Virtual machines to run 32-bit apps via Mojave

Question

Level 1

9 points

Virtual machines to run 32-bit apps via Mojave

Hello all,

I recently upgraded from High Sierra to Catalina.

A number of critical apps for my work are 32-bit and are no longer supported. I am open to trying a virtual machine to run Mojave so that these apps work.

This article recommends Parallels and VMware Fusion: https://uk.pcmag.com/news-analysis/123012/how-to-run-32-bit-apps-in-macos-catalina

Both seem too expensive for my needs, so I am keen to explore open source alternatives. It seems Virtualbox could be a good fit: https://www.virtualbox.org/

Can Virtualbox run Mojave on Catalina?
My MacBook Air 2013 internal HD is 251gb, but only 26gb is available to use. Is this enough for installing and running Virtualbox and Mojave?
Can Virtualbox and Mojave be installed on an external HD? How would this affect performance?
Are there any other free or cheap virtual machines I should consider?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 5, 2020 6:13 AM

Reply

Answer 1

etresoft

Level 9

56,212 points

Apr 5, 2020 7:17 AM in response to Komodein

If it is critical to your work, then you need to spend the money. Critical and “free or cheap” is a recipe for disaster.

To answer your questions:

Of course. I do it virtually every day.
LOL no!
Sure. It would degrade performance.
None that you should consider 😄
Say, how much RAM does your MacBook Air 2013 have? 8 GB would be an absolute bare minimum to run a Mac VM and would seriously degrade performance.

Since you did bright up “critical work” you should be a bit concerned about that 7 year-old machine. Its days are numbered.

Reply

Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

215,196 points

Apr 5, 2020 11:59 AM in response to Komodein

An easier way to do that is to run an earlier system from an external SSD connected via USB 3. I use this setup with several bare SSD discs, High Sierra, Mojave and data discs:

I went with the adapter as it was much cheaper than an external case for each SSD and could easily swap out the bare SSDs. You can use anywhere from 250GB to 1TB SSDs, depending on what you need to do in the other system. And you can take it with you to another Mac if and when you upgrade.

Boot times on the external SSD are about 60 seconds and on my internal SSD about 30 seconds. Not a big difference.

Just some food for thought.

Reply

Answer 3

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 21, 2020 10:47 AM in response to dialabrain

I decided to wipe my HD and reinstall Mojave. Catalina was just to unstable.

Mojave happily running fine.

Reply

Answer 4

Apr 5, 2020 8:23 AM in response to Komodein

Komodein wrote:

Thanks leroydouglas.

effectively freelance and we're likely heading into an economic depression, so it's beyond my budget.

It's not always the case that paid versions are better.

VMware Fusion is £72 for a standalone app (i.e. not subscription), so maybe it's a good compromise between VirtualBox Terminal confusion and paid-for usability

VMware Fusion is going to be the same with an annual upgrade path—maybe you get to skip on version, and maybe not a subscription model.

I would encourage you to try the Virtual Box—if it does what you need—then the problem is solved.

Reply

Answer 5

Rudegar

Level 10

180,078 points

Apr 5, 2020 6:47 AM in response to Komodein

their forums has some stuff about it https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=95049

more

https://www.google.com/search?q=Can+Virtualbox+run+Mojave&oq=Can+Virtualbox+run+Mojave&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 5, 2020 7:37 AM in response to Komodein

Komodein wrote:

Hello all,

I recently upgraded from High Sierra to Catalina.

A number of critical apps for my work are 32-bit and are no longer supported.

This article recommends Parallels and VMware Fusion: https://uk.pcmag.com/news-analysis/123012/how-to-run-32-bit-apps-in-macos-catalina

Both seem too expensive for my needs, so I am keen to explore open source alternatives. It seems Virtualbox could be a good fit: https://www.virtualbox.org/1.

Never used Fushion howerver I used Paralles for over ten years—running XP, WIndows7, Windows8, Windows10 for cross platfom compatibility development.

Good software Parallels, however it is a money sink, with every annual macOS upgrade, Parallels is charging you to upgrade the software.

Free at last—I switched to VirtualBox and it does everything I need. I will never go back to Parallels.

Reply

Answer 7

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 5, 2020 7:38 AM in response to Rudegar

Hi Rudegear, thanks for those links.

To clarify, I have zero experience with Terminal, and the forum you linked to implies a fair amount of Terminal familiarity (to my eyes).

I guess this could be an opportunity to skill up, but could also be a time consuming route to frustration. Maybe a paid option is better for me.

I cross-posted this issue on another thread, where somebody replied saying I could install Mojave on an external HD ... i.e. without using a virtual machine to run apps (again, I think that's what they were saying): https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251236399

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Reply

Answer 8

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 5, 2020 7:52 AM in response to etresoft

Thanks etresoft.

I know my MacBook is nearing the end of its life, but I'm operating on a budget and keen to keep using it until its dysfunctionality becomes untenable.

It has 4GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM. The 32-bit apps I need to run are each very small and simple, with low RAM footprint I suspect. It's mainly apps related to text and document editing and manipulation (OCR; combining PDFs etc). We're not talking video editing or gaming or anything close.

Another option I am considering is deleting Catalina, wiping my internal HD, and reinstalling High Sierra: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251236399

However, Catalina's performance seems to have markedly improved with the 10.15.4 update, and I am wary about wiping my HD and reinstalling High Sierra, so I'm keen to explore virtual machines first.

Reply

Answer 9

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 5, 2020 7:50 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks leroydouglas.

That's my take as well: £62 per year for Parallels might be fine for SMEs, but I'm effectively freelance and we're likely heading into an economic depression, so it's beyond my budget.

I also have had good experience using certain open source apps before, including some of the 32-bit apps I want to retain. It's not always the case that paid versions are better.

VMware Fusion is £72 for a standalone app (i.e. not subscription), so maybe it's a good compromise between VirtualBox Terminal confusion and paid-for usability: https://store-uk.vmware.com/?Action%3Dhome%26Locale%3Den_GB%26SiteID%3Dvmwde

Reply

Answer 10

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 5, 2020 8:29 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks, you make a good point there.

I will re-read the comments here and see if it seems straightforward enough to attempt.

Oh, and in case you didn't spot it, I'm also considering this potential workaround ...

I cross-posted this issue on another thread, where somebody replied saying I could install Mojave on an external HD ... i.e. without using a virtual machine to run apps (again, I think that's what they were saying): https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251236399

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Reply

Answer 11

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 5, 2020 9:26 AM in response to Rudegar

Unfortunately the apps in question fall into two categories ...

The developer is pretty niche and is unlikely to announce a 64-bit version any time soon.
The developer has created a 64-bit version that lacks or amends key aspects of functionality that render it useless for my needs.

Reply

Answer 12

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 6, 2020 4:36 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks dialabrain.

Yes, it would make more sense to install Mojave given it supports 32-bit apps and is newer than High Sierra.

In the meantime I have been having issues updating Word 2016; the updater .pkg won't open as I get this error message ...

A quick google revealed that Pacifist could be a workaround: https://www.charlessoft.com/

After installing Pacifist, I noticed that one of the options is to "Open Apple Installers" ...

Would this be a simpler way to install Mojave on my external HD than the link you provided (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372)? As stated before, I am unfamiliar with Terminal and would prefer to avoid using it if possible.

Reply

Answer 13

dialabrain

Level 10

135,527 points

Apr 6, 2020 4:46 AM in response to Komodein

I don't use any Microsoft Officce products however if you right/control click on the updating Package and choose "Open" from the drop down menu, it should run.

FWIW, It's extremely simple to create the USB installers. You just have one line to copy and paste into the Terminal, press Return, type in your user password and press Return again.

Reply

Answer 14

Komodein Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 6, 2020 5:44 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks.

I have to use MS products to remain compatible with my colleagues.

I tried right-clicking the Word 2016 installer but it didn't work. Pacifist allowed me to eventually install, however. Curiously I noticed that I had two versions of Word 2016 installed; one in Applications (v15.30), and the other in Applications/MS Office (v15.15). Not sure what that's about but will delete v15.15.

Good to know that the Terminal coding is simple. That's next up ...

I do feel as though wiping my internal HD and reverting to Mojave is likely to be the best fit for my MacBook overall though. Performance seems to be dipping again in Catalina; only running a few apps and it is even wheezier than before. Battery life has also taken a hit it seems.

Reply

Answer 15

Tuco09

Level 1

116 points

Apr 6, 2020 6:04 AM in response to leroydouglas

Good Day;

AS Komodein stated , I have also run Parallels for years under a variety of OS. I use parallels to run windows apps that have no Mac equivalents. Works well but is a money sink. I have tried VirtualBox but cannot get it to work with my 27 inch screen properly. Parallels does allow me to stretch the screen as I wish.

Regards

Neil

Reply

Virtual machines to run 32-bit apps via Mojave

Similar questions