MacOS 10.8 Mountain Lion can't connect to external services (App Store, iLok, Avid, etc)

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Level 1

4 points

MacOS 10.8 Mountain Lion can't connect to external services (App Store, iLok, Avid, etc)

Hello there,

I have an old Mac Pro 4.1 with MacOS 10.8 Mountain Lion installed. It is a fresh installation - it was an old system and I wanted to make a hard clean-up of it. I thought this would fix the issue as described in the title, but it still persists. Namely - I can't connect to any app-related network service. What I mean by that - I have Internet connectivity, the browser works just fine. However, all the programs such as iTunes, App Store, and most importantly: iLok Manager and Pro Tools - all throw "server unreachable" messages (in Pro Tools it's where I am trying to browse anything related to my Avid account).

My network setup is just plain router and Ethernet cables; still, I have checked the router's configuration to make sure. I have also checked another networks such as mobile hotspot from my phone, all with the same result. My guess is that I have some setting missing perhaps? Or network component set up in some old way. I tried all the fixes found on the Internet, such as clearing caches or databases of App Store, some proxy settings in the Internet options, but without any luck.

I would highly appreciate all the help - I have spent quite a few hours trying to fix this by myself, which only ended up with so high frustration...

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Sep 13, 2023 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

★ Helpful

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

125,344 points

Sep 13, 2023 7:28 AM in response to ksmm

SSL to TLS:

In 2015, researchers discovered that Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Internet encryption was not nearly as secure as was thought, and needed to be replaced. Internet encryption quickly moved to Transport Layer Security (TLS) which was rapidly deployed across the Internet. Over time, sites tightened requirements for what was acceptable for encryption.

Apple issued Safari version 9 in 10.11 El Capitan version of MacOS, which included TLS encryption. It was later provided by retro-fit into the two previous versions of MacOS as a Security update. 10.10 Yosemite and 10.9 Mavericks, PROVIDED you applied all available software updates.

MacOS versions older than those can not make a lot of secure [httpS:] connections on the Internet, because by todays standard, your proffered SSL encryption is considered inadequate.

Mac Pro 4,1 42 lb silver tower is supported to run 10.11 El Capitan.

MacBook Ppro 4,1 from 2008 can run 10.11 El Capitan if it has at least 4 GB or RAM. 6GB is possible, but requires just the right chips.

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Answer 2

ksmm Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 13, 2023 7:37 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hello,

thank you for your reply. I had a feeling it is some security/encryption problem. However, I am kind of stuck with MacOS 10.8 Mountain Lion - it's the latest MacOS version supported by my Pro Tools 10.3.10... Otherwise I would install the newest MacOS supported by my Mac Pro 4.1 (or even higher, as I've read it might just work)

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Answer 3

Sep 13, 2023 8:02 AM in response to ksmm

You may Not be 'stuck' at 10.8.5.

Make a full backup before you begin.

Your Mac has multiple drive bays. Install a very similar system on another drive. Then Upgrade the macOS on that drive (carrying pro tools along) to 10.9 Mavericks, then apply all software updates and you should get Safari 9.

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Answer 4

ksmm Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 13, 2023 8:06 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you! I will try that and let you know if it worked :)

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Answer 5

Sep 19, 2023 10:23 AM in response to ksmm

I cannot believe that i'm having a similar issue to this with Mountain Lion.

Mine is on a Mac Mini that bought for a specific task as my trusty old iMac 27 2011 failed fatally, but I cannot get beyond Mountain Lion for the same reason.

In a word or two, am I screwed. I can't even access the pages on Apple to get the security updates.

Am I wasting my time trying with this or could there be light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you

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Answer 6

Sep 19, 2023 11:19 AM in response to Speedbird1

when running 10.8.5, you should be attempting to get your updates through

 menu > software update

Use the Mac App Store to look for upgrades.

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Answer 7

ksmm Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 19, 2023 11:54 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

In my case, this options from the menu opens App Store, which then says that it can't connect. So I can't receive any updates/upgrades. I have been able to list updates and execute them via the CLI and the "softwareupdate" command; however, the list was very short and it did not fix App Store.

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Answer 8

Sep 19, 2023 2:37 PM in response to ksmm

Is your system Time correct within five minutes?

http://time.is

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Answer 9

Sep 19, 2023 6:55 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

if your time is correct, can you get access to this article?

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

If you can, it suggests you can use a web browser to click the links in the "use a web browser" section of the article for MacOS links and download a .dmg file on a Mac that could run MacOS 10.7, 10.8, 10.10, 10.11 or 10.12. [but not NOT 10.9]

the dmg file opens a pkg file. the pkg file runs and places the Installer image in the System Folder. Double-clicking the installer image in the System Folder will start the install.

But if you CAN'T read that article, post back and readers can post an immediate-download link for 10.11 El Capitan for you to use instead.

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