ivalylo

Q: late 2013 iMac - how to install mountain lion

Well, I bought this mac because it works with OSX 10.8. However I got a newer "batch" which has 10.9 preinstalled instad of 10.8. What are my options to use 10.8 on it? There is 10.8 in the app store for 20 bucks, but it says that I need an older OSX to use it. AFAIK, this mac was alrady shipping with 10.8 at some point, so there is no reason why it can't install it, except Apple software restrictions.

OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 23, 2014 7:25 AM

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Q: late 2013 iMac - how to install mountain lion

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  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Apr 23, 2014 7:39 AM in response to ivalylo
    Level 9 (53,291 points)
    Apr 23, 2014 7:39 AM in response to ivalylo

    If your machine shipped with 10.9.2 you can't install 10.8 on it.

  • by ssls6,Helpful

    ssls6 ssls6 Apr 23, 2014 7:42 AM in response to ivalylo
    Level 4 (2,874 points)
    Apr 23, 2014 7:42 AM in response to ivalylo

    I don't know of any options other than building a bootable clone of 10.8 on a computer that can install 10.8 and then trying to boot your mac with it.  I did something similar with a Mac Pro 5,1 and snow leopard.  This may or may not work with the later being more likely.  The Mac Pro 5,1 was a bit of an odd-ball.

     

    I'm not sure what your problem with 10.9 is but don't read all these upgrade stories and assume you'll have problems.  A clean install has fixed every problematic upgrade I've come across and you've bought a new mac with just that...a clean install.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Apr 23, 2014 7:44 AM in response to ivalylo
    Level 9 (54,075 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 23, 2014 7:44 AM in response to ivalylo

    Why do you want Mountain Lion?

  • by ivalylo,

    ivalylo ivalylo Apr 23, 2014 7:57 AM in response to ivalylo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2014 7:57 AM in response to ivalylo

    I'm a developer and I must work with a specific OSX version, which turned out to be a nightmare... I'm just amazed how such simple stuff trivial on Windows/Linux machines is near impossible on OSX

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Apr 23, 2014 8:05 AM in response to ivalylo
    Level 7 (32,327 points)
    iPad
    Apr 23, 2014 8:05 AM in response to ivalylo

    Here are the build numbers:

     

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

     

    If yours originally came with ML installed, you may be able to either clone it from an external drive as suggested (the easier and less invasive method) or, if you want to experiment - after backing up all your stuff because you will lose it all - you can invoke Internet Recovery (hold down Command + Option + R during startup/restart until you see a spinning globe. After 2 - 10 minutes you will be connected to Apple's servers and see a Utilities window. Choose Disk Utility and erase your drive. When finished, choose to reinstall OS X. It is supposed to reinstall the original OS). This may or may not work in your case as you had Mavericks on it, but it is worth a try. If it does not offer to install Mountain Lion, then just install the same version you had and then use Setup Assistant to get your files back.

  • by ivalylo,

    ivalylo ivalylo Apr 23, 2014 8:28 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2014 8:28 AM in response to babowa

    Interner recovery fails with a warning sign:

    apple.com/support

    .2003F

    I guess the bootable clone is the last chance

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 23, 2014 10:25 AM in response to ivalylo
    Level 7 (32,327 points)
    iPad
    Apr 23, 2014 10:25 AM in response to ivalylo

    If you just bought this machine, you are covered by a warranty. I would take advantage of that and call Apple asking what this error code means. Internet Recovery should absolutely work on your machine.

     

    I just googled that error code and found several hits; one of them here:

     

    http://mactasia.co.uk/lion-recovery-through-a-proxy

     

    Are you behind a proxy? If so, before you follow those suggestions, I'd still call Apple and ask about the error.