HowTo revert new MacBook Pro, Mac Pro or iMac to Snow Leopard

@zirkenz

Wow. Maybe try "Customize" ??? and choose the correct DVD/image from the dropdown that appears? And/or NetRestore? Maybe NetBoot, NetInstall just dictate the kind of wrapper for the package.... and maybe inside will be a NetInstall System.dmg or whatever even if you do a NetBoot version?

If you have your old MBP at 10.6.7, you can get Server Admin Tools 10.6.7 and make the 10.6.8 image using that. Oh, which maybe answers a question you didn't really ask: I don't think it matters which machine you use to make the System.dmg. Maybe if we were talking about a 10.5.8 or early 10.6.x system but it seems like the way this thing builds packages is to use ONLY the Install DVD/image you put in and whatever packages you specifically add. I don't believe Server Admin Tools pays any attention whatsoever to what computer you are on when creating the System.dmg. Maybe it changes what boot wrapper it throws on there or what kind of networking it does, if you are restoring over a network... but we're going inside and grabbing the core System.dmg which, I would think, is non-specific to processor, platform, machine, model. It's built to be rolled onto any kind of Mac that can support the OS level...nice and generic. It's supposed to be not only universally bootable but virgin -- i.e. has not claimed or been claimed by any machine.

SO, those restore discs you have coming sound like a great idea. It took about a week for me to get mine but I don't remember. it was 10.6.7 made especially for the MBP 2011 ... and it boot up fine. If they got lost in the mail though, Apple will be cool about it, I just don't know if the genius bar will have them on hand. But maybe they've already dealt with lots of people wanting the downgrade and will show us how it can be done!

ds store wrote:

Can someone please summarize the results, limitations, models and methods to reverting a new Lion factory Mac to Snow Leopard?

• Macbook Pro 2011: yes can downgrade to Snow Leo, no speed compromises on my i5
• Mac Pro 2011: sounds like it's running fine
• Mini 2011: there's another thread about it but it sounds like those folks are only able to install and run Snow Leo at half-speed.
• iMac 2011: recent model sounds like it's running at half-speed on Snow Leo
• Macbook Air: don't know; people may tell you it's impossible

1. You can use a "Target Disk Method" which @zirkenz detailed somewhere in this thread but which you will find elsewhere. Fairly easy and you need another computer capable of running 10.6.8.
2. This thread began with "Roy's Method" aka "The Procedure" ... it's on the first page, it has a couple mis-types that can't be re-edited and fixed so it will confuse some. If you look back a page or so @josh made up a nice working guide but it may have some of the same original errors still. This method allows you to create a 10.6.8 disk image that can be cloned to your Mac. You also need another machine for this.
3. You can see if there are Snow Leo restore discs for your model computer from before it got rolled over into Lion. You can order/cajole these from Apple. These discs existed for any model that was out before Lion was out... so like the MBP 2011 but not the MacBook Air. There's an Apple link in the ether which details which computers came with which restore discs.
4. The Mini thread looks like it is grappling with trying to figure out how to bring back speed. They're talking about Virtualization maybe -- having Parallels or VMWare etc run Snow Leo within Lion. I personally think that the solution may require the tools, expertise, and prowess of the open-mac community as this might be a driver/kernel-based limitation and only they really know how to unlock the Mac power of Intel processors....But I don't know if any of them have ever had to hack OSX to work on a Mac before lol and I don't think we'd be allowed to discuss it much here.

@ Roy...Sorry for the error, I was able to follow your original, so I glanced over that as I created the guide. I did this very quickly, and any who would like to update with info found throughout the thread are welcome. I have corrected this in the link below.

@ Tech, happy to share, I have posted a link below to the original word file. Since the original will indefinetly get modified, maybe those who add updates could re-post for others to view the most current version. At least this way, we can continually refer those to the modified guide each time rather than referring to updates within each page, it will make it easier for others to follow.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jyzu8ce67bt9nvw

Hi, The netrestore option under SUI 10.7 requires you to add an account. I looked at both options and neither lets you pick the mac box set .dmg file you create. What i mean is, your mounted image does not show up on the left column at all, so without that your stuck and the whole exercise is pointless.

Any way i have some fantastic news. I took it in to Apple store today and ran the system restore disc 10.6.7 for my system and it filled in the holes meaning i did not have to do setup again it took the roy install and just filled in the holes and my system is benchmarking 100 points higher (10230) then listed benchmarks (10179). I also ran software update afterwards. So my downgrade so far is a 100% success and 100% performance. I will be running more tests and will report if i notice anything strange.

So in short it worked!!! So my advice forget TDM method and forget Roy's Method just do the simple Apple method which is install from the system restore disc 10.6.7 or you can do roys method or tdm and run the system disc made for your computer that has 10.6.7 to fill in the holes. Easiest way is the the system restore disc. It even installed Facetime. I tested everything keyboard, BT, wifi, function keys, everything works, benchmarks properly. The only thing i forgot to do is test the Thunderbolt port but i hope that will be fine. When you run the system restore disc 10.6.7 boot up, press the option key and select the cd to boot from. It's funny i ended doing my own support and basically just borrowed the disc for a few minutes.

By the way once you do this and if you have a lion partition (SL on top, Lion on bottom) the only way you will be able to delete that bottom lion partition is by booting of a lion clone anything else will result in an error. If the lion partition is on top i.e the first and the SL partition is below, and you try to delete the lion partition you will end up with 2 partitions that can't be joined. From what i learned through this experience is that the main OS you use has to be the first partition. The second partition which is below then can be deleted and the first partition can be resized. Except in this senario: SL partition on top and lion partition below. To remove the partition you will need a bootable clone of lion, then you can resize the SL partition.

The definitve answer to can Lion can be downgraded to SL even on current macs and CTO builds (that formerly ran SL) is yes but you will need the system specific restore disc. TDM and Roy's method just creates a universal installer. Systems that did not have SL on it like the new mac mini and macbook air can but will not run right. BT 4.0 will not work and it will be slow and sluggish. Apple will never support this so a solution will only come from a 3rd party.

So here is my final advice/steps on Downgrading Lion to SL:

1. Buy yourself an external hard drive the larger the better and a thumb drive 4-8 GB recommended.

2. Turn on your Lion system and go through setup, you don't need to run system update if you don't want to.

3. Download Lion Recovery Assistant from Apple support site and create a Recovery HD thumb drive (usb flash drive)

4. Take the external drive you bought and partition 3 ways or 2 up to you (see notes below).

5. Download Carbon Copy Cloner and clone your lion system on one partition on the external drive

6. Test to see if your clone works by restarting the system, pressing option and selecting the partition clone.

7. Now you have some options on how to proceed next:

a) You can use your system restore disc 10.6.7, boot with option key pressed and select the disc, run Disk Utility, erase the one partition or HD and install, then run software update (don't know 100% how this will go since i already had SL on imac in the first partition using roy's method and the system restor disc filled in the holes but i don't see why this will not work, Anyway after its installed and all updated make a bootable clone using carbon copy cloner on the second partition of the external drive you bought and test. Then put this drive somewhere safe.

b) You partition your drive in 2, lion will be on top , SL on Bottom. Use Roy's Method and get SL installed on the SL partition (the bottom partition). Run the combo updater you downloaded and all updates, then make a boot clone of this (this is why i suggested partition the drive into 3- one for lion, one for universal SL and one for system specific SL). Then boot of this partition (make sure roys .dmg is on this partition) and re-partition your HD into one, restore SL using roys installer. Then insert your SL 10.6.7 system restore disc boot again, option key pressed, select the system restore disc and install. Run updates after you boot up. Then clone this to a partition on your external drive.

So if you just want both a lion partition and SL system specific partition boot clone, partition your external disc into 2. If you want a Lion, SL universal and System specific SL then parition 3 ways. I would estimate no more then a 100GB for each. So buy the cheapest most reliable external drive you can afford.

8. Make a Time Machine backup of your system specific SL install with all updates. This will need an additional partition or you can just use another external drive but keep this safe. This way if you do decide to go to lion and want to go back to a pristine sl system specific install you can use the TM backup or just use carbon copy cloner and restore from your bootable clone. Your choice.

You can choose to install iLife and such. Whatever a virgin SL install means to you.

There you have it, a simple and straight forward way of installing SL on your system at 100% performance, Remember Mac mini, macbook air 2011 and any system that did not have SL on it before does not count.

I hope the nightmarish misery which was my life for the last 3 weeks but actually month and half i suffered is of benefit to someone.

PS: anyone wanting to DL Geekbench 2.13 can download at this link direct from primelabs:

http://geekbench.s3.amazonaws.com/Geekbench-2.1.13-Mac.dmg.gz

To: Apple...my Rant and just for Apple

if you are listening or reading on this board. Shame on you for putting your customers through such an experience. Might i remind you that it was your employees who gave me bad information at every turn and caused all of this nasty stuff to happen. Had your genius told me in june that i can't use the mac box set to downgrade lion i would have bought my system before hand and save myself $180 in worthless software. There is a lot you did not tell me then kept giving me more bad information after that (i have not mentioned it on this board for privacy reasons).

I have supported you for 25 years, remember those red ink days, Those days when you were ignored by the tech world and seen as a fad. I was still supporting you and have brought well over 250 new customers who then each brought in more customers in those 25 years. Shame on you, you have lost your way. Loyalty is earned and honestly after what you put me through you don't deserve it. This experience made me loose respect for you and if you truly understand how much i love macs and the apple culture you would be in utter shock at how big a jerk you have been are being.

Lion is half baked, please recognize that, be ashamed for for the first time putting out a Vista and don't expect your customers to fork out money to replace their entire software library which took them years to acquire, to replace their peripherals and other hardware. We are not millionaires and can't keep replacing everything because you say so. It is easy to tear out stuff and say no we don't need this or that. Who are you to decide what i need? That is not cutting edge engineering, it's cheating. Please bring back Front Row, NAS support and get rid of that resume option or last state you were in option, its annoying and a waste of my time. Make it an option where it asks you do you want to save your current state.

Roy,

Looks great, it's in the hsitory books now! I will have a look at it as I have time, but have to clear the inbox first! Also, that link takes you to a blank page though you have to navigate through the revisions, try this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Almage&oldid=450421734

Zirkenz,

So do we need to go and get a 10.6.7 disc from the apple store? Even my very recent SL MBP's, literally just before Lion only shipped with 10.6.6.

I still absolutely love the Roy's process it has opened the door to quicker installs. I will also work on adding common installs to my package to speed up roll-outs fo new machines.

P.S. Received one of my new iMacs yesterday, performed "The Procedure" and it worked like a charm. I am on that machine now. Ran Geekbench before and after, and there was a 3000 point spread, but, machine seemingly runs just as fast as it did under Lion. So, I'm content with it, but curious as to the 10.6.7 disc.

You will have to get the 10.6.7 system disc from applecare, the stores can't order it for you. You can go to an Apple store and let them do the install for you. This would be the easiest and fastest way to downgrade to SL with 100% performance. Remember that systems like the new mac mini and macbookair don't count. There are 2 ways to get SL on the new mac mini but both offer sluggish performance and some hardware is not supported.

I think 10.6.6 should work if you boot holding the option key and select the disc. You could give it a try on a second partition and then run software update or run the 10.6.6 installer then install the combo update. Personally i feel if you paid for performace, you should get it.

You know i am so PTS'd by this experience that i can't still believe it worked, i'm kinda waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Wow, incredible developments!

@Roy FTW ... I'll have to check this out! I've been hungry for a Wiki solution for other fixes too and this will start me down that path. Thanks so much!

@Josh1565 FTW ... Another MBP victory and a fresh iMac!? Yesss... another confirmation that doing a Roy/TDM install to iMac will give you a low-scoring super-fast computer lol. Nice. The MBP seems to be the main one that gives you full benefits from the methods. Good to know.

@Zirkenz FTW ... That's just amazing that somehow the 10.6.7 disc for your iMac "filled" in the mucked up bits. I thought I understood almost everything about these installers! Learn something new every day (although I still don't quite get how this worked 😉) So there must be some special iMac driver/kernel that gets installed with 10.6.7 (or some 10.6.6 restore discs ... yeah, the one I have for the MBP is not the grey restore discs we're used to but a white "factory" disc with some typed-on writing). I don't know what clones you ended up with but if you have a version of your old slower iMac, you might be able to look in both /System/Library/Extensions to see if there is just one or two or four drivers difference between your two 10.6.8s.

If we could narrow it down to a couple kexts, that would just be good information to have... not that people can just go around copying the drivers (it's not like plug n'play) and it may also be some of the invisible files at the root of the drive.... but if it really just came down to a few things, you can imagine rolling these out for other iMac users who don't have the factory discs.... or even if somehow some of the critical drivers on the iMac would help a Mini/Air users (long long long long shot).

So that's amazing news and well worth the wait (maybe not the headaches though). I hear you!

Woot to all!

sadly i justed deleted the universal sl clone to replace it with a system specific clone. in fact its cloning right now. I have the original restore file so i could always recreate it. Grrr, i should have thought of that but i suspect there are some invisble files that are part of this. Anyway i did not have any issues with Apple store, so that is a viable option.

@Roy oh brother... the interwebs are against us! Looks like the person who wiped the page is pretty active and flagged a bunch of other pages for similar things... maybe they are a real editor ... or over-zealous helper. Anyway, they tagged it for "possible self-promotion" which I don't get. Well, TBT I didn't know one can even post instructions like this to Wikipedia... I had planned on looking into a third-party wiki-system but never figured that out... Anyway, it says it's pending discussion so maybe we log in and discuss why it should be included in Wikipedia? Frustrating. Well, at least it's in the history for now and save your code for the page... we'll get an editable guide up one way or another. You done good.

@Zirkenz aha! Hmmmm. Well let's assume that the MBP's have a more generic Extensions base because they seem to work with the Roy Method (haha sorry Roy, it's hard to separate you from "The Procedure" lol) out of the box. So like I have 230 extensions in there...oh, if I sort by date modified, there's one that must have installed with a program I installed... so maybe about 229 stock extensions for my 10.6.8. 36 from 2011 (6 from August, 30 from June). Just curious how many you've got. We won't be able to test anything unless @Josh1565 feels adventurous with his iMac heh heh. Even then, I'm not sure we can hand around system kexts in this forum... still, maybe we can learn something from what's present and what's not. There's only a couple main invisible files that would be interesting but we won't worry about those yet.

No worries. it'd be satisfying to help iMac folks roll back to a high-scoring 10.6.8 without having to get factory discs or roll into Apple Store... but at the same time, that's probably the smarter -- and certainly the "safer" -- thing to do ... if your Genius Bar is willing to do it!

Roy - I have run into issues with Wiki entries, and beleive me, they are VERY picky, almost elitist. I don't know why they would flag the procedure as self promotion when it helps so many people, what do we have to benefit? Anyways, don't lose too much sleep over that. It is a pain posting on there.

Tech - My system may be a bit confounding in that, after I did the restore, I migrated a user profile to it, from Leopard (brave), works like a charm though, no hiccups to speak of yet. But, to answer you're question, I have 237 extensions in System/Library/Extensions, 188 of which are newer than Feb 2010. Not sure that that helps you any. I am goign to try and get my hands on a 10.6.7 disc. The tech I deal with at an apple authorized service centre (been around for ages and only sell mac) has never seen this 10.6.7 disc before, so I will try another avenue, as I too am curious to see if it makes any difference.

Zirkenz - Thanks for the info on the disc, going to try to track one down for myself. Since I have 4 more iMacs coming soon, having my own disc would be helpful.

Do you folks think the new macbook pro EFI 2.2 update will cause issues with the rollback to SL? Thanks so much for all this great info by the way.

Additional info...I recently bought a 17" MBP, CTO, a week ago. I contacted customer service after it was shipped, got the serial number then contacted applecare and requested a macbook pro Snow Leopard install disc, its white and specific to my machine 17' Macbook Pro. They sent one ($16), no hassle...Im definitely rolling back to SL though I would like to have the 6G SSD benefits of the just released EFI 2.2 update if possible. So Im trying to determine if I should run the EFI update while my computer still has Lion or if that will cause problems with the SL rollback. I have now heard, here, that SL 10.6.8 has access to EFI 2.2, though I havent been able to confirm that it will stablize 6G SSD performance on the main drive bay of the 2011 MBP as it does in lion. Just thought you guys may have some insight..this whole discussion of "the procedure" is very enlightening and value the info. I want to create a custom reinstall image for my system once I get it going. Thanks again...joe