tedp1

Q: how do I get 10.8 on a 10.9 machine

My son has a mac mini with os 10.9 on it.  His birthday is coming up and I would like to get him a piece of 3d software that is only supported up to 10.8.

Is it possible to get the previous os onto it?

Posted on Apr 5, 2015 7:01 AM

Close

Q: how do I get 10.8 on a 10.9 machine

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next
  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 5, 2015 7:25 AM in response to tedp1
    Level 10 (312,660 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 5, 2015 7:25 AM in response to tedp1

    If it shipped with Mac OS X 10.9, no, but see below.

    If it shipped with Mac OS X 10.7 or 10.8, restart with the Option, Command, and R keys held down, use the Disk Utility to erase or repartition the drive, and install the older OS onto the blank volume.

    If it shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, insert an install DVD, restart with the C or Option key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase or repartition the drive, and install the older OS onto the blank volume.

     

    If the program supports Snow Leopard and doesn't require direct access to hardware, you can also phone the online Apple Store, order a Mac OS X 10.6 Server DVD, and run it inside a program such as VirtualBox or Parallels Desktop regardless of the computer's original OS.

     

    (125511)

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 5, 2015 7:41 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 5, 2015 7:41 AM in response to Niel

    I Bought it in December of '13.  Is there a way to determine what it shipped with?  I have my own laptop and I can't ask him if he just went ahead and updated the OS being he's autistic.

    Thanks!

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 5, 2015 7:44 AM in response to tedp1
    Level 10 (312,660 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 5, 2015 7:44 AM in response to tedp1

    That model of Mac mini originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.8.1, but this may have changed over time; it came out in October 2012. If needed, follow the instructions for 10.7 or 10.8 above, choosing to partition the drive, and see what gets installed.

     

    (125515)

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 22, 2015 4:30 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 4:30 AM in response to Niel

    TThanks!  I will be trying this today.  Will keep you posted.

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 22, 2015 4:38 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 4:38 AM in response to Niel

    Here's another question, I have a snow leopard disk and Final Cut Studio 1, which was only 'installable' on a snow leopard machine.  My laptop came with Mountain Lion on it.  Are you saying I could actually get Virtual Box or Parallels and install snow leopard and then be able to instal FCS1?

    THanks Again!

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 22, 2015 6:04 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 6:04 AM in response to Niel

    Okay here's a problem, I have a Logitech keyboard hooked up to this machine,  I hit restart and the computer asks me if I want to continue the installation or abort.  I hit continue and then it restarts and I hit the window, alt and r button, it then tells me it is beginning internet recovery And it may take awhile.  That was 15 minutes ago.  I wasn't asked to partition anything.  Have I inadvertantly begun the process of erasing the drive?

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 22, 2015 7:43 AM in response to tedp1
    Level 10 (312,660 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 7:43 AM in response to tedp1

    1. The applications which will run in emulation are limited. Generally, anything which requires direct access to hardware won't work; this is the exact thing which allows the emulated OS itself to run.

    2. No. It's impossible to inadvertently begin it.

     

    (126505)

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 22, 2015 7:09 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 7:09 PM in response to Niel

    So, if I'm in recovery mode and the Reinstall OS X is Mavericks, does that mean I'm out of luck?  The Disk Utility won't allow me to install whatever the OS X Base System is while it is considered the start up disk. 

    Is it possible to 'clone' Mountain Lion from my laptop and install it on the partition on the mini?

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 22, 2015 8:12 PM in response to tedp1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 8:12 PM in response to tedp1

    According to About This Mac, this thing shipped in late 2012.  That has to be Mountain Lion but when I click the OS X Base System, click Restore then click the  Image button it opens a selection window that has Install OS X Mavericks, but it's greyed out.

    Can't figure out what I'm missing here.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 22, 2015 8:40 PM in response to tedp1
    Level 7 (32,024 points)
    iPad
    Apr 22, 2015 8:40 PM in response to tedp1

    The machine originally shipped with ML, but later was shipped with mavericks:

     

    Mac OS X versions (builds) for computers - Apple Support

     

    Macs cannot boot from an OS version earlier than what they came with, so first you'd need to call Apple, give them your serial number, and ask which build yours came with. That way you'd know. Trying to install ML won't work unless it is a newer version than what the Mini came with.

     

    You could also try internet recovery (Command + Option + R at boot up) until you're connected to Apple's servers. You would need to erase the entire drive while in recovery and then choose to reinstall the OS - that method should reinstall the original OS.

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 22, 2015 9:04 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2015 9:04 PM in response to babowa

    I typed my serial # into a box on this site http://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php and it came up with everything I needed.  Shipped with 10.8, is it possible to install from the recovery site onto a partition without having to erase the whole thing?

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 22, 2015 10:10 PM in response to tedp1
    Level 7 (32,024 points)
    iPad
    Apr 22, 2015 10:10 PM in response to tedp1

    Well, you can try at the app store - if it is listed under his Purchases section, then he can download it. Or are you referring to downloading your ML copy to use for your son's Mini? Technically, that is violating the licensing agreement - anything obtained at the app store is licensed only to the Apple ID used to obtain it and it is not transferable. It would present problems - couldn't update apps or reinstall the OS. And, we are not allowed to help with such things.

  • by tedp1,

    tedp1 tedp1 Apr 23, 2015 3:53 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 23, 2015 3:53 AM in response to babowa

    ML isn't listed in the App Store.  All of our computers are listed under the same ID though.  The only OS that appears in the purchase section is Yosemite.  Which my daughter put on her laptop.  That might lead me to believe his mini shipped with Mavericks because it isn't listed as a purchase either.

     

    So if it did come with ML, do I just erase and install then?

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 23, 2015 7:21 AM in response to tedp1
    Level 10 (312,660 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 23, 2015 7:21 AM in response to tedp1

    You do either that or use the Disk Utility to create a blank partition on the internal drive.

     

    (126579)

Page 1 Next