Q: How do I downgrade back to Snow Leopard

If you have a Time Machine backup, you'll need to use disk utility to delete El Capitan and re-download the previous OS. Once you do that, you'll be able to set your Mac up from the backup.

Sorry to hear about your problems; the only way I'd know that would be 100% successful would be to boot from your (SL) bootable clone which you made before upgrading. As there were just too many changes in the OS, I have no idea if you can actually go back any other way.

I also assume that you are referring to a Macbook Pro? How much RAM do you have installed?

As for getting your emails, I'm afraid you would have to dig into the folders and copy over the actual emails, not folders. I did that once - it worked, but took forever.

How do I get back to SL with everything that I had before?

Using the bootable clone you made before upgrading.

How do I get the stuff that I created for the last month in EC back so I can use it in SL when ever I get back there?

copy it manually

Where do I tell Apple how dissatisfied I am with that process?

http://apple.com/feedback

Why cant Apple make a short list of things that wont work, or machines that might not like it if you push that inconspicuous upgrade button?

Apple can't be responsible for thousands of third party softwares or other possible incompatibilities. If you will read the licensing agreement, they state very clearly:

B. YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, USE OF THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND ANY SERVICES PERFORMED BY OR ACCESSED THROUGH THE APPLE SOFTWARE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND THAT THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO SATISFACTORY QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCURACY AND EFFORT IS WITH YOU.

C. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”, WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND APPLE AND APPLE'S LICENSORS (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS “APPLE” FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 7 AND 8) HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND SERVICES, EITHER EXPRESS,

IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND/OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.

D. APPLE DOES NOT WARRANT AGAINST INTERFERENCE WITH YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND SERVICES, THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN, OR SERVICES PERFORMED OR PROVIDED BY, THE APPLE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, THAT THE OPERATION OF THE APPLE SOFTWARE OR SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT ANY SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE, THAT THE APPLE

SOFTWARE OR SERVICES WILL BE COMPATIBLE OR WORK WITH ANY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE, APPLICATIONS OR THIRD PARTY SERVICES, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE APPLE SOFTWARE OR SERVICES WILL BE CORRECTED. INSTALLATION OF THIS APPLE SOFTWARE MAY AFFECT THE AVAILABILITY AND USABILITY OF THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE, APPLICATIONS OR THIRD PARTY SERVICES, AS WELL AS APPLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

It is always helpful to do some checking, make a good backup, and install the new OS on a separate partition or external hard drive - all of these would enable you to revert easily.

Unfortunately, there is no way to download Snow Leopard.

Hello Bruce,

Unfortunately, you cannot restore your system AND it's files using Migration because they have been modified to run on El Capitan (that's what Apple is making it sound like at least). If you try uploading regular documents such as letters, pictures, or PDF's, to Google Drive or iCloud Drive, you can store them in the cloud, and when you are ready to download them, you can do so by getting in to your Google or iCloud account and downloading the files. Unfortunately, with some applications WILL not run on El Capitan, plain and simple. The code and system files have been changed to make it more compatible with the newest edition ever since Swift was introduced. I would recommend downgrading to Mavericks, as it is compatible with most apps, and will give you the same feel as Snow Leopard.

Instructions to get back to Snow Leopard are fairly simple.

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

1. Restart your Mac

2. Before the computer boots, press and hold the Command and R keys

3. Select Disk Utility, then select continue

4. Select your startup disk, then click the Erase tab

5. Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the Format menu, enter a name, then click Erase

6. After the disk is erased, insert your Mac OS X disk.

7. The rest is self explanatory.

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

(Please make sure that your files are backed up on the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc)

To complain about El Capitan, please talk to Apple Support.

Thank you

Grant

Have you actually tested this? I have with an iMac and the results were not reliable - due to the EFI firmware update, I was only able to install Snow Leopard once out of five tests (and it did not work properly) - the only reliable way was to boot from my Snow Leopard clone.

And, just curious: why are you only suggesting cloud backups (seven times)?

As well, unless the OP had downloaded Mavericks previously, it has not been available to download since Yosemite was introduced.

I have tested this multiple times on different Mac computers, and it worked fantastic. I am suggesting the Cloud backups 7 times so he gets it and doesn't get angry at me for his files getting deleted.

<Edited by Host>

Please ignore the suggestion to download any OS from anywhere but the app store as that is the only legal source for it. Anything else will result in a pirated copy with possible unwanted add-ons such as adware/malware. As well, unless the tests were performed on 2009 or 2010 Macs which had Snow leopard installed, the results cannot be verified.

You claim you tested with a Mac that came with Snow Leopard originally and qualified for the EFI firmware update to allow Internet Recovery? And that you were able to reinstall Snow Leopard after it had El Capitan installed?

Are you able to boot the recovery mode using command-R. The recovery partition started with Lion, SL didn’t have it. So, the main question is did installing EI Capitan on your system can create a recovery partition. One of the easiest ways to check it is to try the boot. But, give a safe boot a shot might be helping you to stay with your EI Capitan. Also, it would be less troublesome if you could.

The recovery partition started with Lion, SL didn’t have it.

That is correct; however, certain older models were able to have their EFI firmware updated to allow internet recovery. That update is what causes the problem of not being able to reinstall the original OS (Snow Leopard).

Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery - Apple Support

iMac EFI Update 1.8

And, any full OS installer will create a recovery partition (as long as the Mac is compatible with it).