mikethebook

Q: Can I install Snow Leopard on the new Mac Mini

I would like to upgrade from my Mac Mini 2009 (2.26 Ghz with Snow Leopard) to the new Mac Mini just released which will come with Lion. However, I would prefer to run Snow Leopard. Are there any ways to install Snow Leopard on the new machine?

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jul 25, 2011 3:01 AM

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Q: Can I install Snow Leopard on the new Mac Mini

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  • by newfoundglory,

    newfoundglory newfoundglory Mar 11, 2012 12:10 PM in response to Mac7d
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    Mar 11, 2012 12:10 PM in response to Mac7d

    Well, as promised here it is... http://www.mediafire.com/?dckrq0s56ldusb7

     

    NOTE: Can ONLY be installed on 10.6.8 - also requires testing (from people on here) to verify that it works.

     

    What does the package do?

    1.  It runs launchctl to unload kextd

    2.  It deletes most of the kernel extensions from /System/Library/Extensions

    3.  It installs kexts into /System/Library/Extensions

    4.  It deletes the contents of /System/Library/Caches

    5.  It then requires a reboot (will be slow the first time after installing)

     

    Comes with no guarantee - please BACKUP before testing, and at worst expect to have to reinstall Mac OS X.

     

    Tested on a mac mini 2011 quad core server only.

     

    Please report back on how it goes for you.

  • by dimoe,

    dimoe dimoe Mar 12, 2012 3:50 AM in response to newfoundglory
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 3:50 AM in response to newfoundglory

    Thank you!

     

    I tried it on my MacMini i7 2,7GHz with AMD-Graphic:


    I got some popups :BJUSBLoad.kext, and .kext of hp and lexmark are not loaded,

    So I took them out of Systems-Lib-Extensions

     

    It has much better speed of the internal disk: AJA-System Test now:100-110 - before 50-60 !

     

    but the geekbench (32bit) is worse: now 6600 - before 7000 !

    First Start: 6200, then I repaired disk permissions and cleaned caches, restarted and used geekbench again (two times)

  • by dimoe,

    dimoe dimoe Mar 12, 2012 1:33 PM in response to dimoe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 1:33 PM in response to dimoe

    I compared the new extensions with my old ones in my TimeMachine and marked newer and missing (red lines).

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/943870/Mini-Install-Package.png

    Then I copied the newer back (as root user), repaired disk permissions and now I have

    a geekbench of 6950

    and AJA Test of 88 (first ifs fast, then it slows down)

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/943870/AJA-Mini.png

     

    If someone knows wich kexts are needed, here they are

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/943870/kext.zip

  • by ZX48,

    ZX48 ZX48 Mar 12, 2012 1:58 PM in response to dimoe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 1:58 PM in response to dimoe

    Dimoe: How did you end up with kexts that are newer than the ones NFG has? i.e. in particular the ones dated 4th Feb 2012 and 26th Jan 2012?

     

    I thought the newest kexts would have dated (at the latest) to the release of the last SL Macs. Which would have been when the 10.6.8 combo was released mid 2011. What am I not understanding?

  • by dimoe,

    dimoe dimoe Mar 12, 2012 2:27 PM in response to ZX48
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    Mar 12, 2012 2:27 PM in response to ZX48

    I don't understand too much of it,

    but with "merging" the newest extensions, the mini is fast again with geekbench and the disk speed is faster than before

  • by newfoundglory,

    newfoundglory newfoundglory Mar 12, 2012 3:44 PM in response to dimoe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 3:44 PM in response to dimoe

    Comparing the dates is useless, as its the kext versions you are after.  This was the problem I had when trying to make sure the OS had the latest versions.  Can you do a get info to compare the versions?  Most of them probably have the same version, even if the dates are different - but there may be a few with different versions.

  • by newfoundglory,

    newfoundglory newfoundglory Mar 12, 2012 4:02 PM in response to ZX48
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 4:02 PM in response to ZX48

    Quick glance, many of the ones which appear to be newer by date are in fact older by version (graphics drivers are 1.6.36, vs 1.6.42 in the pkg).  The backlight one is newer (strange)

     

    Might have to tweak the package installer slightly....

  • by MickTonyG,

    MickTonyG MickTonyG Mar 12, 2012 5:48 PM in response to newfoundglory
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 5:48 PM in response to newfoundglory

    Is there a way to install the Thunderbolt 1.1 Software Update on a 10.6.8 modified mini?  I am getting the "This software is not supported on your system" error.

     

    Thanks for all the help by the way.

  • by dimoe,

    dimoe dimoe Mar 12, 2012 11:31 PM in response to newfoundglory
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2012 11:31 PM in response to newfoundglory

    I am just a user and will not get into programming

     

    Whatever happened with newer or older kexts,

    I tried deep hibernation and it worked today!

    Geekbench is still fast

     

    Thanks newfoundglory!

  • by apolony,

    apolony apolony Mar 13, 2012 2:24 PM in response to John Fair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 13, 2012 2:24 PM in response to John Fair

    Hi. A few days ago, I have acquired a brand new Mini which unfortunately camed with OS Lion. As I need to install Windows XP (SP3) in order to run some business applications (which can't run on Windows 7!) I have managed to have Leopard version 10.6.8 installed instead of Lion. I then tried to install Bootcamp for Windows XP. Unfortunately, without an installation disk, I can't! Could somebody please explain me how to download (and successfully install) the Bootcamp application for Windows XP? I am not an experienced Mac user, except that I'm running similar setup on a MacBook Pro! Thanks!!

  • by dimoe,

    dimoe dimoe Mar 15, 2012 11:25 PM in response to dimoe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2012 11:25 PM in response to dimoe

    I tried the installer-package again,

    this time I had no problem with geekbench

     

    even a problem with elgato-turbo is solved

    geekbench2012-03-14.png

  • by josefromaldea del fresno,

    josefromaldea del fresno josefromaldea del fresno Mar 27, 2012 8:27 AM in response to mikethebook
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2012 8:27 AM in response to mikethebook

    Hi, first thousand thanks to everybody here . Also own 2011 macmini mod. 5.2 . Lion is working fluid and stable on my machine so far . All apps are Lion compatible ofcoarse. Mac usser since 2006. Still have a 20" Imac 2007 with core 2 duo and 13" macbookpro early 2011 model. Updated the pro with Lion when released after making latest TM backup. Didn't update my Imac with Lion, having it running with SL 10.6.8 perfectly , but because I started to notice problems with optical drive , clonned the HD with CCC.

    Like most of you here , not very happy with some of the new features. I miss rosetta , front row and don't like at all versions.Before reading this thread, already heard from apple that was not possible to downgrade the new mac mini to SL , but could still run SL with external drive , thats when I tried my external bootable drive I made with imac 10.6.8 clone with fire wire (OWC branded case). worked perfectly on macbook pro mentioned,bit slower but no issues and also worked perfectly so far with my brand new 2011 mac mini. OWC external drive case has also firewire 800 port. Still the more I try Lion , more I want to go back to SL. Following the advice from people of the community , I sent several feedbacks to apple with my opinion of Lion. Been evangelizing to family and friends to switch to mac os since 2007, now since Lion , just standing by. Still espect Apple listening to our needs and apply some changes. The latest I found is this thread and really happy to know that yes we can downgrade our 2011 minis to SL!!! Already coppied version 2 instructions but still have some doubts. I know some geniuos guys here in Apple store (Madrid, Spain) and before reading this thread I asked them if there was any way to instal SL on the new mac mini . Thier answer was a strait NO because if something goes wrong, machine will not be suported by waranty anymore. So I wanted to hear your opinion about this.

    Thanks a lot again to all.

    Jose.

  • by Kasper E,

    Kasper E Kasper E Mar 27, 2012 11:47 PM in response to josefromaldea del fresno
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2012 11:47 PM in response to josefromaldea del fresno

    Hi!

    I use my mini as a media center running eyetv and plex and as a fileserver for the family (mixed mac and pc). Lion did not work for fileserving it kept crashing and was annoying to administer. Particular the PC's had problems.

     

    I installed SL om my spanking new quad core mini and have never looked back. Now I am where I want to be - it just works and I dont spend time troubleshooting network issues. I really enjoy the power comming from core2duo to i7quad. Only thing is that its a bit noisy when straming diferent movies through plex to several devces.

     

    Just follow the instructions in this thread and happy.

     

    best wishes,

    Kasper

  • by dimoe,

    dimoe dimoe Mar 28, 2012 2:04 AM in response to josefromaldea del fresno
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2012 2:04 AM in response to josefromaldea del fresno

    I know some geniuos guys here in Apple store (Madrid, Spain) and before reading this thread I asked them if there was any way to instal SL on the new mac mini . Thier answer was a strait NO because if something goes wrong, machine will not be suported by waranty anymore.

    If you need the warranty or Applecare, I don´t think they will look into your system but test the hardware.

    And normally they will start your Mac from external devices with testing programs.

     

    Of course I have a Backup-Image of my original Lion, so I could reinstall it (but I would not)

     

    To feel save:

    Try Snow-Leo on a FW-800 harddisk, it will be as fast as the internal disk (of course not as a SSD)

    or partition your Harddisk for Lion and Snow-Leo

     

    I did not, because I also use Bootcamp.

    I have an external Lion for testing and Snow-Leo for working

  • by josefromaldea del fresno,

    josefromaldea del fresno josefromaldea del fresno Mar 28, 2012 5:30 AM in response to dimoe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2012 5:30 AM in response to dimoe

    Ok , Thanks Kasper , thanks dimoe .

    Yes,  thats what I'm testing now , using external drive FW 800 with 10.6.8 clone of my imac 2007 model . Seems to work ok , Still not as fast as internal HD with Lion . Should I re instal 10.6.8 kombo mentioned on top? or just run  pkg mentioned here?  or both? Also wanted to mention something I experienced doing the oposite on my macbook pro early 2011. Running internal ssd with 10.6.8 and same external drive mentioned running with Lion . Working well generally but every time I booted with Lion on the macbook pro , when booting back to 10.6.8 had to reset SMC due to sound problems. Find Lion wierd any way so maybe I'll just keep a copy on external drive and follow instruccions given here , instal the reliable 10.6.8 as principal system.

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