Update from Catalina and OpenCore 0.6.3 to macOS 11+

[KraxlKalle]

Hey folks,

 

it's been a while since last updating my machine and now when starting to go through the update process there are a few concerns regarding changes in OpenCore and MacOS as well as BIOS Updates.

I'm still running OpenCore 0.6.3 with MacOS 10.15.7 on an outdated BIOS Version and now need to update to at least 11.x for some of my software requirements (e.g. Adobe).

 

So first of all I looked into BIOS Updates to see that the current version for my MB isn't reversible due to safety concerns and I can't find any working builds using a newer version than the one I use. When updating to a less recent version however, MacOS simply won't boot (get to choose Catalina from OpenCore but stuck at Apple Logo).

Does that mean I have to stay on the current BIOS Version or did I simply mess up my BIOS Settings although I double checked all the settings?

 

Next issue is upgrading the OpenCore Version. Do I just upgrade to the current version or is it advised to make smaller incremental updates?

 

Finally I'm wondering about the stability of the newer versions of MacOS. Is it safe to update directly to Sonoma or should I update to an older version first to check compatibility?

 

As of my process right now I'm creating a completely new USB with the current OpenCore version following the Dortania Guide to see if it'll boot my current Catalina build, that should be the first step right?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who read this far, I really hope someone can help me figure this out.

Edited December 13, 2023 by KraxlKalle
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[Slice]

As far as I see your signature you should create completely new usb stick  with recent bootloader and install Sonoma without any small incremental steps.

Also no need to update BIOS if it works for Windows for example.

The bootloader can be Opencore or Clover and I expect full success in both cases.

[ArcaneRhapsody]

Regarding OpenCore updates, I'd recommend to download the latest release and replace specific OpenCore files on a formatted USB as a test run. Important files include 'EFI/BOOT/BOOTx64.efi', 'EFI/OC/OpenCore.efi', and 'EFI/OC/Drivers/OpenRuntime.efi'. Don't forget to compare your 'config.plist' with the new 'Sample.plist' using tools like OCConfigCompare or Meld Merge, and validate it with 'ocvalidate'.

 

As for macOS updates, always ensure you have a recovery system like TimeMachine or an older macOS installer with a good EFI. Research recent updates to gauge if others are facing issues.

 

Also, I think that creating a new USB with the current OpenCore version as per the Dortania Guide is indeed a good first step. It helps ensure that you have a working baseline to fall back on in case of any issues.