Rich Rydalch
Level 2 (304 points)

Q: Install 10.6 on a 10.8 system

Is it possible to install a boot drive for 10.6 on a machine currently running 10.8 without loosing everything in the 10.8 system?

MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Dec 30, 2013 7:43 PM

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Rich Rydalch

Q: Install 10.6 on a 10.8 system

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  • Helpful answers

  • by AnaMusic,

    AnaMusic AnaMusic Dec 30, 2013 7:46 PM in response to Rich Rydalch
    Level 9 (57,248 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 7:46 PM in response to Rich Rydalch

    Rich Rydalch wrote:

     

    Is it possible to install a boot drive for 10.6 on a machine currently running 10.8...

     

    Installing an Earlier Version of OS X

  • by Rich Rydalch,

    Rich Rydalch Rich Rydalch Dec 30, 2013 8:04 PM in response to AnaMusic
    Level 2 (304 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 8:04 PM in response to AnaMusic

    AnaMusic;

    That article seems to relate to installing a version not compatible with a certain computer.

    My situation is that I purchased a 2011 iMac with 10.8 installed. But 10.8 creates problems with XEROX print drivers and Preview, Mail and QuickBooks crashing when trying to print.

    So I need to go back to 10.6.

    But 10.6 is not compatible with Quark 10.

    So I really need to run both systems on this machine.

  • by Camino fan 2010,

    Camino fan 2010 Camino fan 2010 Dec 30, 2013 9:32 PM in response to Rich Rydalch
    Level 1 (131 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 9:32 PM in response to Rich Rydalch

    You might consider setting up a Virtual Host like VMware Fusion.

     

    My Mac Mini late 2012 would not let me install OS X 10.7 on the bare metal.

      I needed to test some software on 10.7 so I used the Free Trial of VMware Fusion

        to verify some software worked on OS X 10.7.

     

    10.7 ran great as a guest on VMware Fusion being hosted by OS X 10.8.2 (at the time)..

      If I need to test on 10.7 again I'm going to shell out the $60 for VMware Fusion.

        For business it would be worth it..

     

    I spent hours trying to get OS X 10.7 to install on the bare metal to no avail...

  • by Rich Rydalch,

    Rich Rydalch Rich Rydalch Dec 30, 2013 10:07 PM in response to Camino fan 2010
    Level 2 (304 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 10:07 PM in response to Camino fan 2010

    I have Parallels but I don't think it will be heavy duty enough to run the apps we need for the printing industry.

    What I want to do is setup 2 bootable systems.

    My question is, "Can I do that going backwards from 10.8 to 10.6?" and have 10.8 still run okay.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Dec 30, 2013 11:21 PM in response to Rich Rydalch
    Level 7 (32,362 points)
    iPad
    Dec 30, 2013 11:21 PM in response to Rich Rydalch

    Which OS version did your machine come with originally? A mid 2011 might have had Snow Leopard; depending on when it was manufactured though, it could have had Lion. You'd have to check with Apple on the exact build which will show which OS was installed. If it had 10.6, then you can get the original install disks from Apple for a nominal fee and install that on a partition or an external drive.

     

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

     

    FWIW, you cannot boot any Mac from a system earlier than what it came with.

  • by Camino fan 2010,

    Camino fan 2010 Camino fan 2010 Dec 31, 2013 12:29 AM in response to Rich Rydalch
    Level 1 (131 points)
    Dec 31, 2013 12:29 AM in response to Rich Rydalch

    I also use a mid 2011 Mac mini that was pre installed with 10.7

      I had no problem installing 10.8 to a separate bootable volume.

     

    It boots into 10.7 and 10.8 no problems, from USB 2 external disk,

      and from internal 5400 rpm drive.

     

    Just hold the option key when it starts up

      and choose which volume to boot from.

     

    No problems switching between 10.7 and 10.8.

      They coexist just fine.

     

    So like babowa indicated

      if it originally had 10.6

       Then the odds are in your favor.

  • by Camino fan 2010,

    Camino fan 2010 Camino fan 2010 Dec 31, 2013 1:08 AM in response to Camino fan 2010
    Level 1 (131 points)
    Dec 31, 2013 1:08 AM in response to Camino fan 2010

    The OS X 10.8 Disk Utility allows resizing partitions

      and creating a new partition without data loss.

     

    So if you have lots of free space create a new partition

      On the existing internal disc.

        "Mac OS extended journaled"..

     

    This is the sort of site that gives some details..

      http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/12/how-to-install-dual-boot-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-and-1 0-6-snow-leopard/

     

    Google a bit for others describing the process..

      "Multi boot Mac OSX"

     

    Of course this is only applicable

      If 10.6 was the factory system for your Mac mini

        as Babowa explained..

     

    Regardless of 10.8 being present now

      if your system supports 10.6

        You can just run the 10.6 installer

          To your new partition.

     

    Possibly you can get the 10.6 setup installer from the App Store.

      I was able to download 10.7 and 10.8 installers from the App Store

        Selecting the Purchases page..