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)
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.
| Mac Pro |
Date introduced
|
Original Mac OS X included |
Later Mac OS X included |
Mac OS X Build(s) |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2012) | Jun 2012 | 10.7.3 | 10.8 | 11D2001, 12A269 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) | Aug 2010 | 10.6.4 | 10.7, 10.7.2, 10.7.3 | 10F2521, 10F2554, 11A511a, 11C74, 11D2001 |
| Mac Pro with Mac OS X Server (Mid 2010) | Aug 2010 | 10.6.4 | 10.7, 10.7.2, 10.7.3 (Server) | 10F2522, 11A511a, 11C74, 11D2001 (Server) |
| Mac Pro (Early 2009) | Mar 2009 | 10.5.6 | 10.6 | 9G3553, 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.]
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
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!
Snow Leopard on Mac Pro refurb
