Andrew Wolczyk

Q: Can I still download Mavericks?

I work in an office environment and administer over 20 macs. We've got a few machines that run Mavericks and a few that run Lion. Withe the release of Yosemite last week, I gather Lion is no longer supported, so I wanted to upgrade but as Yosemite hasn't been tested in our environment, I wanted to take all the machines to Mavericks, but it doesn't seem to be available. Is there anywhere that I can still download that installer?

Posted on Oct 20, 2014 5:01 AM

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Q: Can I still download Mavericks?

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  • by Eric Feigenson,

    Eric Feigenson Eric Feigenson Jan 12, 2016 8:49 PM in response to MaryL42
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2016 8:49 PM in response to MaryL42

    To add to the Thread That Won't Die   Happy Mavericks 2016!

     

    I also needed to get a copy of Mavericks to install on a  new SSD.  I have a copy of the installer somewhere, but can't find it.  I went to the App Store, and it was listed (since I had downloaded it once before long, long ago), but as others have mentioned, the "Download" button just turned a dark grey when I clicked it, the gear in the window frame started spinning for a while, then I got an error "Unknown error'.  I love those.

     

    The fix?  I disabled my VPN, now it's downloading like a champ... though slowly... but I'll take it!

     

    Hopefully this might help someone else.

     

    -Eric

  • by zakeus,

    zakeus zakeus Jan 23, 2016 3:40 PM in response to Eric Feigenson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2016 3:40 PM in response to Eric Feigenson

    Hi Eric, as unconvincing I may sound. I bought a Mac Desktop from a craglist buyer for 200 in Atlanta not knowing anything about him deleting and cleaning the whole hard drive. I'm a new Apple user. I have never downloaded Mavericks, Is there anyway I could use your Apple Id only to download the Mavericks? If not, trust me I understand.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jan 23, 2016 3:52 PM in response to zakeus
    Level 6 (13,852 points)
    iPad
    Jan 23, 2016 3:52 PM in response to zakeus

    You would need the user's Apple ID and password, which no one should ever give to anyone else.

     

    Please start your own new thread post and tell us everthing about this Mac you purchased off of Craigslist.

    You might find this info either on the back of the Mac or on the bottom of this Mac in question.

    That way you can be properly advised about what version/s of OS X can be installed on your newly acquired Mac.

     

    Thank You.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Jan 23, 2016 4:33 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 5 (7,552 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 23, 2016 4:33 PM in response to MichelPM

    If you can find the serial number enter it here…

    https://checkcoverage.apple.com/

    You should get model info back, that may tell you if the Mac supports 'Internet recovery mode'. If not you would need to look at everymac.com or find the model info on Apple.com. That page links to instructions for finding the serial numbers.

     

    Try booting with a wifi or ethernet connection if available. Hold 'cmd+alt+R' as you power on. It may take a while to download, but that may boot to internet recovery (it can take many minutes so try a few times). In internet recovery mode you can download the OS that the Mac shipped with, from there you can install newer OS's via your own Apple ID. The download is many GB's so be aware of that if you have a limited connection.

     

    Not all Macs support Internet recovery, see this if you can work out the model.

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

     

    Avoid using another users Apple ID - it can leave you unable to install updates & violates the agreement…

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Jan 23, 2016 5:33 PM in response to zakeus
    Level 7 (32,056 points)
    iPad
    Jan 23, 2016 5:33 PM in response to zakeus

    Is there anyway I could use your Apple Id only to download the Mavericks?

     

    Just to add emphasis: You would not want to do it - as the license for the OS is not transferable, it would also result in you running a pirated copy of the OS.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jan 23, 2016 7:16 PM in response to zakeus
    Level 6 (19,479 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2016 7:16 PM in response to zakeus

    zakeus wrote:

     

    Hi Eric, as unconvincing I may sound. I bought a Mac Desktop from a craglist buyer for 200 in Atlanta not knowing anything about him deleting and cleaning the whole hard drive. I'm a new Apple user. I have never downloaded Mavericks, Is there anyway I could use your Apple Id only to download the Mavericks? If not, trust me I understand.

    No way should anyone give your their Apple ID so you can download an OS X version.  Nor should you accept an OS X installer from a source other than Apple, as you do not know how it has been modified (they have been known to be preloaded with malware), plus the installer is signed with the Apple ID of the person that downloaded it.

     

    Depending on the Mac model, it is very possible you can use Internet Recovery - Boot holding Command+Option+R

    <http://osxdaily.com/2014/12/14/reinstall-os-x-mac-internet-recovery/>

     

    You could also make a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store and they should help you install OS X.  They might even help you install Mavericks (10.9), HOWEVER, if you can run Mavericks, you can run El Capitan (10.11), which is the current release.


    Finally, if you are new to Macs, then PLEASE do not treat your Mac like Windows.  Please DO NOT start installing anti-virus, please do not start installing Mac cleaner/maintenance utilities, please do not install performance enhancing utilities.  They all then to cause more problems then they solve, and often cause you to come back to the forums seeking more help that you could have avoided by not installing this class of software.

  • by msatt,

    msatt msatt Apr 6, 2016 10:10 AM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 10:10 AM in response to BobHarris

    This thread has answered all the ways to download Mavericks if you already purchased it or if you purchased a mac with Mavericks on it. But what about those of us that never downloaded it or purchased a mac running it?

     

    Does anyone know if apple plans on ever releasing Mavericks again for download or do they plan on eventually selling it on a USB drive or a disk?

     

    I would like a copy and since I never installed or downloaded it there is no option for me to get it.

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Apr 6, 2016 10:17 AM in response to msatt
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2016 10:17 AM in response to msatt

    The only possibility (that is said to sometimes, but not always work), is to go to an Apple store and request a copy of the older free versions of OS X. Don't count on it, though.

  • by msatt,

    msatt msatt Apr 6, 2016 11:10 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 11:10 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Oh great... so for me to get this OSX it comes down to the wims of an individual employee. Apple needs to fix this.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Apr 6, 2016 11:22 AM in response to msatt
    Level 6 (19,479 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2016 11:22 AM in response to msatt

    msatt wrote:

    Oh great... so for me to get this OSX it comes down to the wims of an individual employee. Apple needs to fix this.

    So what is wrong with El Capitan?  It is Free.  It is available.  It works nicely for a lot of us, as long as we do not put performance degrading 3rd party additions that make claims to secure or improve our Macs, because they don't really.

     

    As for going to an Apple Store, you will not know until you try.  And if you have a compelling reason, the Apple Stores can be very flexible.  If they are very busy, you can always ask if there is a better, less busy time to come back and get Mavericks.

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Apr 6, 2016 11:23 AM in response to msatt
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2016 11:23 AM in response to msatt

    Sorry, but that's Apple's decision. No one knows why Apple pulls each previous free version of OS X when the next one comes out. It's been asked many times, and Apple won't say. It's particularly aggravating to users who have decided to move up a couple or three major release versions in one move, only to find software they rely on won't run under El Capitan, but learn that it runs fine under Mavericks/Yosemite, which they can no longer get.

     

    The only safety net for the user is to download each major version of OS X as it is released, but not necessarily install it. Then it's in your list of App Store purchases and can be retrieved at any future point.

  • by msatt,

    msatt msatt Apr 6, 2016 12:23 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 12:23 PM in response to BobHarris

    My machine is to old to run it. I believe it will run Mavericks and that is as high as it will go.

     

    To my knowledge I haven't been to a mall with an apple store in years. The mall in my town does not have one, and I don't plan on making a special trip over an hour away to maybe get software. I guess Mountain Lion will have to do unless Apple starts to offer it or sell it again.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Apr 6, 2016 12:51 PM in response to msatt
    Level 6 (19,479 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2016 12:51 PM in response to msatt

    Any Mac that can run Mavericks can run El Capitan.

     

    If a Mac is too old to run El Capitan, it cannot run Mavericks.  And in that case Lion 10.7 is most likely the newest version it can run.  Lion is still available for sale ($20 US) from the App Store.

     

    The System Requirements for Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, and El Capitan are identical.

  • by msatt,

    msatt msatt Apr 6, 2016 1:16 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 1:16 PM in response to BobHarris

    This clears things up for me... I indeed can only run Lion (I already purchased it) I have a 2007 Mac mini.

     

    I must have read the tech specs wrong. A 2007 imac will run Mavericks, but a 2007 Mac mini will not. Thanks!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Apr 6, 2016 1:27 PM in response to msatt
    Level 6 (14,362 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 6, 2016 1:27 PM in response to msatt

    You may be able to purchase a download code or otherwise directly get a copy of Mavericks full installer

    from Apple support, although perhaps not; some computing hardware cannot fully use the newest OS X.

     

    As various users attest, there are issues in certain models where their upgrade is limited in hardware so

    the full functionality just isn't there in a newer version. And of course, some costly third-party software

    may not have been upgraded to run in the newest OS X; or may require a new major investment to do so.

     

    If you can determine ahead of a visit to an retail Store with a Genius, that they could in fact be of help,

    then a trip may be worth the trouble. A support tech may have a means of applying a replacement 10.9

    OS X version that does not have an AppleID associated with the file; or may have a 'tech ID' for this use.

     

    {And to get a used computer, such as those I've seen on craigslist, with screenshots of El Capitan running

    and a new hard drive installed, have no original Recovery partition to attempt to retrieve Mavericks.}

     

    Some graphics cards and other hardware are marginal past 10.10, or 10.9.5. Among those, Mac Mini

    has more than a few issues even with the Late 2012; while a firmware update may help those, none yet.

    Without Yosemite available as intermediate step, those going from 10.9.5 to 10.11.x found troubles there.

     

    To be able to purchase a special version flash USB of these older OS X versions to include with an older

    Mac when it goes into the used resale market, would be a fair idea; since no telling what may be available

    at the Mac App Store in five to seven years. I'd like an offline option to restore an OS X when there are no

    system discs, to prepare a Mac for a new owner or reuse. Not everyone has great bandwidth or fair internet.

    And once an older computer gets so far along, for some it's better to leave them at a 'standalone' status.

     

    edited 4x due to network issue & interference here

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