CATrost
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Mac OS X

Q: Can I revert back to Yosemite from El Capitan? If yes, how? Will it erase content off of my MacBook Pro?

Can I revert back to Yosemite from El Capitan? If yes, how? Will it erase content off of my MacBook Pro?

 

I don't know how to use Terminal and I need to be able to quickly and efficiently format memory cards such as SXS and CFast as well as external hard drives. El Capitan's Disk Utility doesn't give me the options I need like previous operating systems.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jun 12, 2016 9:14 PM

by leroydouglas,Apple recommended
leroydouglas leroydouglas
Level 7 (23,789 points)
Notebooks
A:

OS X El Capitan: Revert to a previous OS X version

Posted on Jun 12, 2016 9:42 PM

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Q: Can I revert back to Yosemite from El Capitan? If yes, how? Will it erase content off of my MacBook Pro?

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  • by leroydouglas,Apple recommended

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Jun 12, 2016 9:42 PM in response to CATrost
    Level 7 (23,789 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 12, 2016 9:42 PM in response to CATrost

    OS X El Capitan: Revert to a previous OS X version

  • by chroot,Apple recommended

    chroot chroot Jun 13, 2016 12:54 AM in response to CATrost
    Level 4 (1,099 points)
    Jun 13, 2016 12:54 AM in response to CATrost

    Restore from Time Machine backup that was created with Yosemite or erase and install through internet recovery.  Internet recovery will install the original operating system (if shipped with Lion or newer) then can be upgraded to Yosemite with the App Store.

     

    How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

     

     

    Alternatively, boot to internet recovery to use an older version of Disk Utility or create a bootable USB installer.  The bootable USB installer can also be used for an erase and install.  This will involve having to reboot the computer into recovery (or USB installer) to access an older version of Disk Utility but then you won't have to reinstall.

     

    Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jun 13, 2016 5:01 AM in response to CATrost
    Level 9 (50,358 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2016 5:01 AM in response to CATrost

    Will it erase content off of my MacBook Pro?

    Yes, anything you added or changed after your last backup would be lost unless you manually copy it to another hard drive to restore later.

    Changes to application databases will not be able to be restored if the new version was different than the old, like Mail.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jun 13, 2016 5:55 AM in response to CATrost
    Level 6 (10,497 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2016 5:55 AM in response to CATrost

    It is really REALLY simple, if you have a complete TimeMachine backup.

    The Yosemite is somewhere in October last year upgraded to ElCapitan as far as I remember.

    Not everything is downwads compatible as already stated, but that is no problem with a TM backup.

    When you are sure that your TM backup contains everything from before the ElCap backup (you can check that now, by TM->Enter TimeMachine->scroll back in time until the beginning of October 2015).

    1.  Connect the TM disk, if it is not already connected.

    2. Shutdown the Machine.

    3. Start Up while holding the CMD+R keys, it is s l o w, when you see the progress bar is started, you can let go of holding the 2 keys;

    4. When fully started there appears a window with a menu, start the "restore from TimeMachine"

    5. Indicate the TM disk, then point to the Startup Disk: It will first erase/format the Startup disk (that is why you must be sure that the TM disk has that period inside !!).

    6. Select the last backup on the TM disk, that has 10.10.5 on it (it is indicated in the time list), then go on

    7. All in all it will take some time, prepare...

    8. When ready it will startup in Yosemite.

    9. You will have to add all files that have a later date: Mail should be synced again when IMAP, or imported (not copied) into Mail when Pop, the same for some other apps (iPhoto, LTR,...), just files can be added by copying with Finder.

    ---

    If you have no TM disk, it is a more difficult process...