somapop

Q: Cloning Snow Leopard from old iMac onto New iMac with Mountain Lion.

Hi all.

 

My old late 2006 intel iMac (2.1Ghz, 24" white) packed in a few weeks back (most likely GPU fail, but that's another topic!).

I've picked up a good deal on a second hand machine (funds wouldn't stretch to brand new model, but iMac definitely required):

 

2.7Ghz, 2011 i5, 1TB, 4gb RAM (will increase that) running mountain lion.

 

Ran a few tests on the old machine and the Hard Drive looked absolutely fine (was new just over 18 months ago) and could be accessed via another machine.

That was running Snow Leopard (upgrade from original OSX back in 2006) and easily ran FCP and Logic Pro post upgrade to SL.

What I would like to do really is clone my old hard drive (and I have a time machine back up on an external drive) onto this new machine.  However, I'm not quite sure whether I'd lose Mountain Lion (if my old s/w such as Logic Pro 7 and FCP suite will run ok on ML I'd like to keep it as I quite like it.

 

Not having any discs with this iMac (Mountain Lion not requiring them), would I be able to re install Mountain Lion if I'd cloned a Snow Leopard drive onto it?

Apologies if this is an obvious question!!  If I could still run FCP and Logic successfully on Mavericks, I might even upgrade to that also (not sure yet!).

 

Given the price of the thunderbird cables I'll be using a FW800-FW400 (cost 4x as less) to transfer.  I'll probably use 'super duper' to clone.

 

Am I along the righ lines folks?

 

Many thanks.

 

somapop.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Feb 26, 2014 8:45 AM

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Q: Cloning Snow Leopard from old iMac onto New iMac with Mountain Lion.

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  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Feb 26, 2014 1:54 PM in response to somapop
    Level 7 (32,127 points)
    iPad
    Feb 26, 2014 1:54 PM in response to somapop

    Wondering why I'd have to purchase ML but Mavericks is free?

     

    Only Apple knows that - but ML was (and is) $19.99 and Mavericks is free. As long as you have a minimum of 4 GB RAM (more is better!!!) and enough hard drive space, I'd go with Mavericks. Kinks there are being worked out, it's just now at 10.9.2.

     

    You'd run into the same problems with either as far as your older applications (PPC) are concerned.

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 26, 2014 2:10 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 2:10 PM in response to babowa

    babowa wrote:

     

    You'd run into the same problems with either as far as your older applications (PPC) are concerned.

     

    Exactly, hence edging towards Mavericks I think.  I'm most likely going to 'whack' the RAM up to 16gb (4x4) anyway. 1TB HD (same as the time machine back up)*

     

    I guess I could also clone my old drive onto a new ext drive and use that as a bootable partition right?  That would be an option if I managed to rescucitate my old iMac (breathe life/heat back into the GPU) or end up selling it as spare parts. 

     

    * I'm guessing I'd have to then clone the 'new' iMac's drive (already cloned from the old iMac) back onto the time machine ext back up drive as, if I recall, that had a bootable Snow Leopard installed..?

     

    Many thanks again.

  • by Frank Caggiano,Helpful

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Feb 26, 2014 2:24 PM in response to somapop
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 2:24 PM in response to somapop

    I guess I could also clone my old drive onto a new ext drive and use that as a bootable partition right?

    If you are asking if you can use a clone of the old machine to boot the new machine again the answer is no.

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 26, 2014 2:41 PM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 2:41 PM in response to somapop

    Install your old software into Snow Leopord BEFORE you upgrade to Mavericks!

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 26, 2014 2:58 PM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 2:58 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

    Referring to the new 2011 machine right?  Pretty sure it's going to be Lion to be fair, so not quite sure if any of my s/w will work on Lion.  I'll double check on the Logic and FCP forums (read somebody had managed to find a work around for Logic Pro 7 on Lion/Mountain Lion but not entirely sure.

     

    Many thanks.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 26, 2014 3:04 PM in response to somapop
    Level 7 (32,127 points)
    iPad
    Feb 26, 2014 3:04 PM in response to somapop

    I guess I could also clone my old drive onto a new ext drive and use that as a bootable partition right?

     

    As mentioned, no you cannot. If the new machine came with Lion, it'll boot with Lion and forward, but not Snow Leopard.

     

    guessing I'd have to then clone the 'new' iMac's drive (already cloned from the old iMac) back onto the time machine ext back up drive as, if I recall, that had a bootable Snow Leopard installed..?

     

    Also, no. leave the old machine as is, run it under MichaelLax's suggestion in a virtual environment, or find an older machine that'll run Snow leopard if the old one no longer works.

     

    Clone your new machine with Lion and/or upgraded and with your files, etc. to an external drive as a backup.

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 26, 2014 3:13 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 3:13 PM in response to babowa

    Cheers.  The ext backup (1TB to match the internal HD) is (or at least was) being used via Time Machine - carry on using that (not sure if Time Machine has remained steady/moved in since Snow Leopard)? As a backup option I quite like it as it just runs away in the background and I'm content my files are backed up.

     

    Many thanks.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 26, 2014 3:22 PM in response to somapop
    Level 7 (32,127 points)
    iPad
    Feb 26, 2014 3:22 PM in response to somapop

    Sorry, can't help with Time Machine, as I don't use it - prefer bootable clones.

     

    Here is some good info though:

     

    http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 26, 2014 3:42 PM in response to babowa
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 3:42 PM in response to babowa

    The 2011 iMac will boot from Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or greater, even if it shipped with Lion.

     

    Logic 8 works best in real Snow Leopard.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 26, 2014 4:10 PM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 7 (32,127 points)
    iPad
    Feb 26, 2014 4:10 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

    Really? You probably know more about that than I would - I'm not sure if one with 10.7.3 or later would boot with SL?

     

     

    Screen Shot 2014-02-26 at 4.08.03 PM.png

    From this:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159#iMac

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 26, 2014 4:19 PM in response to babowa
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 4:19 PM in response to babowa

    I am on my iPhone right now, but my recollection is that Olglethorpe has done much research and has many posts on this topic.

     

    But real Snow Leopard is the best way to go with Logic 8.

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 2:10 AM in response to somapop
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 2:10 AM in response to somapop

    Sorry guys - I had to hit the sack last night...it was getting late (you all US based?)!

     

    Ok - if you folks are debating this then there's no hope for me!

     

    I might have to upgrade from Logic 7 to 8 anyway so if I were to upgrade I may as well got right up to Logic X (unless 7 to 8 is a free upgrade)? Bit of a nightmare really as I have the Logic Suite and a full upgrade of that isn't cheap.  Not a good time to be paying out for that either, so ideally if I can somehow still run Snow Leopard (even as a bootable partition) then that would be much more preferable.  I do need Logic back pretty quickly however.

     

    I've just ordered a FW800-400 cable so I'l run the tasks you guys have highlighted above (take the 2011 iMac back to it's original OS).

    Just so I'm clear though, it is possible to boot snow leopard from another drive (or old iMac depending what I do with it) maybe as a partition, but keep the 2011 (once taken back to original - most likely Lion) in Mavericks.

     

    I'll look into that time mahince bs clone back up link posted above (I've no particular allegiance to time machine, it's just ran in the background quite happily for the past 18 months).

     

    Cheers!

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 2:22 AM in response to somapop
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 2:22 AM in response to somapop

    Interesting article linked to above - cheers.  I didn't actually realise I wasn't able to create a bootable disc using Time Machine.

    Bootable clones (again, I'll probably look into super duper) are a potential option...and of course, I could pick up a new HD and have the best of both worlds.

     

    Interesting topic - picked up a fair bit of information on this thread.  Many thanks!

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 27, 2014 7:46 AM in response to somapop
    Level 7 (32,127 points)
    iPad
    Feb 27, 2014 7:46 AM in response to somapop

    Yeah, you can "restore" with Time Machine, but have to download and install a fresh copy of the OS using recovery and then a window pops up and asks if you wish to restore from TM, port over from another Mac, etc.

     

    For cloning there is SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner (my personally preferred method as it is capable of creating/updating the recovery partition which SuperDuper is not designed to do).

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 10:45 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 10:45 AM in response to babowa

    Thanks babowa - I'll look into both. 

     

    Of my most urgency is getting my Logic back up and running asap.  Whether I can run it on Snow Leopard as a partition, at least for the time being until I upgrade (to Logic Pro X), I'll have to find out.

     

    I'll admit I'm still a little unsure, as there was a  debate in this thread about whether I could run Snow Leopard on this 2011 machine (likely I can), even as a partition.  Ideally I'll upgrade Logic anyhow (as I need to crack on with music) and I manage to 'magically' fix the GPU in the 2006 machine (50/50 I guess).

     

    Bit of a learning curve for me, this side of the tech stuff...I should really delve into it more!!

     

    Cheers.

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