can snow leopard be installed onto current imac

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Level 1

10 points

can snow leopard be installed onto current imac

I've had a look at the install SL on a a mac mini thread and I'm still a bit confused about what my options are in a current imac. I spoke to an apple tech guy today and he said I'd need 10.6.3 but I've since found that that info is not correct anyway.

The iMac in question was manufactured a month ago and came with Lion. I'd like to run it with 10.6.8

I can't purchase as a digital download any longer only a posted disk.

The thing is will it be 10.6.8 if I get it from the apple store in Australia, and will it run on a current model iMac 3.4GHz, I don't want to pay $35 for a coaster.

thanks.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 8, 2012 2:14 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Feb 8, 2012 10:38 AM in response to disco_bob

You cannot install an earlier version of OS X than the one it shipped with.

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Answer 2

Feb 8, 2012 11:12 AM in response to Klaus1

I also would like to replace 10.7 with 10.6 on an iMac. I was told by Apple Help that it was not possible to do this but I could partition the HD and install 10.6 on the partition. Later was told by another tech that this was not possible. Who is right? I would also like to partition a Powerbook HD and load 10.4 on one part and 10.5 on the other. Is this also impossible? What has happened to "customer friendly" Apple?

Thanks

Ted Stampfer

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Answer 3

Feb 8, 2012 11:17 AM in response to disco_bob

There is no legitimate place you can download Snow Leopard. The only way to get it is by buy it on DVD. Most of the DVD that are available are to old for what you what to do.

Why do you think you need Snow Leopard?

Allan

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Answer 4

Feb 8, 2012 2:21 PM in response to Allan Eckert

I purchased an installation disc from Apple. I don't need Snow leopard but I don't like Lion; May come to like it but don't now, and the disc cost me $30.

Ted

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Answer 5

disco_bob Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 8, 2012 2:29 PM in response to Ted Stampfer

Did you load it onto a mid 2011 iMac? and can you tell me what version it was at on the disk? Same reason with me, I don't mind Lion and I may very well come to like it but I'd rather be running SL at the moment. I don't use any smart devices so I'm not used to all the bling of iOS interfaces.

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Answer 6

MGW

Level 7

27,041 points

Feb 8, 2012 4:32 PM in response to disco_bob

An install disc from another machine will not works on yours, nor will an older OS allow itself to br installed over a new one.

Klaus is absolutely correct!

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Answer 7

disco_bob Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 8, 2012 4:55 PM in response to MGW

But if one was to boot from a retail install dvd then do a clean install it would not be installing over Lion because it would erase the hd first would it not?

The point is becoming moot as I'm sufficiently fed up with the whole business and misinformation from Apple that they have achieved their purpose in that I'm going to stick with Lion.

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Answer 8

MGW

Level 7

27,041 points

Feb 8, 2012 5:03 PM in response to disco_bob

Still wouldn't work.

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Answer 9

disco_bob Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 8, 2012 5:12 PM in response to MGW

That's good enough for me, thanks. I'll get back to my life now.

Too bad I wasn't told that by the apple tech support in the first place.

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Answer 10

disco_bob Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 8, 2012 11:57 PM in response to MGW

FWIW, I am not able to use quicktime 10.1 as it seems to have the same problems that others have been having since lion came out. Which is it is basically unusable.

So I called applecare and spoke to someone there about the various conflicting opinions as I though maybe I would downgrade if possible. I told her that 10.6.6 is available and she disappeared for a while to get the definitive answer.

Which was that NO, it cannot be done. No other OS can be loaded on it other than what it shipped with, if it shipped with lion.

So there you have it.

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Answer 11

Feb 9, 2012 4:08 AM in response to disco_bob

The basic problem is that if your machine is new enough in its hardware to have shipped with Lion, then erasing Lion and installing an earlier OS will be problematic. That earlier OS will NOT have the necessary drivers and firmware installed for your Newer iMac's hardware. Thus instability in operation.

Hope this helps 🙂

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Answer 12

R C-R

Level 6

17,782 points

Feb 9, 2012 5:39 AM in response to Ted Stampfer

Ted Stampfer wrote:

I also would like to replace 10.7 with 10.6 on an iMac. I was told by Apple Help that it was not possible to do this but I could partition the HD and install 10.6 on the partition. Later was told by another tech that this was not possible. Who is right?

It is possible but if it would actually be capable of booting the iMac or not depends on the specific iMac model & when it was manufactured. As Radiation Mac explained, unless the 10.6 disc includes the necessary drivers to support the hardware of that particular iMac, it won't work.

What has happened to "customer friendly" Apple?

Basically, Apple hasn't found a way to go back in time & add drivers for future hardware to preexisting installer DVD's. That applies to any model or OS version.

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