topic Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac in Electronics

New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:48:19 GMT

I have an old Mac Desktop OS X 10.5.8 is the last update....yes it is old but works just fine. I am trying to connect it to the internet but one message said the Safari browser is out of date.

I want to download a new version to my lap top and use a thumbdrive to add the download to the desktop....does that sound possible?

I am also having trouble finding where to download the browser.

Any advice would be helpful, thanks.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Tori3569 — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:50:18 GMT

Google or check YouTube . You need to update the iOS

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Icegoddess — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:01:16 GMT

I didn't realize that Safari was limited to Mac OS's.

I have a similar problem with my older laptop. I only use it when I'm doing Genealogy to access Ancestry so I can have it on a different monitor rather than having to switch windows back and forth. I can no longer update the iOS, so I also cannot update Chrome as it is the last version that will work on that version of iOS. And apparently, Chrome will no longer work with Ancestry since I can't log on, but I can log on with my new laptop using Chrome although I use Brave on it and I can access Ancestry using Brave too.

Luckily, at least for now, I can log on to Ancestry using Firefox. I don't like the interface as well, but not much I can do. If that becomes a problem, I'm thinking about just getting a stand-alone monitor, but that seems like it would be similar to the switching windows back and forth that I would have to do now if I used Ancestry on my new laptop along with the file where I enter the data

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:11:36 GMT

@Tori3569. I did look online on how to upgrade but the computer cannot connect to the internet at all...the browser needs updated first...so I thought I could download to a thumb drive then put the thumb drive into the computer.. i am not sure which browser to use since the computer is so old.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mz iMac — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:29:11 GMT

@Mom2Dogs Which iMac model? "Old" does not mean anything if we do not know which model and/or generation. YOu can find the info by clicking on the  in the upper left corner then click on "About This Mac."

It's not that old if the OS is still compatible w/your apps.

Go on Apple's website & read the system requirements for Safari version you are trying to download.

I am confused by your statement: "computer cannot connect to the internet at all...the browser needs updated first"

Exactly what did you do & where do you see this message?

If you have no internet service you need to resolve that issue FIRST before doing anything else. Apparently you are here so you must be using another computer. You cannot use a browser w/o the internet because that's where it's located. I am not aware of a browser you can use offline. Does not mean there aren't any.

Post on Apple's message board under the Safari forum area. It's where the Safari experts hang out.

Also post in your model's iMac section to find out why it is not connecting to the internet.

Research your issue on YouTube Apple support site.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:46:18 GMT

@Mz iMac Desk top is Mac OS X 10.5.8

When I put in the information to connect to the internet, it reads connected, but I cannot surf the internet as the browser is outdated.

I have found browsers but each that I tried, failed. The FIREFOX browser I downloaded said it is no longer supported. So I downloaded Chrome...the message was is was corrupt.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Tori3569 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:06:24 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@Tori3569. I did look online on how to upgrade but the computer cannot connect to the internet at all...the browser needs updated first...so I thought I could download to a thumb drive then put the thumb drive into the computer.. i am not sure which browser to use since the computer is so old.

That's not possible as far as I can tell. Did you try to update your Mac to the latest os?

The issue is that Apple proprietary software and apps are meant to be constantly updated and used on devices that are currenty updated. They don't want anything to dilute their performance and reputation.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:26:56 GMT

@Tori3569 I think you are correct...the desktop is connect to the internet but I cannot seach because the browser is not up to date.

I have searched for browsers for OS X 10.5.8, but all failed when I tried to install. I tried several.

Maybe what I need is 10.6 Snow Leopard, if the computer would accept that OS. I am just wondering out loud, can that operating system be downloaded to my lap top then moved to a thumb drive on the desktop computer?...possibly a browser is available for that operating system.

This computer was an old machine that I had at the office for a back up, but when we sold our business the first of the year, I brought it home. I would like to connect my printer to it.

Thanks for all the feed back and any additional tips that anyone has I will try.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mz iMac — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:30:34 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@Mz iMac Desk top is Mac OS X 10.5.8
When I put in the information to connect to the internet, it reads connected, but I cannot surf the internet as the browser is outdated.
I must be dense. I do not have to "put in info" to connect to the internet. That sounds like dial-up or trying to set up a network.

I have found browsers but each that I tried, failed. The FIREFOX browser I downloaded said it is no longer supported. So I downloaded Chrome...the message was is was corrupt.

Regarding your browser(s), again, go to their website & research which version is compatible w/your OS. Safari, go on Apple's website. Once you find that info, you can download the "proper" version to the thumb drive & transfer to the iMac .

Before doing any of the above, go to Disk Utility & run "First Aid."

Restart your comp.

@Mom2Dogs

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:05:39 GMT

@Mz iMac ...I had to set up the internet connection, put in IP address, network name and password....at some point I got a message that said I was connected....it is not dial up, I have Frontier Fiber optic internet.

I know you are not dense in this area and I am aware that I have very little experience so maybe sometimes my explanation is not clear.

I did search for the browser I needed but did not go direcly to their website, I will do that.

I have given up for today, will try again tomorrow, thanks.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

SilleeMee — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 02:08:33 GMT

You probably already know this but using an old, outdated computer is risky. Security holes everywhere and that's b/c the hardware is old.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Icegoddess — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 02:44:40 GMT

@Mom2Dogs When you open the apple in the top left corner, look at the buttons below all the info. Is there one that says Software Update? If you click on that It'll go looking for updates and you can update from that list, assuming there are any updates available. There should also be an option to "Automatically keep my Mac up to date".

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:12:08 GMT

@SilleeMee Yes, I know is can be a security risk...I don't use it often, I just want to use it to print on occasion. I have other electronics that I use daily.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:12:46 GMT

@Icegoddess There are no updates available.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Icegoddess — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:03:07 GMT

Do you need the internet to print? I print via wifi. I don't have to bring up the internet to do that.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:08:01 GMT

@Icegoddess LOL, I have no idea!

Don't I need the printer drivers installed on the computer?...and if so, I need to browse the internet to get the drivers.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Icegoddess — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:14:02 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@Icegoddess LOL, I have no idea!

Don't I need the printer drivers installed on the computer?...and if so, I need to browse the internet to get the drivers.

It depends. Often printers come with Printer Drivers installed and you only need to update them if you update your OS. But, if you got a new printer, the question is whether the printer will even have the drivers needed to support your old OS.

You should be able to go to the Printer's website on your laptop though and download the drivers to your flash drive and transfer them to your old computer. That would be a lot easier than trying to download an OS to your flash drive.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mz iMac — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:42:33 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
I didn't realize that Safari was limited to Mac OS's.

@Icegoddess It's not

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Icegoddess — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:50:39 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Icegoddess wrote:
I didn't realize that Safari was limited to Mac OS's.

@Icegoddess It's not

@Mz iMac Then I don't see why she can't ddownload a newer version unless what she has is the most up to date version that will run on her OS Version.

Re: New Browser/old desktop Mac

Mz iMac — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:53:33 GMT

@Icegoddess That's because we don't have enough info from the OP. She never provided the necessary info regarding her "desktop" besides its OS.