Combined ('Combo') Update installers for Mac OS X

   An FYI: for some time now, reader reports to Macintosh-oriented
news and tips site have claimed that a variety of odd problems when
updating to new minor (aka "decimal point") releases of Mac OS X have
either been resolved, or even avoided in the first place, by
downloading and running Apple's "Combined" (aka 'Combo') Update
installers.

   Reflecting one aspect of these claims, one author asserts
<http://ced.ncsu.edu/ops/labs/mac/sysupdt.html>:

>Apple often provides "combo" updaters that combine several system
>updates into one large downloadable installer. If you experience
>problems during or after updating your system software with Software
>Update, installing the corresponding combo updater can sometimes set
>things right.

   For those who subscribe to this belief - whether it might be
correct or otherwise :-) - it may be helpful to know that Apple
appears to be regularly making the latest Combined Update installer
for Mac OS X (workstation/client) available at:

   http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosxcombinedupdate.html

   Another web page which provides handy links to Apple's standalone
Mac OS X 10.3 and 10.2 (client) updaters, including Combined Update
installers, is:

   The X Lab: Mac OS X Standalone Updates
   http://thexlab.com/faqs/macosxupdates.html

   Finally, you can find Combined Update installers for Mac OS X
Server by searching for the term "combo" via the Search feature of
Apple's Downloads page, and clicking any "similar results" links
offered:

   http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/

   Of course, beyond resolving or avoiding problems, a primary reason
for using a Combined Update installer is to rapidly and conveniently
bring a fresh installation of Mac OS X up to the latest "point"
release via a single installer. The links above should hopefully
make it easier for you to find these installers.

Aron Roberts
Workstation Software Support Group

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Received on Tue Jun 8 12:49:13 2004