guivolkov

Q: How can I downgrade from a native mac os x lion to snow leopard?

Hi everybody!

 

I just bought my Macbook Pro about one mounth ago, and I'm really not happy with de OS X Lion that came with the laptop. I'm a Pro tools user and I can't use it in this OS. I've tried so many methods to downgrade my system, but none worked. I even tried to run Snow Leopard by using a Virtual Machine as the VMware Fusion, but didn't work too.
So, whay can I do?
Please help me. lol

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Sep 28, 2011 8:33 PM

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Q: How can I downgrade from a native mac os x lion to snow leopard?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Sep 28, 2011 8:37 PM in response to guivolkov
    Level 10 (271,482 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 28, 2011 8:37 PM in response to guivolkov

    It's uncertain that one can install Snow Leopard on the latest notebook machines. However, except for the Airs supposedly the other notebooks can run Snow Leopard, but it must be version 10.6.4 or later. I'm not sure what the require version is for any of the current models. But if you are trying to install 10.6.4 and cannot boot the computer then you need a later version. Personally, I'd use 10.6.8. Then:

     

    Downgrade Lion to Snow Leopard

     

    1.  Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button.  When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

     

    2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area.  If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing.  SMART info will not be reported  on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

     

    3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

     

    4. Quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard.

     

    This will erase the whole drive so be sure to backup your files if you don't have a backup already. If you have performed a TM backup using Lion be aware that you cannot restore from that backup in Snow Leopard (see below.) I suggest you make a separate backup using Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.1.

     

    If you have Snow Leopard Time Machine backups, do a full system restore per #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.  If you have subsequent backups from Lion, you can restore newer items selectively, via the "Star Wars" display, per #15 there, but be careful; some Snow Leopard apps may not work with the Lion files.

  • by Algr,

    Algr Algr Sep 28, 2011 8:44 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 8:44 PM in response to Kappy

    I'd like to add that I find it a very good idea to keep different system versions on different hard drives, rather then trying to upgrade/downgrade an existing system.  This way if something doesn't work, you haven't messed up your boot disk, and you can switch back and forth between Snow Lepord and Lion just by rebooting.

  • by guivolkov,

    guivolkov guivolkov Sep 28, 2011 9:21 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 9:21 PM in response to Kappy

    Hi Kappy, thank u for the quickly answer.

     

    But, I can't even startup by using the SL installer disc.

    I've tried so many methods that I'm begining to forget this idea to downgrade


    Any other suggestion?!?!

     

    Thanks!

  • by Algr,

    Algr Algr Sep 28, 2011 9:33 PM in response to guivolkov
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 9:33 PM in response to guivolkov

    Do you still have your old computer, or access to another mac?  If you have an external drive, you could plug it into a mac that CAN boot Snow Lepord, and then make a fresh install and upgrade it to 10.6.8.  Then connect the drive to your new mac.

     

    I'm quite interested in this, because I'll be getting a new mac soon, and have a PowerPC program I don't want to give up, or pay ridiculous price for an upgrade I don't need.

  • by ds store,Helpful

    ds store ds store Sep 28, 2011 10:01 PM in response to guivolkov
    Level 7 (30,400 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 10:01 PM in response to guivolkov

    guivolkov wrote:

     

    But, I can't even startup by using the SL installer disc.

    I've tried so many methods that I'm begining to forget this idea to downgrade

     

    Kappy posts that, but it's only for Mac's that had Snow Leopard before, not for Lion installed at the factory Mac's, which is what you stated you have.

     

    Mac's that come with factory version of a OS X can't c  boot from earlier OS X install disks. And you can only vm Lion in Lion, not Snow in Lion.

     

    However, since you got a 2011 Macbook Pro, it is possible to get Snow on the computer and it will work peachy.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3264421?start=0&tstart=0

  • by guivolkov,

    guivolkov guivolkov Sep 28, 2011 9:56 PM in response to Algr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 9:56 PM in response to Algr

    So Algr, I don't have another mac. But I've an external drive.
    The only problem is that I don't have a 10.6.8 copy. I think mine is the 10.6.3.

    What about now?

     

    Yo, I think is better to u to wait until this new os will get more "compatible"!

  • by guivolkov,

    guivolkov guivolkov Sep 28, 2011 10:20 PM in response to ds store
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 10:20 PM in response to ds store

    Hey Ds store, nice method, but I read the link u posted and saw that:
    "note:  this only applies to Macbook Pro, Mac Pro, and iMac computers that originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.x. "

     

    And my MBP was shipped with OS X 10.7.1

     

    So, I can't do that, right?

  • by guivolkov,

    guivolkov guivolkov Sep 28, 2011 10:34 PM in response to guivolkov
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2011 10:34 PM in response to guivolkov

    I think I'll spend a couple hours in the Genius Bar tomorow.

  • by ds store,

    ds store ds store Sep 29, 2011 12:45 AM in response to guivolkov
    Level 7 (30,400 points)
    Sep 29, 2011 12:45 AM in response to guivolkov

    guivolkov wrote:

     

    Hey Ds store, nice method, but I read the link u posted and saw that:
    "note:  this only applies to Macbook Pro, Mac Pro, and iMac computers that originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.x. "

     

    And my MBP was shipped with OS X 10.7.1

     

    So, I can't do that, right?

     

    There were refering to the Early 2011 MacBook Pro, MacPro and iMac's that ORIGNALLY shipped with 10.6 and now those same exact machines (like yours) are now shipping with 10.7 instead.

     

    You see, there are hardware drivers that are required to operate those computers, they are on the Snow Leopard install disks and the new Lion OS.

     

    It's these hardware drivers being on 10.6 that allows one to go back to Snow on a factory Lion Mac, of course the firmware won't allow you to boot from a earlier OS X verison, that's why you need the workarounds in the thread.

     

    After all the thread does start out

     

    "HowTo - NetRestore - Install Mac OS X 10.6.8 on new Mac delivered with Mac OS X 10.7.0"

     

     

    You may have a new 2011 MacBook Pro, but it's been out for some time and had Snow Leopard installed previously and now they come with Lion.

  • by guivolkov,

    guivolkov guivolkov Sep 29, 2011 12:56 AM in response to ds store
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2011 12:56 AM in response to ds store

    Ow, I got it!

     

    Thank u!

  • by chaitania,

    chaitania chaitania Oct 25, 2011 1:43 AM in response to guivolkov
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 25, 2011 1:43 AM in response to guivolkov

    Вы случаем не говорите по русски? Вы решили как то вашу проблему? у меня схожая задача, пытаюсь найти решение, но пока безуспешно.