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New iMac - I want Snow Leopard instead of Mountain Lion

New iMac - I want Snow Leopard instead of Mountain Lion


Hi


Just got a replacement iMac (my old one couldn't be repaired).


The old one was a 27" 2010 Model which came and was always used with Snow Leopard. I never had a problem and I'm still happy with all my apps which are working fine. I have a Time Machine backup of this perfectly working solution.


The new one is a 27" 2011 Model which arrived now with Mountain Lion installed (without installation discs!). I intend to use Mountain Lion later BUT NOT NOW. I want to restore my Time Machine backup and continue to work under Snow Leo. I don't want to lose time with upgrade issues at the moment.


I've just turned the new iMac on. My FireWire Time Machine drive is not connected yet.

I read the question: "How do you want to transfer your information?" What shall I do now?

Connect my TM drive first?

Or select "From Another Disk" and "Continue"?

Will I then be prompted to connect my TM drive?


Later (maybe around Christmas) when I will be ready to upgrade, will it be possible to access "my Mountain Lion" (which was included with the iMac)? Will it always be available on that "internal Recovery Partion"? Or from Mac App Store?


Many thanks!

Posted on Sep 27, 2012 3:05 PM

Reply
14 replies

Sep 28, 2012 2:20 PM in response to coxorange

Go to About This Mac and click the word "Version." It will change to the build number, then use the following chart. If it's later than a mid-2011, it will not boot Snow Leopard. No Mac can boot an OS earlier than the one it was orginally shipped with. It's missing the necessary drivers.


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159


If it won't boot Snow, then you may have some luck with the following. But not sure if those directions will work with ML.


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1365439

Sep 28, 2012 2:56 PM in response to coxorange

You might be in luck, as the mid-2011 model 27" iMac model that replaced your old iMac predates Lion's release. I believe there have been no changes to the one being shipped today.


Try restoring with Time Machine as BDAqua says. You must boot OS X Recovery and select "Restore from Time Machine Backup".


Connect my TM drive first?

Or select "From Another Disk" and "Continue"?

Will I then be prompted to connect my TM drive?


Any of the above will work.


Select your most recent TM backup from the list and let it go.


You will know as soon as it reboots; if your new iMac's hardware is incompatible with Snow Leopard's drivers you will get repetitive tones upon reboot. Nothing else will happen.


Please write back with your results.

Sep 28, 2012 4:08 PM in response to WZZZ

Hi WZZZ


WZZZ wrote:


Go to About This Mac and click the word "Version." It will change to the build number...


Unfortunately this is not possible yet, because I'm still in the "Transfer Information to This Mac" dialog. From the shipment paper I see the MPM is "MC813N/A" - does this tell if it's a mid or late 2011 model?

Oct 5, 2012 2:36 PM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:


You might be in luck, as the mid-2011 model 27" iMac model that replaced your old iMac predates Lion's release. I believe there have been no changes to the one being shipped today.


Try restoring with Time Machine as BDAqua says. You must boot OS X Recovery and select "Restore from Time Machine Backup".


[...]


Please write back with your results.


OS X Recovery didn't accept the Snow Leopard Time Machine backup for restoring.

I'm afraid the only option is Migration Assistant.

New iMac - I want Snow Leopard instead of Mountain Lion

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