Big Sur update - advice, insights, help

Kashi

Not an iOS question folks.
I'm running Mojave on my 2015 Macbook Pro. All smooth and hunky dory. I use Ableton every day (11 Suite). The wonderful Slate & Ash company have just released their latest software "Spectres" and I want to get it, but it won't run in anything below Kontakt 7, and Kontakt 7 won't run on my current Mac OS. So, I am preparing to install Big Sur. Any thoughts? Anyone using Ableton and Big Sur able to confirm that all works as it should? Anyone think it's a terrible idea? Anyone think it's a no-brainer?

Strizbiz

I’m running Big Sur and Ableton Suite 11 on a 2020 13inch Intel MacBook Pro, no issues at all here

wim

I too have a 2015 MacBook Pro. I don't recall any issues on Big Sur and am on Monterey with no issues whatsoever. I'm only a light Ableton Live user but haven't noticed a single problem. I also have very few VST and AU plugins on the Mac. So I'm probably not the best to advise.

I had some problems with unstable iDAM connection that I thought may have been introduced with Catalina. However I've since found that it's due to the USB port not putting out enough juice to support my deteriorating iPad battery. iDAM is stable as long as I use a powered hub to attach the iPad to the MacBook. I know two other's who this has corrected the problem for.

Again, it doesn't seem to be an OS related issue, but I thought I'd mention the iDAM thing.

NeuM

Are you able to run macOS Sonoma on that older computer? Because it works quite well.

Kashi

Thanks @Strizbiz @wim @NeuM . Appreciate that feedback.
Re Sonoma, I only want to upgrade to OS11 - that's all that is required to run Kontakt 7. It's true, I can't rationalise this decision, other than to say I want as few changes as possible. If it wasn't for this new Slate & Ash software, I'd be more than happy to stay on Mojave until the laptop dies and I really have to get a new one....

NeuM

@Kashi said:
Thanks @Strizbiz @wim @NeuM . Appreciate that feedback.
Re Sonoma, I only want to upgrade to OS11 - that's all that is required to run Kontakt 7. It's true, I can't rationalise this decision, other than to say I want as few changes as possible. If it wasn't for this new Slate & Ash software, I'd be more than happy to stay on Mojave until the laptop dies and I really have to get a new one....

Understood. You have things where they all work reliably together. There's something to be said for having a reliable setup. On the other hand, I jump recklessly into almost all system updates and let things fall where they may.

wim

@NeuM said:
Are you able to run macOS Sonoma on that older computer? Because it works quite well.

2015 MacBook Pro isn't compatible with Sonoma.

Kashi

@wim said:

@NeuM said:
Are you able to run macOS Sonoma on that older computer? Because it works quite well.

2015 MacBook Pro isn't compatible with Sonoma.

That's my other reason....

NeuM

@wim said:

@NeuM said:
Are you able to run macOS Sonoma on that older computer? Because it works quite well.

2015 MacBook Pro isn't compatible with Sonoma.

Ah, that's a shame.

animalelder

I’m pretty sure this is true: You can load OpenCore on your 2015 Mac. It’s mainly for Hackintosh, but it allows you to trick the OS into a different model of computer when you boot up.

It’s a clean system and worked well for a Hackintosh. There’s a large community as well.

https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Install-Guide

Here’s a guide that might help.

Kashi

@animalelder said:
I’m pretty sure this is true: You can load OpenCore on your 2015 Mac. It’s mainly for Hackintosh, but it allows you to trick the OS into a different model of computer when you boot up.

It’s a clean system and worked well for a Hackintosh. There’s a large community as well.

https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Install-Guide

Here’s a guide that might help.

Thanks. I took the gamble and installed OS11 - all seems fine so far, fingers crossed.
It looks horrible, but I'm sure I'll get used to it!

Kashi

OK, ignore above comment - it's all started to go horribly wrong. Thought it was too good to be true

I am now getting constant error messages saying "disk not ejected properly" - even when the USB stick is still very firmly in the port. I have switched ports, same issues. I have tried another USB flash drive - same problem.
Seems that this is a well-known issue with people who have "upgraded" (HA HA HA!) to Big Sur from Mojave or Catalina.

This issue seems connected to another serious problem I had yesterday; a folder suddenly turned into an "exec" file (?!). I clicked on a txt file within the folder, the "disk not ejected..." error message appeared, and then the whole folder (that the file was within) mysteriously became an exec file. Everything in that folder is now gone.

Any mac experts out there?
Would really appreciate your help.
Pretty pointless contacting apple support (i have though, just in case)....

uncledave

Does the disk not ejected properly error only happen with external drives? If so, it might be caused by some timed unmount logic meant to make USB devices easy to remove. See if there's a setting that enables such a feature.

For the exec problem, it sounds like the "protection" bits on the directory have been changed to add "executable". See if you can change the protection back to a normal directory.

Edit: The directory file may have lost its "directory" attribute. That might be more difficult to restore, unfortumately.

Kashi

Thanks @uncledave - might need a bit more explanation, sorry! Not sure where to look in my settings to deal with the "unmount" thing (?)
And when you say "change back the protection..", what does that mean? I can't rename the exec file, if that's what you mean.