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Is it possible to install 10.6 on Mac Mini 2011

The Mac mini is delivered with 10.7, but is it also possible to install 10.6 to keep old applications running?

MacBook Pro, Mac mini,, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 22, 2011 6:24 AM

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18 replies

Jul 22, 2011 1:43 PM in response to Heiko

...And what is the reason do you need for the Mac mini specific drivers? ...

It's model specific drivers. Older versions of OSX may not include drivers for newer hardware, and so could cause issues with the first time you boot, even from a "pre-loaded" hard drive. There may be ways to install after the fact, but of course, this is not supported by Apple. Thus the general statement that you can only use a version of OSX the same or newer than what came with the computer originally.


IOW, maybe you can boot from a pre-loaded drive. Sometimes you can't without some additional work. Sometimes you can't at all. Since it's not supported by Apple, future updates to OSX won't be tested in those configurations. So some future update may "break" your computer. No guarantees.

Jul 23, 2011 1:57 AM in response to azdawg99

It seems to be, that the firmware didn't prevent it. Someone has started the new mini from a target mode booted MacBook. In the first test everything wars running without problems.

User uploaded file

I know it will never been supported by Apple, but it will help very much to have the possibility. I think the information that 10.6 will not official run on the new Mac mini will prevent a lot of professional people to buy this mini.

Jul 23, 2011 3:04 AM in response to Heiko

Easiest way to install 10.6 will be to do so via an early copy Snow Leopard DVD (try ebay) - obviously you'll need to connect a superdrive (or another disc drive) and then boot with the DVD in whilst hitting the alt key. I would do an erase and install (personal preference) so load disk utilities before installing SL proper, and reformat your MacMini HDD.


Before doing this though I would clone your existing hard drive on your mini using Carbon Copy Cloner or Superduper! so you can always go back to your current set up if required.

Jul 23, 2011 3:51 AM in response to Martin_UK

I think at the moment 10.6.8 is more stable than 10.7.0

The most Applications are still not tested on 10.7. I guarantee that there will be a lot of problems in the text weeks. Even the latest version of Adobe has some minor problems with Lion.


I need the Canon Utilities, but it seems that there is only a PowerPC version available.


You have also to buy upgrades for all of your software, also when you don't need the new features. I have changed from Quark 6.5 to InDesign. My old Quark version is no longer working therefore it will be never possible to open my old documents. To by a new version only to have the possibility to read old documents is to expensive.


What I will say is, that you have to care about, what you are doing when you are updating to a new version which makes such a cut like 10.7

Jul 23, 2011 11:43 AM in response to Martin_UK

Why on earth would you want to buy a new machine with a more capable OS and downgrade it to a less capable OS ?

At this moment in time, the question comes up because Lion removed Rosetta, which allowed you to run PPC apps. Developers "should" have been moving their apps to be Intel native, but some professionals may have expensive apps that would be financially difficult to purchase a newer version. Or the vendor didn't bother to update to Intel native. The biggest offender is Intuit with Quicken 2007 for Mac, which is PPC only. Intuit now has Quicken Essentials, which will run on Lion, but from all reports is quite a bit less capable than Quicken 2007. So many Quicken users that stayed with Quicken 2007 are scrambling to try to find a replacement.


The same questions were asked when Classic was removed from OSX. (Classic allowed you to run pre OSX apps.)

Jul 24, 2011 1:07 AM in response to Vestan Pance

Rosetta is not available in 10.7. It was dropped. Trying to open a PPC application in Lion will yield the following message "You can't open the application ApplicationName because PowerPC applications are no longer supported"


And it is not an option on the Customize screen in the Lion Installer

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/11789/how-to-install-os-x-lion-server/


There are plenty of reasons to run a new MacMini with 10.6.8. I'd imagine it will run fine as the Thunderbolt and SandyBridge kernel extensions are all in the 10.6.8 combo update. You would need a 10.6.8 install DVD, firewire clone to it or deploy a 10.6.8 image to it.

Jul 28, 2012 1:57 AM in response to Heiko

It is possible and a perfect way to use this excellent machine to run software made from 2001-2013:

You need:

- A Snow Leopard Retail disk (with the kitten up front), 10.6.3 preferably.

- A firewire cable

- A Mac running Snow Leopard

- Some files of the Lion install and save them on a USB stick for use in SL

This topic describes the details

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3209335

Here is a small manual (dutch) retreived from the 35 pages of the topic above:

http://www.onemorething.nl/community/topic/snow-leopard-op-een-mini-2011-zetten

Robot translation that seems quite readable

Aug 21, 2012 9:05 PM in response to Blanka

Here's another compelling reason for "downgrading" my "Brand New" refurbished Mac mini to Snow Leopard: Connecting to Microsoft Windows Server 2000 Server systems is no longer supported as of 10.7. Granted, W2000 Server is as ancient as the hills, but in the print shop where I work, there isn't a great deal of $ to throw at a new server. Also, our RIP manufacturer doesn't fully support Mac OS X Server running Mountain Lion yet. If we purchase a new Windows Server OS we also have to purchase ExtremeZ-IP in order for the Macs to be able to transfer files and work with that system. Almost another $800 on top of the cost of a new version of Windows Server OS. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place... So... I am back to the bad 'ol sneakernet days, only this time with Flash drives moving data files from my Mac to a Mac running 10.6.8 so I can copy them to our Win 2000 Server, in order for our RIP to be able to process them for output proofing/plating later on. BUMMER!!!


What a drag.

Is it possible to install 10.6 on Mac Mini 2011

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