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Level 1

0 points

Dual boot OSX - 10.9 & 10.6

Hi everyone,

I'm fighting with this for days, and the 3 beeps are making me mad so I hope someone can help.. 😀

The story:

I have a refurbished early 2011 MBP, it came with Snow Leopard (10.6) installed. I upgraded to Mavericks 10.9 but now I need to work with apps that don't run in Mavericks but only in 10.6 (updating the apps is too expensive, and the virtual machine solution does not satisfy me).

I'm trying to make a dual boot system with both (10.6 and 10.9) OSX installed, but the three beeps are stopping me every time I try to work with 10.6.

I made a backup, formatted the drive (Mac Os extended Journaled), and made 2 partitions.

I have my original 10.6 installation disk, and my 10.9 mounted in my external usb drive.

I tried to install 10.6 first, but the three beeps sounded.

I tried to install 10.9 first, and 10.6 later, but the three beeps sounded again.

I tried to install 10.6 using another MB (with 10.6 on it) and my MBP booted in Target disk mode, the installation went good, but when I try to boot my MPB selecting the 10.6 partition the three beeps sounds again.

I also tried to install only 10.6 in a single partition using the last method.. still the three mind shaking beeeps.

At this moment I have 2 partitions, with the 2 OSX installed, but only 10.9 is able to boot.

I know my MPB can work with 10.6 (it came from the store with it), but I can't figure out how to make it run again. Can anyone help me?

Is it possible to make the dual boot 10.6 + 10.9 system?

If so, how?

thanks in advance,

Federico

Posted on Jul 10, 2014 4:04 AM

23 replies

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Jul 10, 2014 9:53 AM in response to Hrabal

Just spoke with an Apple Center tech guy. He said that probably it's just the OSX 10.6 version I'm using.

I wouldn't necessarily put much stock in the expertise of those guys that do the phone help. I've gotten some really awful advice at times from them. They may not know about the firmware update issue. Besides, didn't you write that you installed 10.6 using the original Snow disk that came with the Mac? That should have done it.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Jul 10, 2014 10:12 AM in response to WZZZ

Read wjosten's posts in this thread. From a topic he raised in the Lounge (private forum here for Level 6 and above.) I know that he had this happen to him and he knows what he's talking about. Ignore the nonsense from ds store. wjosten had to bring his in to an Apple Store, where they were able to deal with this.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3702077?tstart=0

From the OP: After a couple of tries, I got a 'phone support agent on the line, who advised that when I ran Software Update, it loaded a recent firmware update that locks the machine down. He was evasive at first, but eventually confirmed that the machine was downgradeable when I received it, but was now effectively a Post-Lion machine, and could no longer be returned to it's as-shipped condition.

EDITED: Sorry, disregard, this thread is based entirely on a machine that, even though it was built for Snow, shipped with Lion. As for the firmware update problem, I do know that this happened to wjosten.

Hrabal Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 10, 2014 10:17 AM in response to Lanny

Unfortunately my refurbished MBP came with no installation DVDs, and Apple support on the phone can't (won't?) send me this version of the dvd.

I used (to reply WZZZ) the 10.6 original that came with my early 2010 iMac, so 10.6.3 retail, and that (only now to me 😊 ) seems wrong.

I did not called the phone help (called once, never again), I went to an Apple partner shop (not apple store) that's in my city since early '90's.. The guy solved me some problems in the past.

Anyway, I'll try with 10.6.6 dvd that a friend is going to give me and I'll tell the results 😉, if the terrible three beeps are still there, I'll have another ride to the tech guy.

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 10, 2014 10:22 AM in response to Hrabal

FYI: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20120123175902871

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 10, 2014 10:29 AM in response to Hrabal

Replacement disks should still be available from Apple support, but don't expect them to be free. Expect a replacement fee of around $10-20. You will need to provide them with your serial number. The set should include 2 DVDs that are specific to your model of MBP.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Jul 10, 2014 10:32 AM in response to Hrabal

Ah ha, that changes everything, and puts the firmware update issue on the back burner. In general, you can't use a grey install DVD that came with another Mac. I thought you had the original grey install DVD for your MBP.

Anyway, I'll try with 10.6.6 dvd that a friend is going to give me and I'll tell the results

If it's a grey install disc meant for his computer, it won't work, even though it's 10.6.6...unless his Mac is the exact same build as yours.

Hrabal Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 11, 2014 1:12 AM in response to WZZZ

Used 10.6.6 and this solved everything! Thanks to you and Larry!

I did not know that apple products were so sensitive about the original os. Thanks again!

Federico

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Jul 11, 2014 4:20 AM in response to Hrabal

Interesting news. Was that 10.6.6 a grey install disc from a Mac different from yours?

Dual boot OSX - 10.9 & 10.6