those of us in enterprise; it's the new way we'll be wiping and updating Macs as we redeploy them to new users.
    randominternetpersonjony0
  • Reply 7 of 8
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    ktappe said:
    So if I had done a clean install last week on a 4yo Mac, you're saying it wouldn't have installed 10.12.3, but whatever version of 10.8 or 10.9 that it originally shipped with?
    Correct. That's why this news of the new function is awesome for those of us in enterprise; it's the new way we'll be wiping and updating Macs as we redeploy them to new users.
    Seriously?  I mean, its very, very slightly easier than sticking in a USB stick with the latest macOS I suppose, but it's going to be much slower unless you have an insanely fast internet connection.

    Createinstallmedia is your friend.
  • Reply 8 of 8
    SoliSoli Posts: 10,035member
    ktappe said:
    So if I had done a clean install last week on a 4yo Mac, you're saying it wouldn't have installed 10.12.3, but whatever version of 10.8 or 10.9 that it originally shipped with?
    Correct. That's why this news of the new function is awesome for those of us in enterprise; it's the new way we'll be wiping and updating Macs as we redeploy them to new users.
    That's not correct. That ONLY happens when you select extra boot options.

Sign In or Register to comment.