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Installing an older OS over a more recent OS?

I need to rescue a film that was edited in FCP7. The only way to open FCP7 projects is to have a computer running on High Sierra, install 'Retroactive', install FCP7.

I have a second computer running on OS Big Sur. I want to install High Sierra. The installer for High Sierra won't work on OS Big Sur. So I can't install High Sierra.

Has anyone got an idea of how I could do this? Do I need to do a clean wipe? Is there a way, if I have to do a clean wipe, that I can just back up my own documents etc., not the whole drive?

All ears ... Ben

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Dec 23, 2022 5:05 PM

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HWTech

Community+ 2026

Level 9

75,492 points

Posted on Dec 23, 2022 6:26 PM

If this computer is capable of running macOS 10.13 High Sierra, then you have two good options. You can try to install macOS 10.13 into a Virtual Machine (VM) such as Parallels, or you can install macOS 10.13 to an external USB 3 SSD. The latter will have better performance than running macOS in a VM. It all depends on what you need to do with FCP.

I don't recommend installing macOS to another partition or even APFS volume on the internal boot drive because it makes things complicated, but installing macOS into another APFS volume is better than creating another partition.

No matter which option you choose, you should make sure to have a good backup before doing anything just in case something goes wrong.

What is the exact model of the computer where you want to run macOS 10.13? You can get this information by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac". If your computer shipped with macOS 10.14+, then you cannot install macOS 10.13 on bare metal, so installing macOS 10.13 into a VM is your only option.

I've never used FCP, but another option may be to see if you can convert those older projects into a later version of FCP which is compatible with Big Sur so you don't need to run two different versions of macOS.

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25 replies

Dec 29, 2022 5:24 PM in response to Ben Low

I've never installed any version of FCP as that support was left to others in our organization. Usually a license is associated with the original purchase of a product and update patches utilize the original product license automatically. However, if a separate digital purchase was later made, then that license will be unique to itself. However, every proprietary product has its own rules regarding licensing, with some of them being very strict...license is only allowed to be used once, etc. Some products must be authorized with an online connection, but many times the product authentication servers are taken offline after many years.

When it comes to proprietary software licenses & product keys, it is very important to keep all records and correspondence...best to print out any important information to be safe. It may even be good to write some notes regarding installation, and installation of patches (including version numbers). While it seems simple at the time, trying to start over 10 years later to reproduce the setup can be challenging....I've encountered this myself. I personally try to keep every downloaded update patch stored in a backup just to make sure I always have it, unfortunately not always an option when updates are installed automatically.

You may want to search the FCP forum and create a new thread there specifically in regards to reinstalling FCP if you cannot find an answer:

Final Cut Pro - Apple Community

Ben Low Author

Level 1

112 points

Dec 29, 2022 7:38 PM in response to HWTech

Dear HWTech,

I managed to get a copy of FCP Studio 3 from some obscure Czechoslovakian site. I managed to borrow a 2014 MacBook Pro with High Sierra installed. I downloaded and installed Retrospective (a great app). Everything installed beautifully. But. I've owned FCP since its every first iteration; meaning my 'original' license number has been added to by at least 6 or 7 update licenses. I had the last 'update' license. But FCP won't allow me to open itself unless I have the original purchase license ... which I think dates back to the 1990's ... and which is in storage a continent away.

I got hold of a purchased version of FCP Studio 3, used the 'purchase' license ... and the FCP7 I'd already installed was happy to accept the new 'purchase' license.

All of the above to say ... I'm able to load the film files I was missing and then able to XML export them all over to FCPX. And finish, the universe willing, my film.

And, for the record, as per your good advice, I've been keeping a very detailed record of all hardware and apps purchased over the last 5 years at least. And I do have a record of the original purchased FCP, and all the updates over the years ... only it's in storage.

All the best HWTech, and a most Happy and Prosperous New Year ...

Ben

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 26, 2022 4:42 PM in response to Ben Low

Have you tried these?

https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 26, 2022 6:08 PM in response to Ben Low

Look for the Install MacsOS High Sierra.app in Applications .

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 26, 2022 7:56 PM in response to Ben Low

Whew!

Ben Low Author

Level 1

112 points

Dec 26, 2022 8:17 PM in response to BDAqua

I second that. A double whew!

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 26, 2022 8:57 PM in response to Ben Low

The get doesn't get you a DMG just an APP.

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 27, 2022 3:05 PM in response to Ben Low

Dang... I forgot about the external drive thing on 2019+ Macs, but thanks for the report my friend. :)

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 27, 2022 3:16 PM in response to Ben Low

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Dec 29, 2022 7:44 PM in response to Ben Low

Whew!

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Installing an older OS over a more recent OS?