How do I reinstall an older version of Aperture from the App Store?

Question

How do I reinstall an older version of Aperture from the App Store?

Hello,

I have an older Macbook - 13 inch early 2008. It is still running fine on 10.7.5 Lion, but can't update to a later version of OS X, as it is not compatible. I have Aperture 3.4.5, which I purchased from the App Store.

Following a hard disk problem, I've reinstalled the laptop, used software update to get all the latest patches, and have recovered my files and applications from my Time Machine Backup. Unfortunately, Aperture is no longer able to open files from my Sony Nex camera ("Unsupported Image Format" message") even though it worked before I rebuilt my Mac, and is listed as supported under Aperture 3.4.5. I've done all of the "Repair permissions", "repair database" and "Rebuild Database" things, but it hasn't helped.

I've tried to fix this by removing Aperture (in case my Time Machine backup version is in some way corrupted) and reinstalled from the App Store, but the App Store won't let me have Aperture anymore, even though I've paid for it, because my system is no longer compatible with the current version, 3.5. I can't see a way of downloading a full copy of the older version compatible with my system. I can see updates for Aperture listed at http://support.apple.com/downloads/#aperture, including Aperture 3.4.5, but these require a copy of Aperture 3.0 or later already installed to update, and even if I run the 3.4.5 update, it tells me it won't work because my copy of Aperture is from the App store.

Can anyone help me find a way of navigating the App Store or Apple web site to get the copy of Aperture 3.4.5 I have licensed from Apple?

Many thanks.

Aperture 3, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Mar 26, 2014 4:17 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 26, 2014 6:06 AM in response to AndyStentiford

If you go into your Purchases Tab in the Mac App Store does Aperture show up and if so what version does it report?

While it is not possible to buy the older version of Aperture via the MAS anymore users who have purchased it in the past should be able to download it.

If this is not the case for you you will need to contact App Store support.

regards

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Answer 2

Mar 26, 2014 9:35 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

@Frank Caggiano

Thank you for your reply. When I go to my Purchases Tab in the App store, Aperture does show up in the list of purchased applications. The version that it reports avaiable is V3.5.1. When I click the "Install" button, I get a message saying "Aperture cannot be installed on OSX Lion because Max OSX version 10.9 or later is required."

I have a screenshot at

https://www.dropbox.com/s/28nyjbwrzy27lv0/Screenshot%202014-03-26%2015.13.10.png

There does not seem to be a way to select an older version, nor does the app store detect the last compatible version, and feed me that one.

In the meantime, I'm raising a support request. This seems like it must be an issue for others now, and will become an issue for many users whose hardware is getting older and falling out of OS support, but who have purchased apps from the App Store.

Many thanks.

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

195,113 points

Mar 26, 2014 10:15 AM in response to AndyStentiford

Is the missing RAW support the only problem you are having with Aperture on your Lion machine?

If yes, I'd restore the Aperture 3.4.5 copy from Time Machine, as you have done before, and check if you can reinstall the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update that supports your camera. You have not said, which Sony NEX camara you are having. Check this list, which Raw Compatibility update you need:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4757

Then try to reinstall the raw support from the Support > Downloads page.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/

Perhaps you can install the raw support updates, even if you bought Aperture from the AppStore.

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Answer 4

Mar 26, 2014 10:32 AM in response to AndyStentiford

Ah OK right, totally missed the middle of your post, sorry.

Léonie is right, you don;t need to get Aperture from the MAS, it won't help. The ability to decode raw files is in the OS (as long as the version of Aperture is listed as supporting the camera).

Without knowing the camera we can;t say which Camera Raw Update you need to be running but I would look at this as more of an OS problem then an Aperture one.

As another test try opening one of the Raw files in Preview if you get the same message then the problem is the Raw Camera bundle file

If you go to /System/Library/CoreServices and look for the file RawCamera.bundle and do a get info on it it will tell you what version you have. Using that and the camera model we can figure out if you have the correct one.

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Answer 5

Mar 26, 2014 11:14 AM in response to léonie

@léonie

Thanks for your help with this. I've downloaded the latest RAW support updates supported on my machine - V4.09 that seems to contain all of the RAW formats for previous updated including V4.06, which includes the NEX 3N, my camera. After a short while (there seemed to be some sort of background processing ging on in Aperture) it started to allow my NEX 3N photos to be viewed. Some of the thumbnails were corrupted, but if I made a slight edit in each of these files, the thumbnails updated and all was well.

Prior to this, I raised a call with Apple, because the inability to reinstall software from the App Store that I've purchased from in App Store to a machine that supports OSX 10.7.5 and no later strikes me as a problem. I need to know that if my Time Machine backup fails and I need to reinstall, I've got somewhere I can go.

The support people at Apple were very helpful, and it feels like they recognise this as a problem, and are working to resolve it behind the scenes. The App Store will not allow me to download the last version that works on my machine at the moment, but it sounds like Apple is thinking about how to do this. In the meantime, they are shipping me a copy of Aperture 3.0 on CD, and sending me a registration code. This will solve my immediate problem.

This does make me wary about using the App Store for purchases in the future. I don't upgrade my hardware that frequently - I have no real need to as it just keeps working - and so not having physical copies of installation media for when the applications stop supporting my OS is a worry. On the face of it, maintaining prior versions of the software for older machines to download from the App Store seems like a reasonable solution, but they are not there yet, and there is no real commitment for them to do this. Anyone who doesn't back up their Apps in Time Machine (probably the majority of users) could loose them altogether when Apple moves on, and cuts app support for older OS versions.

Thanks to @léonie and @Frank Cagianno for your help.

Andy

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

195,113 points

Mar 26, 2014 12:05 PM in response to AndyStentiford

You're welcome, Andy.

Great, that it is working for you again. And it is good to know, that Apple is willing to provide installation media in an emergency like this.

Anyone who doesn't back up their Apps in Time Machine (probably the majority of users) could loose them altogether when Apple moves on, and cuts app support for older OS versions.

I usually keep a bootable clone of the whole system as a second backup in addition to the Time Machine backup. This way, I can boot the mac from the clone, should the system drive fail.

Regards

Léonie

I don't upgrade my hardware that frequently - I have no real need to as it just keeps working - and so not having physical copies of installation media for when the applications stop supporting my OS is a worry.

Added:

When you are buying an app to install, there is usually a moment, when you are prompted for the admin password. to allow the installation to proceed. You might try to save the installer, before you enter your password.

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