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Is there an EASY way to downgrade from Mountain Lion to Snow Leopard?

So I installed Mountain Lion a few weeks back. I just can't get used to it after using SL for 2 and a half years. Not that it's a bad OS, I just much prefer Snow Leopard. I don't want to start a debate, because it seems everywhere I go on the internet to find a solution to my question, not only does it sound like an extremely complicated process, but the Internet warriors come out and start arguing over the fact that some people just can't help but prefer SL. Is there an easy way to downgrade? Can I not just back up my stuff with Time Machine, wack in the old SL disc and go from there? Why is it such a complicated process?


Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 13", Mid 2010.

Posted on Jan 17, 2013 5:39 PM

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8 replies

Jan 17, 2013 6:42 PM in response to LaRizzo

1. There's not an "easy" way unless you erase your drive and then install Snow Leopard. This will be time consuming if you don't have a clone backup like something from SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner.


2. I wouldn't recommend "staying on Snow Leopard" as a long-term strategy. Within a year, most applications updates will likely require 10.7+. So be aware of this; if you're OK with the current versions of your applications and don't need or want updates or new applications you'll be OK, but computing marches on.

Jan 18, 2013 6:30 AM in response to William Lloyd

Thanks.


I backed up my machine using time machine (absolutely everything, the system folders and home folders, and whatever else it backs up. i.e. system preferences etc)


Is this Time Machine backup considered a clone? If so, all I have to do is restart the Mac with my SL disc (which I still have from purchasing the machine), launch the Disk Utility and then erase the hard drive?

Jan 18, 2013 8:18 AM in response to LaRizzo

Is this Time Machine backup considered a clone? If so, all I have to do is restart the Mac with my SL disc (which I still have from purchasing the machine), launch the Disk Utility and then erase the hard drive?


No, because you can't boot from it. You can boot from a clone. IMHO, that's why a clone is more valuable than a Time Machine backup.


Another scenario: My MacMini's hard drive recently began to fail. I was able to use my cloned, bootable, external hard drive while waiting for delivery of my new replacement drive. If I had used Time Machine on the external drive, I would have been without a computer until the new drive was delivered.

Is there an EASY way to downgrade from Mountain Lion to Snow Leopard?

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