proartsmog
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Q: Snow Leopard on Mac Pro refurb

I purchased a refurbished Mac Pro mid 2010 within the last year. I expected the OS to be 10.6.n but it came with 10.7.n. I require 10.6 but it seems impossible to install on this machine. How do I do this?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jan 18, 2013 6:52 AM

by Grant Bennet-Alder,Solvedanswer
Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder
Level 9 (60,931 points)
Desktops
A:

For industrial-scale production, there is also the procedure in this discussion:

 

How to revert certain new MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, or iMac to Snow Leopard

Posted on Jan 18, 2013 7:43 AM

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proartsmog

Q: Snow Leopard on Mac Pro refurb

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  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Jan 18, 2013 7:11 AM in response to proartsmog
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Jan 18, 2013 7:11 AM in response to proartsmog

    You do not say why you cannot install, what did you try to use?

    Needs 10.6.5 or OEM DVD can be ordered from Apple.

     

    Even looked for threads on this subject here.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 18, 2013 7:31 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 9 (60,931 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 18, 2013 7:31 AM in response to The hatter
    Mac Pro
    Date introduced

     

    Original Mac OS X included
    (see Tips 1 and 3)

    Later Mac OS X included
    (see Tip 1)

    Mac OS X Build(s)
    (see Tip 2)

    Mac Pro (Mid 2012)Jun 201210.7.310.8 11D2001, 12A269
    Mac Pro (Mid 2010)Aug 201010.6.410.7, 10.7.2, 10.7.310F2521, 10F2554, 11A511a, 11C74, 11D2001
    Mac Pro with Mac OS X Server (Mid 2010)Aug 201010.6.410.7, 10.7.2, 10.7.3 (Server)10F2522, 11A511a, 11C74, 11D2001 (Server)
    Mac Pro (Early 2009)Mar 200910.5.610.69G3553, 10A432
    Mac Pro (Early 2008)

    Jan 2008

    10.5.1

    10.5.2, 10.5.4

    		9B2117, 9C2031, 9E25
    Mac Pro

    Aug 2006

    10.4.7

    10.4.8, 10.4.9, 10.4.10, 10.5

    		8K1079, 8N1430, 8N1250, 8K1124, 8P4037, 8R3032, 8R3041, 9A581, 9A3129

     

    The 2012 model has the same firmware as the 2010 model, so you should be able to run the same 10.6.4[custom] or later.But you cannot do so by booting from the "Full Retail" 10.6.3 DVD.

     

    a) contact Applecare with your serial number at the ready and request a "replacement disc" for the one that shipped in the box. This sometimes will require pushing past the "first responders" who have never heard of such a thing until you get to a product specialist who has heard of it and can send you one. If available, the nominal cost of about US$25 brings a white DVD-R "Replacement DVD -- Not for ReSale", possibly of the aforementioned 10.6.4[custom]. -OR-

     

    b) create a 10.6.5 or later (10.6.8 would be best) on another drive on another computer. As long as it was sourced from a "Full Retail" DVD and not a "model-specific" DVD, you should be able to clone it to that Mac Pro and have it run properly. [Remember that Disk Utility Restore, even the version on a bootable DVD can also be used to copy disks, and that FireWire Target Disk Mode can also come in handy here.]

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Solvedanswer

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 18, 2013 7:43 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 9 (60,931 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 18, 2013 7:43 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    For industrial-scale production, there is also the procedure in this discussion:

     

    How to revert certain new MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, or iMac to Snow Leopard

  • by proartsmog,

    proartsmog proartsmog Jan 19, 2013 1:00 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2013 1:00 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    This solution has proven to be superb! I can now run My Mac Pro in a dual boot mode with either OS 10.7.5 or OS 10.6.8, choosing one or the other through System Pref. Startup Disk. I cannot thank Roy Miller enough for his persistence and expertise as well as generously giving support to all who needed it.

    It is a lengthy discussion and several other folks lent effort to the fray that are to be thanked as well.

     

    My specific requirement, getting some older expensive hardware to work in OS 10.7 or later, that is, writing appropriate drivers, was not going to happen according to the manufacturer. So, OS 10.6.8 was the last best chance!

     

    Thanks to you for bringing this to my attention!