Using Time Machine to Restore an Older Version of OS X

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Using Time Machine to Restore an Older Version of OS X

My late 2011 MBP just died, and I have it all backed up to a Time Machine drive. I want to buy a new MacBook Pro, but I am hesitant because of the price, the touch bar, keyboard, and I'm worried that my old hardware (audio interface, drawing tablet, etc.) and software (CS5) will no longer work with a new MacBook Pro and the current operating system (I was running El Capitan at the time).

My question is: If I restore my old MBP from the Time Machine drive to a separate partition on the new MBP, can I run my old operating system (El Capitan) on that partition and the most recent version of OS X on another partition on that same drive?

...And in doing so, my old hardware and software should still work within the El Capitan partition right?

Or are there other comparability issues that might come into play?

Please help if you can! I really appreciate the community here, and your time.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Dec 8, 2019 8:37 AM

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Answer 1

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Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Dec 8, 2019 10:03 AM in response to WM3E

No if you buy a new Mac with macOS Catalina on it you will not be able to run El Capitan on it.

You cannot run or install older OS's than the one the Mac came with.

What happened to your older Mac, it probably was just the hard drive that failed and you should be able to replace that fairly easily.

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Answer 2

WM3E Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 8, 2019 11:36 AM in response to Eau Rouge

As far as I know (at least based upon diagnosis I received so far), it has something to do with the graphics card (red lines going horizontally across the screen, freezes on grey screen on startup, if it does start usually shuts off suddenly without warning). I took it to Apple and to the macbench and they both told me that because it was a late 2011, that they would not be able to repair it because it is obsolete.

I've been looking into repairs elsewhere (even out of state) and haven't had any luck. If you have any advice for me, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks for your time and prompt responses!

It has been repaired once before for free as part of their recall. Whole logic board replaced and new battery.

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Using Time Machine to Restore an Older Version of OS X

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