Wish me luck! I have purchased all ship upgrades and chose to rescue the crew now instead of waiting, how many people can I expect to lose? Is it possible to not lose any people?

Yes, there is an achievement for getting through the mission without anyone dying.

If everyone is loyal, you have all the upgrades, and you pick the right specialists, no one will die .

If you did all the loyalty missions and don't choose bad people for each job you should get everyone through.

" If everyone is loyal, you have all the upgrades, and you pick the right specialists, no one will die . "

You'll know. There'll be parts where you'll need a tech specialist and such, and you should know who's good at what. But if you're really unsure, there are tons of spoiler free guides online that detail who goes with what job.

My advice here would be to just let whatever happens, happen. There are a lot of people who have gone back through the mission to get their endings where nobody dies to carry over to the next game, but the story will be much more effective if you just let the consequences of your actions play out.

Just play it logically and you will be good. Don't make dumb choices, like sending in Jacob to do some hacking when he's more suited to combat, or a character with weak biotics to do a job requiring a character with strong biotics. You know, stuff like that.

If you pick the right people to do things you won't lose anyone.

I wanted Jack to die and she did. Not getting the achievement was worth her not turning up in the 3rd at any point.

Who's a tech expert?

I picked:
 Vents/Shafts: Legion
Second Firing Squad: Miranda
My Squad: Tali, Garrus 

" Who's a tech expert? "

" So sending Tali and Garrus to be part of my squad when attacking isn't the best idea? "

" Who's a tech expert? "

" @Dtat said:

" If everyone is loyal, you have all the upgrades, and you pick the right specialists, no one will die . "

Who are the right people to pick for everyone to survive? Everyone is loyal for me (except possibly Jack, but I don't really care about her anyway). "

People... don't tell him explicitly. That'll suck. He should choose based on what he's learned about the characters. For example you know that Garrus is capable of leading a squad because...
 
Also, you should've made Jack loyal. With her upgrade, I'm pretty sure she's the strongest biotic.

" Also, you should've made Jack loyal. With her upgrade, I'm pretty sure she's the strongest biotic. "

" @LiquidPrince said:

" Also, you should've made Jack loyal. With her upgrade, I'm pretty sure she's the strongest biotic. "

And at the very least so you can unlock one of the best Advanced Skills to take with you on an Insanity run. "

Do I need anyone in particular for the last part of the suicide run?

 Should I destroy the reaper/collector ship or give it to the ruthless, untrustworthy, xenophobic terrorist?

"  Should I destroy the reaper/collector ship or give it to the ruthless, untrustworthy, xenophobic terrorist? "

" @LightRain said:

"  Should I destroy the reaper/collector ship or give it to the ruthless, untrustworthy, xenophobic terrorist? "

Decide yourself based on what you think is the right thing to do and how you've been playing your Shepard all along. "

i lost no one on my first run through because i was super careful about everything 
just play the game the best you can because once you analyze it, it loses the magic

Yes, Jack died! Thank god, now I don't have to kill her off in Mass Effect 3. Though to be honest, I was hoping that BioWare would make it so you could murder her and get an achievement for it in the third game.

" Yes, Jack died! Thank god, now I don't have to kill her off in Mass Effect 3. Though to be honest, I was hoping that BioWare would make it so you could murder her and get an achievement for it in the third game. "

 The last 36 hours of my life are now complete. I beat Mass Effect 2, saved the crew, romanced Tali, killed off Jack, destroyed the reaper ship, broke all ties with the Illusive Man, and am ready for Mass Effect 3, bring it on!

As someone who waited over a year to finally play through this game, I definitely feel like you can miss out on the emotional impact of the ending by knowing too much beforehand. 
I mean, I never even looked up any kind of guide, I completely avoided spoilers, but just by listening to people "talking around" the ending on podcasts, you kind of get a subliminal idea of what to prepare for, and it diminishes things. 
And really, that ending is one of the coolest elements of the game, as it finally presents you with choices more meaningful and difficult than paragon/renegade. Like, "I am a leader, what should I actually do" kind of choices.
So I guess what I'm saying is that you should play ME3 in one sitting in a dark underground bunker with no internet access on the day it comes out

" As someone who waited over a year to finally play through this game, I definitely feel like you can miss out on the emotional impact of the ending by knowing too much beforehand. 
I mean, I never even looked up any kind of guide, I completely avoided spoilers, but just by listening to people "talking around" the ending on podcasts, you kind of get a subliminal idea of what to prepare for, and it diminishes things. 
And really, that ending is one of the coolest elements of the game, as it finally presents you with choices more meaningful and difficult than paragon/renegade. Like, "I am a leader, what should I actually do" kind of choices. So I guess what I'm saying is that you should play ME3 in one sitting in a dark underground bunker with no internet access on the day it comes out "

" Yes, Jack died! Thank god, now I don't have to kill her off in Mass Effect 3. Though to be honest, I was hoping that BioWare would make it so you could murder her and get an achievement for it in the third game. "

" @LightRain said:

" Yes, Jack died! Thank god, now I don't have to kill her off in Mass Effect 3. Though to be honest, I was hoping that BioWare would make it so you could murder her and get an achievement for it in the third game. "

The death of a team mate makes you happy? Bah. She was an interesting character. "

I have a question though, why don't the people freak out if you bring Legion to the Citadel?

" I have a question though, why don't the people freak out if you bring Legion to the Citadel? "

" @LightRain said:

" I have a question though, why don't the people freak out if you bring Legion to the Citadel? "

It's just down to the limitations of their HUB worlds.  "

" @Abyssfull said:

" @LightRain said:

" I have a question though, why don't the people freak out if you bring Legion to the Citadel? "

It's just down to the limitations of their HUB worlds.  "

Would be funny though if BioWare made it so people ran around screaming. "

" @LightRain said:

" @Abyssfull said:

" @LightRain said:

" I have a question though, why don't the people freak out if you bring Legion to the Citadel? "

It's just down to the limitations of their HUB worlds.  "

Would be funny though if BioWare made it so people ran around screaming. "

If you attempt another run, you should hold off doing Tali's loyalty mission until you recruit Legion, then tag him along. Then you'll get the reactions you're hoping for ;P "

I had everyone loyal except Miranda and everyone lived. 

Before I went on my suicide mission I went here. Megaguide. Everyone came out safe.