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 MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 27, 2014 11:08 AM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:08 AM in response to somapop

    1.  Sorry, I mistakenly thought you were using Logic Pro 8, not 7. I have no experience with version 7 but if it worked for you before in Snow Leopard, I am sure it will work on a partitioned iMac running Snow Leopard.

     

    2.  What version of FCP do you use?

     

    3.  I still will bet dollars to donuts that your 2011 iMac can run Snow Leopard even if it was the late 2011 model that came with Lion.  However, this model will NOT boot from the retail Mac OS X Snow Leopard DVD as it requires a minimum 10.6.6 to boot.  Hence you must clone your old updated Snow Leopard system over to this model's partition.

     

    If you search the internet, there is a version of the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD that was slipstreamed to 10.6.7 and this version should boot this iMac if a fresh reinstall of Snow Leopard is required; although I have not personally attempted this.

     

    Lastly, if you call Apple with the model and serial numbers, they will provide replacement discs for about $17, which is a good idea to have in any event.

     

    As the screenname indicates, I am in Los Angeles.

     

    GOOD LUCK!

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Feb 27, 2014 11:23 AM in response to somapop
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:23 AM in response to somapop

    Looks like you might get lucky with Snow Leopard.

     

    From Macs and Software that will run with Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6.x)

     

    iMac 12,1 i3 (EMC 2496 on foot, MC978LL/A) can't run Snow Leopard, while the 12,x i5 and i7 can run Snow Leopard, and the iMac 1,1 through 11,x can run Snow Leopard with at least 1 GB of RAM.  iMac 13,1 and later can't run Snow Leopard natively.

    I believe you said your machine is an i5 so looks probable.

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 11:25 AM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:25 AM in response to MlchaelLAX

    Hi Michael:

     

    1: Yes, Logic Pro 7 Suite and did indeed work fine on Snow Leopard.

     

    2: It's the Final Cut Studio 2 edition...I'd struggle at the moment to justify an upgrade on that front, I do a bit of video work, but with a family and house to refurb, pennies are definitely tight at the moment.  I haven't as yet checked whether my FCP is compatiable with the latest versions of OSX.

     

    3: Almost certain Snow Leopard will be 10.6.8 on that 2006 iMac - I did tend up check updates on a weekly basis.  I'll have confirmation when my FW cable turns up so I can log in.

     

    Just so I'm clear from what I've read on this thread, could I potentially use this 2006 iMac as a partition )the 2011 iMac) as if it was effectively the same computer I've been using for the past few years.  On top of that (but would have to reboot as per the instructions listed earlier) then use the 2011 running Mavericks.  If I were to purchase another ext 1 TB drive, could I clone that 2006 iMac onto that freeing up the 2006 iMac (if I were to fix the GPU issue or just sell on as parts)?  Obviously I'd have to then purchase another ext hard drive so I have at least one back up for each bootable drive (the 2006 drive and the 2011 running maverickss drive).

     

    Please tell me I've understood that right !!

     

    Many thanks.

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 11:29 AM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:29 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

    Yes Frank - definitely the i5. Sounding like good news hopefully (bearing in mind I have every opportunity to c*ck it up when doing the cloning and partitioning In saying that, Mountain Lion looks quite user friendly in that regard...although I'm taking it back to Lion first right?)

     

    As an aside, these iMacs (there were a few being sold) were listed as rare for some reason?  Down to the 2.7Ghz processor?

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 27, 2014 11:28 AM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:28 AM in response to somapop

    I hate to add a monkey wrench to the works, but I do not know if Snow Leopard installed on a PPC G5 Mac will work as a clone for an Intel Mac

     

    That being said, you may have to access a third party Intel Mac that is old enough to boot Snow Leopard and install Snow Leopard on it and then update it to 10.6.8, clone it and then move the clone over.

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 27, 2014 11:30 AM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:30 AM in response to somapop

    somapop wrote:

     

    Down to the 2.7Ghz processor?

    That is definitely a mid-2011 iMac which came with Snow Leopard and will continue to boot into Snow Leopard!

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 11:30 AM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:30 AM in response to MlchaelLAX

    Might struggle to do that Michael...think I'm alone in the Mac world in my circle of friends...!

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 27, 2014 11:32 AM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:32 AM in response to somapop

    somapop wrote:

     

    Hi Michael:

     

    2: It's the Final Cut Studio 2 edition...I'd struggle at the moment to justify an upgrade on that front, I do a bit of video work, but with a family and house to refurb, pennies are definitely tight at the moment.  I haven't as yet checked whether my FCP is compatiable with the latest versions of OSX.

     

    Final Cut Studio 2, which contains Final Cut Pro 6, has a "bug" in its installer program that prevents it from being installed into Lion, Mt. Lion or Mavericks.  So be sure it is installed into Snow Leopard BEFORE you attempt to run it after any upgrade to Mavericks! 

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 11:32 AM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:32 AM in response to MlchaelLAX

    Not Lion?  So when I reset it back to factory/original OSX, it's likely to be Snow Leopard?  Might I need a bit more technical know how if attempting partitioning et al with Snow Leopard?  This Mountain Lion looks a lot more friendly at that level....

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 27, 2014 11:42 AM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:42 AM in response to somapop

    [deleted by poster]

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Feb 27, 2014 11:35 AM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:35 AM in response to MlchaelLAX

    I hate to add a monkey wrench to the works, but I do not know if Snow Leopard installed on a PPC G5 Mac will work as a clone for an Intel Mac

     

    OK this is getting complicated. Where did thre PPC iMac come in? The first post by somapop said

    My old late 2006 intel iMac

    (emphasis added). Is this not the case? Is the original system a PPC iMac? If so then definitly the OS from it will not run on the Intel iMac.

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 11:37 AM in response to MlchaelLAX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:37 AM in response to MlchaelLAX

    It's installed in the 2006 iMac Snow Leopard already Michael...but I'm getting a little lost again now.

    Do I confirm it's definitely installed in the 2006 iMac, then clone it over to thw 2011 iMac (which I've taken back to the original OSX it was shipped with - initially thought it was Lion but possible it was Snow Leopard now)?

     

    Apologies if some of my questions are a tad basic or repetative, but it's not really second nature to me!

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Feb 27, 2014 11:40 AM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:40 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

    Frank Caggiano wrote:

     

    I hate to add a monkey wrench to the works, but I do not know if Snow Leopard installed on a PPC G5 Mac will work as a clone for an Intel Mac

     

    OK this is getting complicated. Where did thre PPC iMac come in? The first post by somapop said

     

    My apologies again...

  • by somapop,

    somapop somapop Feb 27, 2014 11:42 AM in response to somapop
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 11:42 AM in response to somapop

    Yes - definitely Intel mac.

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Mar 22, 2014 12:44 AM in response to somapop
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Mar 22, 2014 12:44 AM in response to somapop

    somapop has reported preliminary success:

     

    I've successfully managed to install OSX [Snow Leopard] onto the 2011 iMac.

     

    Work flow I've used:

     

    * Created two partitions and placed SL on both of those. 

     

    * Upgraded both to 10.6.8 (last/latest version of SL).

     

    * Installed FCS1 (which contains FCP 5) and Logic 7. Not sure if FCP5 will work with Mavericks (struggling to find anecdotal evidence on that so I might pass that onto the wider forum here). - will at least keep the other copy on SL in the other partition.

     

    * Migrated (connecting old 2006 via FW)

     

    I'll next upgrade one of the partitions to Mavericks.  I know some people like to keep the OSX they've been running quite happily, but since using Mountain Lion over the past few weeks, I've grown to like (much more so than SL) - hence upgrading to Mavericks.

     

    I used Migration Assistant in SL to bring the files over (remember I can't 'see' any graphics/screen on that old 2006 iMac) but it appears to have lumped everything over together in a fairly inchorent manner.  I guess (once I've upgraded to Mavericks) I'll then have to move folders and files into an organised structure.  In saying that, many of my main audio/video/image files lie on external drives anyhow.

     

    There are probably other ways to have moved those files (would've preferred to see indiviudal folders so I could drag and drop into the correct new folder structure: images into 'pictures' etc).

     

    The next stage is to work out back up on this new set up.  Previously the old 2006 was backed up to time machine (1tb internal to 1tb external time machine drive).  With having a partioned internal HD now, I'm wondering whether it's going to be tricky to set up (somebody else set the last time machine up for me so I didn't see the process...I'll do it myself this time). 

     

    I'm assuming I can change the size of the partitions ratio?  Currently 50/50 (500gb on each partition) but if I can run Logic 7 fine on Mavericks (and even possibly FCP, though external video files are set to another ext video drive) then the SL partition won't really be used that often - 750gb on Mavericks partition and 250gb on the SL partition?

     

    I'll upgrade to Mavericks today.

     

    Many, many thanks for the help on this thread...quite enjoyed the process and I've learned a fair bit (special shout out to MichaelLAX for the extra assistance offline).

     

    Cheers.

    somapop

     

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