mikethebook

Q: Can I install Snow Leopard on the new Mac Mini

I would like to upgrade from my Mac Mini 2009 (2.26 Ghz with Snow Leopard) to the new Mac Mini just released which will come with Lion. However, I would prefer to run Snow Leopard. Are there any ways to install Snow Leopard on the new machine?

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jul 25, 2011 3:01 AM

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Q: Can I install Snow Leopard on the new Mac Mini

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  • by mcraig55,

    mcraig55 mcraig55 Sep 8, 2011 10:31 PM in response to mikethebook
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Sep 8, 2011 10:31 PM in response to mikethebook

    After 14 pages, 62 replies and 14,000 views the answer to the original post "Can I install Snow Leopard on the new Mac Mini?" is NO. Close thread.

     

    Thanks a Lot Apple!

  • by khorning,

    khorning khorning Sep 9, 2011 3:58 AM in response to mcraig55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 3:58 AM in response to mcraig55

    Not true, mccraig55. I did it on a new Mini both on a single partition and in a second partition with Lion running in the other. It isn't easy, but it can be done. If you mean, "can it be done and have Snow Leopard run efficiently", that is another question where your answer is closer to correct.

  • by mcraig55,

    mcraig55 mcraig55 Sep 9, 2011 5:47 AM in response to khorning
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 5:47 AM in response to khorning

    Straight off the Snow Leopard installer disk without TDM on another Mac?

  • by dgfoster,

    dgfoster dgfoster Sep 9, 2011 6:01 AM in response to mcraig55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 6:01 AM in response to mcraig55

    Come on Apple! I remember buying a Windows 7 laptop (not for me ) and because of concerns over drivers etc. you could downgrade to Windows XP. APPLE, let people downgrade operating system to Snow Leopard if they want to!

  • by cathy fasano,

    cathy fasano cathy fasano Sep 9, 2011 6:58 AM in response to mcraig55
    Level 2 (349 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 9, 2011 6:58 AM in response to mcraig55

    But looking up at the thread topic, I see that it does NOT say "Can I Install Snow Leopard on the new Mac Mini using the exact procedure that mcraig55 wants to do it?"

  • by MichaelLAX,

    MichaelLAX MichaelLAX Sep 9, 2011 7:06 AM in response to dgfoster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 7:06 AM in response to dgfoster

    quote: "Come on Apple! I remember buying a Windows 7 laptop (not for me ) and because of concerns over drivers etc. you could downgrade to Windows XP. APPLE, let people downgrade operating system to Snow Leopard if they want to!"

     

    1)  I think you remember a situation that you chose not to implement:

     

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/downg rade-from-windows-7-to-xp-on-my-new-toshiba/d9afa206-f0b4-4762-83a7-51a9c27fc2e9

     

    2)  If your memory is correct, of course, you can always buy a new Windows 7 machine and run XP on it; good luck!

  • by dgfoster,

    dgfoster dgfoster Sep 9, 2011 7:18 AM in response to MichaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 7:18 AM in response to MichaelLAX

    ??? I bought a laptop for a friend and they wanted XP for some reason and it was possible. I have a machine with XP on to run some specialist software and it works.

     

    I have a similar situation with my Mac. I want to buy a new Mini but I need it to run Snow Leopard. My only choice seems to be buy an iMac but I didn't really need a monitor.

  • by MichaelLAX,

    MichaelLAX MichaelLAX Sep 9, 2011 7:45 AM in response to dgfoster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 7:45 AM in response to dgfoster

    iMac not your only choice:

     

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC270LL/A

     

    $469.00 Comes with Snow Leopard pre-installed; and they will throw in an internal SuperDrive FOR FREE!

  • by dgfoster,

    dgfoster dgfoster Sep 9, 2011 8:16 AM in response to MichaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 8:16 AM in response to MichaelLAX

          Cheers, although the hardware is not much better than my 2006 MacBook Pro

  • by utblync80,

    utblync80 utblync80 Sep 9, 2011 12:53 PM in response to mikethebook
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 12:53 PM in response to mikethebook

    I was able to install Snow Leopard 10.6 on a new mini using TDM from an old 10.5 mini I had and am experiencing a few weird problems that I'm wondering if anyone has found solutions for.

     

    1. I am unable to put the dock on the right side of the screen. Doing so makes it disappear, but the left and bottom work fine.

     

    2. My mouse cursor fails to return to the default arrow after it changes to something else. I am still able to click on things, but the cursor itself is not an arrow.

     

    3. I have noticed strange graphical anomalies such as screen tearing and the dock icons merging with each other.

     

    I had updated to 10.6.8 via the combo update and attempted to download any remaining updates after that with identical behavior.

     

    Thanks

  • by iXod,

    iXod iXod Sep 9, 2011 1:38 PM in response to John Fair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 1:38 PM in response to John Fair

    I thought installing SL on a 2011 mini was well documented already. I thought Steve had said that we were waiting for volunteers to get back to us regarding how to install SL such that it runs *full speed*. The standard SL install, so far, is running at GeekBench numbers around 30-40 percent of the numbers for a Lion install on the same machine.

     

    So, is anyone spending gray cells figuring out how to get SL on a 2011 mini to run full speed (ie, hints from Steve's friends at Apple)? Or are we stuck with a crippled SL/mini combo?

     

    iX

    ---

    footnote:

    I have successfully installed SL on a 2011 mini (2.7 GHz i7 processor option). I have been using it for several weeks now and have had no problems at all other than the slow-down mentioned by others in this discussion thread. The mini otherwise functions like SL on my old 2006 mini (CoreDuo 1.83 GHz) only a bit faster and lots more RAM.

  • by mcraig55,

    mcraig55 mcraig55 Sep 9, 2011 7:57 PM in response to cathy fasano
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 7:57 PM in response to cathy fasano

    You spend a Grand on a New Mac you shouldn't have to play games to install an OS on it albeit a previous version OS. If Lion didn't have so many flaws and inhibitors we wouldn't even be discussing this. I have Macs that can run 5 different Mac OSes, from OS 9 to Leopard so don't give me that new hardware can't run older softerware bull. Besides Snow Leopard isn't that old.

  • by dgfoster,

    dgfoster dgfoster Sep 9, 2011 11:17 PM in response to mcraig55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2011 11:17 PM in response to mcraig55

    As you say Snow Leopard isn't that old, but Lion is so new it only came out more or less at the same time as the Mini. You need 6 months or so for a new operating system to stabilise so we should have had a choice. Yes Lion eventually but a lot of software hasn't been upgraded for Lion.

     

    With previous new operating systems, they all had a fall back to run older software. Rosetta, the transition from OS 9 to X etc. Windows 7 has XP mode!

  • by Steve Jolly,

    Steve Jolly Steve Jolly Sep 10, 2011 9:33 AM in response to iXod
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Sep 10, 2011 9:33 AM in response to iXod

    You are correct. I AM expecting a solution -- either through virtualization (probably not for free, but inexpensive) or some code workarounds that will allow Snow Leopard to run at close to full speed, and with full functionality, on the "Lion machines." I still expect that, and I have plenty of reason to be optimistic. I'm getting plenty of detailed and encouraging progress reports through email, etc., and I'm getting ready to pass it along...  Keep hope alive!!!

     

    Over 14,300 views as of early Saturday. That tends to build momentum for SOMETHING, we just don't know what, yet!

     

    Yes we can can!       FREE THE SNOW LEOPARD 14,000 !  etc etc etc

  • by iXod,

    iXod iXod Sep 10, 2011 10:14 AM in response to Steve Jolly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2011 10:14 AM in response to Steve Jolly

    > Yes we can can! 

     

    Come on, girls! Keep those knees up! Kick higher! Higher!!

     

    ;-)

     

    iX

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