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How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?

How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 3:09 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 3:17 PM

  1. You must have a fully bootable Mavericks system from which to boot the computer. You can then erase the volume with Yosemite, then clone the Mavericks system to the empty volume you just erased.
  2. You can erase the drive and reinstall Mavericks if you have a USB Mavericks installer flash drive.
  3. You can boot the computer via Internet Recovery and reinstall the original version of OS X that came with the computer. This is only feasible on models from 2011 to the present.
600 replies

Jan 2, 2015 8:00 AM in response to findik

it would be nice if I could distribute it to people in need, like putting on the sharedrive. But not sure Apple would like that.


Note sure about "not liking it"; however, it would violate the SLA as anything obtained from the app store is not only NOT transferable, but it is tied to your Apple ID. You are free to use it on any computer YOU own and control, so unless you want to publish your Apple ID and password along with the OS, you would not be doing anyone a favor.

Jan 2, 2015 8:02 AM in response to Yuck9

The app store will show the OS your Mac came with (Lion and later) and/or any OS version you've downloaded since, either under your Purchases or Updates section; it has nothing to do with reverting back first. If yours came with Snow Leopard, it will never revert to that via the app store - you need your original install disks.

Jan 2, 2015 11:57 AM in response to petermac87

"Many of those 28 pages are made up of a lot of the same people reposting. If you want to see really really long discussions well over hundreds of pages of complaints, then search the Mavericks and Mountain Lion Forums for starters. No where near as many complaints about Yosemite. 🙂

Happy New Year

Pete"


Pete - thanks for the response. If you look back to the Original Post, you should notice there are over 700 people who have indicated they have this question also. Add in the probability that the users of this forum represent only a tiny fraction of the whole userbase of Apple computers, and I think it should be clear there really are a lot of people who would like to go back to Mavericks (or in my case upgrade to it).


Again, I'd like to upgrade to Yosemite, but only after I experience Mavericks. You know, one step at a time. I upgraded my HDD to a SSD, reinstalled Mountain Lion, and am currently enjoying a much nicer and faster experience before. I'd like to take the next step, then later, at a time of my own choosing take one more step.

Jan 2, 2015 12:04 PM in response to MichelPM

"You had about a year to install OS X 10.9 Mavericks on your Mac. Why did you wait so long and why did you wait until Yosemite was release.

SInce you have upgraded your Mac before, you know that Apple removes the previous OS X versions from their download servers once a new OS version is released. Apple does this for IOS upgrades, as well.

Apple may make Mavericks available, again (possibly with a fee for a download code, who knows), as a download, but so far, not currently.

Why did you wait so very long to want to upgrade to Mavericks and why, now, do you feel you need it?"


Michael - thanks for the response. I don't see why it is relevant, but since you asked the reason I did wait is because my old HDD was full, slow, and possibly having errors. I didn't have the capability to do a backup, nor the money to purchase a new hard drive until about a month ago. I did purchase a new Crucial SSD, borrowed a USB-SCSI adapter from a friend at work, and was finally able to upgrade. Since then I have performed a Time Machine backup, and finally am ready to upgrade my OS. I just want Mavericks. I believe other people have indicated that those who had Mavericks before are able to acquire the full install from the App Store still, so that would mean it is actually available on the Apple servers.


If Apple does make it available again, I would think that yes it will be free, since it was a free upgrade to begin with. But aside from all that, not every upgrade is appropriate for every user. Some people report specific hardware issues with Yosemite and older hardware. I'd prefer to wait until I see that some of those issues are resolved before I adopt Yosemite, hence why I want Mavericks. (In addition to that, I want to see all the features of Mavericks, compare it to Mountain Lion, and then do the same when I upgrade to Yosemite at a future date. It may be that I find I have a better experience with one of the three than the other two, and since it's my computer it should be my choice.)

Jan 2, 2015 6:19 PM in response to ryanfromoklahoma city

ryanfromoklahoma city wrote:


If you look back to the Original Post, you should notice there are over 700 people who have indicated they have this question also. Add in the probability that the users of this forum represent only a tiny fraction of the whole userbase of Apple computers, and I think it should be clear there really are a lot of people who would like to go back to Mavericks (or in my case upgrade to it).



700? Out or tens upon tens of millions??? Plus your speculative probability which you came up with...how?


Yes it's so clear that the 'majority' want to go back to a more complained about OS X and in your case go forward to it.😝


Great deduction


Pete

Jan 3, 2015 8:22 AM in response to petermac87

Pete, this will be my last response to you, as I wish to be polite and not carry on arguing. The title of this thread is "How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?" and the responses are filled with a mixture of people asking basically the same question, and others telling them "you don't really want to do that - let me tell you what you want to do."


I want to install Mavericks. If you or anyone has information regarding how to do so, please respond.


<Edited By Host>

Jan 3, 2015 9:52 AM in response to ryanfromoklahoma city

Unfortunately, any Mac OS or app (which was originally obtained at the app store) sold or given away anywhere but the app store is considered pirated software because:


the person downloading it is getting one license to use that software on their own computers plus they may make a backup copy. Selling it or giving it away is violating the licensing agreement, making it for the recipient - technically - pirated or stolen software. You can read the SLA in its entirety here:


http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/OSX109.pdf


The only legal way to obtain Mac OS X is from the app store. There is no other place or person that can legally sell it.


Your post was most likely editied by a host because we are not allowed to discuss anything that would violate the SLA here.

Jan 3, 2015 1:52 PM in response to ryanfromoklahoma city

ryanfromoklahoma city wrote:


Pete, this will be my last response to you, as I wish to be polite and not carry on arguing. The title of this thread is "How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?" and the responses are filled with a mixture of people asking basically the same question, and others telling them "you don't really want to do that - let me tell you what you want to do."


I want to install Mavericks. If you or anyone has information regarding how to do so, please respond.


<Edited By Host>

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/revert-back-mavericks-from-yosemit e-3581872/


Of course, if you never owned o copy of Mavericks in the first place, or Mavericks was not your default OSX on the Mac when you bought it, then you simply cannot have something that you never had in the first place. Mavericks has gone now. If you never tried it, then why do you claim you need it? You previous comments were ridiculous. Why not first try another OSX that you have never had to help evaluate another OS X that you have never had?


I am not sure what was removed from your post by the Hosts, but it seems to show that your rantings are confusing and against the Terms Of Use


Anyhow, folow the link I gave above. If you cannot follow it then you simply can't do whatever it is that you wish to do for whatever reason you wish to do it.


??????????????????


Cheers


Pete

How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?

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