Going back to Sierra

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SteveB9999 Author

Level 1

4 points

Going back to Sierra

Have a (slow) working iMac 21.5 inch late 2012 currently

running Mojave 10.14.6. Have long since stopped further OS updates as my

Adobe CS 5.5 apps now frequently crash with the newer OS. Need to move

back to Sierra to allow Photoshop and InDesign to work properly but

Apple has removed it from its free downloads to make a bootable

installer. I can resort to downgrading to the OS that shipped with the

machine - OS X Mountain Lion, but I guess if I do that I will not be

able to upgrade ONLY as far as Sierra, it will probably only offer the

upgrade straight through to Catalina, making my situation even worse. So

I can either then, carry on with a really ancient OS Mountain

Lion or buy a bootable drive with Sierra on ebay. What would you

advise? Second question, I have been told if I have to first wipe my

machine clean, then using Time Machine to put everything back would also

bring back my current Mojave OS at the same time, thus defeating the

whole objective, is that true?

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Dec 13, 2023 9:05 AM

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Answer 1

MartinR

Level 7

25,874 points

Dec 13, 2023 10:07 AM in response to SteveB9999

Sierra can still be downloaded from this Apple Support page -> How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

However, there is another problem. Activation of CS6 & earlier versions including 5.5 was discontinued by Adobe some time ago, so even if you reinstall CS5.5 you probably won't be able to activate it. You could check with Adobe Support about this but I wouldn't expect a positive answer.

If you wipe your drive and then use TM to restore, yes, you would be restoring Mojave along with everything else.

Frankly, it's time to move beyond a 13 year old Mac & apps whose support ended 6 years ago. You "could" install Catalina on your late 2012 iMac, possibly even adding RAM & replacing the HDD with an SSD, to bump its performance and extend its life. But even then, regarding PS & InDesign, while the CC versions do run on Catalina they can no longer be installed on Catalina.

And as an aside, unless you have specific requirements to stick with PS & InD, you might consider switching to Affinity Photo & Designer but don't wait too much longer because even they may fall off support on Catalina late next year.

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Answer 2

Dec 14, 2023 3:28 AM in response to MartinR

MartinR wrote:

However, there is another problem. Activation of CS6 & earlier versions including 5.5 was discontinued by Adobe some time ago, so even if you reinstall CS5.5 you probably won't be able to activate it. You could check with Adobe Support about this but I wouldn't expect a positive answer.

The joys of DRM – a.k.a. intentional, artificial incompatibility!

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

149,188 points

Dec 13, 2023 11:01 AM in response to SteveB9999

+1 , it's time for a new Mac and time to belly up to the bar and upgrade your Adobe use. Yes, we know you likely don't want to pay a subscription fee however that is the way some developers are moving. Alternately, simply move away from Adobe apps and find third party solution/substitutes that don't use a subscription model.

The longer you attempt to stay with an old Mac and old software the more difficult and expensive it will be for you when you have a fatal hardware or software failure. In short, with technology it's wise for your mental well being to attempt to stay as current as possible.

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Answer 4

SteveB9999 Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 14, 2023 2:45 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks for confirming that Time Machine would restore Mojave, and the Affinity suggestion.

Regarding my belly....I have already purchased a new 2023 iMac £1,799.

My late 2012 machine in question was purchased from Apple late 2013, so actually not 13 years old, more like 10. Imagine buying a new 2023 car then when reselling you are told its one year older than you thought!

So the objective here is to continue using my old iMac purely for my occasional use of Photoshop and InDesign CS5.5, cannot justify the subscription fee. I can then clear most of the other 'stuff' off the machine, as it is rather full, (I have migrated to my new iMac) probably then allowing it to speed up as a consequence. Using Safari on my new machine has allowed me to download Sierra, you are quite correct, again thanks.

Not being able to re-activate CS 5.5 is something that had not occurred to me, thanks for that too. I do have another iMac 5 which still works I believe, but one of Apple's faulty models where the screen deteriorates making it useless within a very few years. I was able to migrate from it when I bought my iMac in 2013 without having to re-activate anything. As far as I can see I have two choices, first, using the 'shift, alt, command, R' method to reinstall the original OS that shipped with the machine and stay with that OS, but I do not know if it requires or produces a clean wipe? The second, I commit a clean wipe and re-install from my downloaded OS Sierra OS, hoping I can migrate from my iMac 5 to get back working CS 5.5. I hope I have explained my dilemma sufficiently so one of you experienced experts can comment.

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Answer 5

Dec 14, 2023 3:05 AM in response to SteveB9999

Note that Affinity once sold versions of their applications that ran on Sierra, High Sierra, and Mojave, but no longer do. The minimum requirement for the Affinity V2 applications is Catalina or later.

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Going back to Sierra

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