Dane0225

Q: How to downgrade from OS X El Capitan to OS X Lion

Well I have a MacBook 13-inch (Mid 2009) and it is currently running in OS X Lion 10.7.5


I decided to download some apps and the Mac App Store said " Download Fail, Upgrade to OS X 10.11.2 "

So I Update the MacBook to OS X El Capitan ( 10.11.2 )

The download and update of OS X El Capitan was good and is said " Done after 26 " mimutes. After 26 minutes the screen turned grey and showed error log....


It shows A Button with Shut Down, Restart and Show Log

I rebooted the MacBook and kept going to OS X Utility

How do I fix this, I don't have a Time Machine Back-Up neither, I don't know how to make USB stick, How do I get out of it

How do I return to OS X Lion

Please help me, I don't want to end up having a BRICKED Mac

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Aug 22, 2016 5:48 PM

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Q: How to downgrade from OS X El Capitan to OS X Lion

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 23, 2016 12:50 AM in response to Dane0225
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 23, 2016 12:50 AM in response to Dane0225

    There are a few conflicting things going on there.

     

    Your model may or may not sustain Internet Recovery.

    The purchase of a download of OS X Lion 10.7 requires

    access and download from the Mac App Store. You can

    only buy a redemption code that works in the App Store

    if you didn't already have a backup clone or other.

     

    If the computer had been upgraded to at least Snow Leopard

    10.6.8 to be able to use the Mac App Store in conjunction

    with a separate two-step purchase (to buy redemption code)
    and then download the 10.7 system by use of that code, from

    the Mac App Store, you then could re-download OS X 10.7

    from a computer running 10.6.8 via the Mac App Store and

    your AppleID associated 'purchases'.

     

    So if you can restore the computer to Snow Leopard (to 10.6.8)

    it may be able to go to the Mac App Store and you can login

    with your AppleID to see your purchases, and maybe try to see

    if you can re-download the Lion 10.7 system; look to see if you

    still have the redemption code otherwise it may not be available.

     

    You cannot use the links provided in the other reply unless you

    can run the computer in Snow Leopard 10.6.8. To have and use

    external hard disk drives, full system clones as backup, and also

    consider different backup for Time Machine use, are worth doing.

     

    Sorry to not have any easy answer; and since I haven't any idea

    of what your capabilities or available older install discs, you have

    to figure perhaps an Apple store genius bar may be in your future.

    If you wish to go there, or even have an option; get an appointment.

     

    Good luck in any event...!

  • by Dane0225,

    Dane0225 Dane0225 Aug 23, 2016 12:51 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 23, 2016 12:51 AM in response to K Shaffer

    HOw do i get the snow leopard

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 23, 2016 3:30 AM in response to Dane0225
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 23, 2016 3:30 AM in response to Dane0225

    Without knowing the exact date of the years the Mid 2009 MacBook

    13-inch computer was shipped to retail, to get the correct OS X DVD

    from Apple would require you to call the Applecare or sales support

    and see if you can get a replacement.

     

    See link below, to find Snow Leopard retail 10.6.3 DVD at online Apple.

     

    {Your computer may have shipped with a model-specific Snow Leopard

    version on DVD -- if so-- that would be the correct one & a better deal.

    Thus, to call them direct to ask, with your Mac serial number & payment

    method (credit card) and valid address of record, to get physical media.}

     

    By telling the systems expert at the Applecare or sales support main

    phone service (see Apple site, contact Apple; if not in the US, see

    the links in the Apple site you use to visit here) to ask them if you

    can get the correct replacement; either by ordering retail 10.6.3

    Snow Leopard DVD, or if your computer actually did ship with a

    version of Snow Leopard on grey installer DVD media -- that would

    mean that disc is an official part number -- I cannot tell, but Apple

    sales support or Apple online main phone links may help you get it.

     

    Your computer may have shipped with any one of the systems available

    during the production run. According to http://mactracker.ca database

    (download/application) they cite the systems as what yours may have:

     

    Original OS    Mac OS X 10.5.7 (9J61) - 'Leopard' build. mid-2009 only

    Later OS    Mac OS X 10.6 (10A432) - 'Snow Leopard' build. mid-2009 only

     

    The appropriate 'original replacement software' would include those native

    applications that the computer shipped with, when new. (The Retail 10.6.3

    Snow Leopard only has the OS X and none of the complementary apps.)

     

    So until you know what OS X it shipped with, new, the path is a guesswork

    since if you did happen to ask about original system installer discs, and it

    came up as having shipped with Leopard 10.5.7, that won't get you there.

     

    • Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple:

    https://www.apple.com/contact/

     

    You'd then still need to buy a retail Snow Leopard 10.6.3 DVD from Apple

    store online, and then after installing it, update to the last step, 10.6.8. At

    that point could you log into the Mac App Store to see if you could find

    evidence of the Lion 10.7 OS X you would have had to of bought online

    as mentioned, with a redemption code sent to you via email, to use in the

    online Mac App Store to enable download of the Lion system 10.7.

     

    Since you have to contact the Apple Store online anyway, to either get a

    replacement system disc set (especially if it shipped with Snow Leopard)

    or to buy a retail OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard install disc; you should call

    the online main Store number, perhaps the sales or applecare. Be sure to

    have a payment method; and also have the MacBook serial number so

    the Apple systems expert can check on the correct disc set.

     

    If the original software kit was Leopard 10.5.7, no point in going there if

    you need 10.6. replacement system DVD or later retail 10.6.3 install DVD.

    You may or may not have fair experience with using the phone for this, as

    some of the staff may not be familiar with these fringe older models.

     

    An Apple store online page from which to order the retail 10.6.3 DVD:

    • Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple online:

    http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

     

    If you get an OS X 10.6 or 10.6.3 system on correct installer DVD, the update

    to have the final step in Snow Leopard, and access Mac App Store, is 10.6.8:

    • Download 'combo update' for already installed Snow Leopard from DVD:

    Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

     

    For the cost to get Lion 10.7, you could order Mountain Lion 10.8; it is a better

    older system than Lion 10.7 and it cost the same. To get anything newer than

    10.6.8 you need to access the Mac App Store and use your AppleID to login.

    That is where several steps may be avoided if your MacBook model had 10.6.

     

    "You can buy online, chat, or call (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753),

    7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central time." - Apple US

     

    Another way to tell which OS X version your serial numbered MacBook 13-inch

    Mid 2009 model may have shipped with, is to use this page and enter the S.N.

    to see what comes up under Details...

    • Mac Serial Number info - Lookup your Apple by serial number:

    https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

     

    Hopefully the effort isn't too far to go. You should have original DVD media

    to then most easily tell what not to buy, if you have the grey label MacBook

    13-inch media kit it shipped with, and the label says the version 10.6 above

    then that would be it. Then a next step after install, would be 10.6.8 update.

    {But that update won't work with the original 10.5.7 system disc.}

     

    You could try & see if the computer may start up from OS X Recovery, if it was

    installed in the computer at some point. If so, then you could use OS X Utilities

    menu to attempt to go from that point forward. -- It would not bring back 10.7.5.

     

    • About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

     

    • Apple OS X and Time Machine Tips (also recovery info)

    http://www.pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

     

    Most/all App Store titles new, now, would not work on old 10.7.5 OS X.

    Before you download & try to install any App it is good to read details.

     

    If you happen to be where it may be next to impossible to get a physical install

    DVD for Snow Leopard or a grey-label replacement system disc kit for your Mac

    - you may be able to contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or perhaps

    if there is an official Apple retail store with Genius bar, you may ask an expert if

    they could help you get the correct system installed, to access online App Store.

     

     

    • Apple - Find Locations - country selector:

    https://locate.apple.com/country

     

    Good luck in any event...!

  • by OGELTHORPE,Helpful

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Aug 23, 2016 10:53 PM in response to Dane0225
    Level 9 (52,084 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 23, 2016 10:53 PM in response to Dane0225

    Dane0225 wrote:

    I rebooted the MacBook and kept going to OS X Utility

     

    Is this the menu that you get?

    Screen Shot 2015-07-17 at 5.42.23 AM.png

    If so, what OSX does it show? 

  • by Dane0225,

    Dane0225 Dane0225 Aug 23, 2016 10:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 23, 2016 10:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    it shows OS X El Capitan

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Aug 24, 2016 4:28 AM in response to Dane0225
    Level 9 (52,084 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 24, 2016 4:28 AM in response to Dane0225

    If you have had Lion OSX installed on your Mac, there should be an entry for Lion OSX  in your App Store account.

     

    You can use two approaches:  Make a Lion installer using instruction such as these:

     

    http://diskmakerx.com/

     

    Then erase the HDD and install Lion.

     

    Or you can use a formatted external HDD (Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and install Lion OSX on that disk.  Then you can swap that disk in place of the current HDD or erase the current HDD and clone the external HDD to the internal one.

     

    Note: before you do any of these options, backup your data first.

     

    Ciao.