Can I still download Mavericks?

It is very disappointing. Apple and the Apple OS used to be the most powerful, stable and reliable computer on the market. I find it disturbing that the only thing preventing OS X installation on other systems, Intel based, is Apple's Eligibility Check upon installation. Which would wrap up my theory that OS X has become nothing more than an Apple Supported Linux Distro gone awry. I may be kicked off for saying this, but, I find the specs of an HP Windows 7 Pro notebook: Intel dual core i7 with HD 4000 graphics, 8 GB DDR3, 1 TB HD should not have a problem running OS X. If Windows 7 Pro can run flawlessly on a Mac, this is your sign. I just downloaded and installed Nvidia graphics driver update through Windows Update on my Boot Camped Windows 7 Pro. No glitch no hitch. That simple. I find all this very disturbing to me. I thought I paid high dollar for the pinnacle of computers. Makes me sad, so be it.

I have one machine that came with Mountain Lion and one that came with Mavericks. I never purchased or downloaded either OS because they were already installed on their respective machines. It sounds like, even if I could download Mavericks somehow to my Mavericks machine, I wouldn't be able to install it on the other machine because it's not the same Apple ID (at least I don't think it is).

In my case, adobe Digital Editions seems to have problems under Mountain Lion but works fine under Mavericks, hence the need for the upgrade of the one machine. I'd go straight to Yosemite, but have heard too many stories, esp about WIFI issues.

This is pretty awful - in the Windows world, it would be the equivalent of MS not allowing downloads of Windows7 once the vile Windows8 was released. I don't mind paying for a previous version of the OS (I paid to be able to install WIndows7 Pro under Bootcamp), but not to be able to download it at all seems pretty crazy.

It sounds like, even if I could download Mavericks somehow to my Mavericks machine, I wouldn't be able to install it on the other machine because it's not the same Apple ID (at least I don't think it is).

Whatever OS came with your machine (a version that did not come with disks) can only be used on that particular machine - it is machine specific and only licensed to be run on that one. So, free or not, if you want that same OS on another machine, you'd have to get it via regular download at the app store. Now, if you do that, the license allows you to install it on as many Macs as you own and control. Go figure. The new licensing requirements are confusing at best.

"...you'd have to get it via regular download at the app store."

Where it is no longer available. Catch-22.

I've tried to think of how this policy of withdrawing one OS as soon as a new one comes out benefits Apple, but I can't think of any that don't fall apart under careful scrutiny. I guess that's why I don't run a multi-billion-dollar computer company!

You got it (unfortunately).... I just bought a refurb late 2012 i7 iMac at the online Apple store because I wanted the "newest" that could still run 10.8 - which this one actually came loaded with. As I had previously downloaded Mavericks (and copied the installer to an external drive along with all the other OS installers), I updated one partition to Mavericks (the other one is ML so I can run my video/movie apps which aren't quite stable in Mavericks).

Shiny Apples wrote:

If you ever backed up or copied the Install OS X Mavericks.app that was previously downloaded you can use that to install on all your MACs. Always Copy to another location apps you download to back them up before installing.

I myself have downloaded Mavericks previously so it shows up in my App Store and when attempting to re-download it I get an "Error 1004 please try again later." & "We could not complete your request. There was an error in the App Store. Please try again later. (13)". I did this to test the option and it fails we were all under the impression that we would be able to download and install our purchased apps any time. I luckily have backed up my Mavericks to another drive and made it USB bootable following the Macworld instructions:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2056561/how-to-make-a-bootable-mavericks-install -drive.html

they cleaned up the instructions in the Yosemite section:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2367748/how-to-make-a-bootable-os-x-10-10-yosemi te-install-drive.html

Another option is to have the Retail Store re-install Mavericks if you can get to one, lugging your MAC. (They will not give you a copy, but might have a solution for businesses in the Business support.)

If you need older versions of OS X, they can still be purchased in the Apple Online Store:

http://store.apple.com/us/help/downloadable_software#MacOSX

• Snow Leopard (10.6)
• Lion (10.7)
• Mountain Lion (10.8)
• Mavericks (10.9). Learn how to upgrade to OS X Mavericks. ( <<-- The Mavericks Link now links to YOSEMITE. They need to update their links.)

You can apparently still get the Server Editions, But these may still require the Full Basic install. You might be able to force Apple to provide a Redeem Code to download the full install once you pay for a Server Edition:

Purchasing one of the OS X Servers...

http://www.apple.com/osx/server/

http://www.apple.com/osx/server/how-to-upgrade/

The Following OS X Servers are still available from the App Store here are the direct links...

OS X Server 4.0 Yosemite 10.10

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-server/id883878097?mt=12

OS X Server 3.2.2 Mavericks 10.9.5

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-server/id714547929?mt=12

OS X Server 2.2.5 Mountain Lion OS X 10.8.5

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-server/id537441259?mt=12

Lion's OS X Server is not Available: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-lion-server/id444376097?mt=12

All older Versions were on DVD/CD.

I am still waiting on Apple support for the non-server versions. Here are the broken direct links:

OS X Lion 10.7 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id444303913?mt=12

OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id537386512?mt=12

OS X Mavericks 10.9 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id675248567?mt=12

Currently working, OS X Yosemite 10.10 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id675248567?mt=12

Someone the other day mentioned you can buy Mavericks from the Apple Store and get a Redeem Code. But I have not been able to confirm this yet, I am still waiting on Support and why would one pay for a Free OS... It sounds like a Server Edition to me. I do not see anywhere that they now charge for the non-server versions.

Dah•veedJan 2, 2015 7:07 PM
Re: Mavericks download Links Brokenin response to Shiny Apples

Folks have reported most recently that they were able to buy OS X Mavericks by calling the Apple Store. It cost them $20 like all of the previous versions of OS X and they had to wait 3 business days for a redemption code to download it from the Mac App Store.

I also thought I would mention the issue with Third Party SSD and Yosemite:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2849366/mac-wont-boot-about-yosemite-and-your-th ird-party-ssd.html

If your MAC came with Mavericks you can create your bootable install drive from the recovery partition:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2151706/create-a-bootable-mavericks-install-driv e-for-newer-macs.html

For those that have issues with Flash Drives you need to format them first. Apple can not write to NTFS by default.

Regards,

My support has been escalated in Apple and I have an appointment on Friday to see about why my previous purchase will not download. Once this has been figured out I will relay that information to this form. I want to resolve this before attempting internet recovery options mentioned.

My Appointment for escalated support at Apple to find out why my App Store is not allowing me to download a previously downloaded Mavericks OS X has been confirmed but not yet discovered culprit. Since I have no Items in Startup Items nor login Items and the fact that the Download works in Safe Mode we are doing a deep dive to find out what could be the problem and I will report the resolution to fix the problem here when the engineers find it.

So in my Case my previously downloaded Mavericks Option in the App Store does work if I enter Safe Mode. So, you if you have previously downloaded Mavericks OS X and can not re-download it, you might try this in Safe Mode:

OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? - Apple Support

Follow these steps to start up into Safe Mode.

1. Be sure your Mac is shut down.
2. Press the power button.
3. Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be pressed as soon as possible after startup, but not before the startup sound.
4. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.

After the Apple logo appears, it may take longer than usual to reach the login screen. This is because your computer is performing a directory check as part of Safe Mode.

To leave Safe Mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.

@ jndupuis1

Dropping Mavericks? What's going on inside Apple Corp.?

I want to stick with Apple and not go crazy with Linux or Boot Camp Windows as my primary OS. That's not why I chose Mac this late in my life. Yosemite is just not there yet.

I find all this very disturbing to me. I thought I paid high dollar for the pinnacle of computers. Makes me sad, so be it.

@ Mr. Spock

it is really disappointing that Apple has taken Mavericks away. At least we still have the community though.

@ Everyone

Please, everyone provide additional feedback regarding Apples products and services, you can do so at:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

or more specifically for this thread about Mavericks OS X:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

I read somewhere in all my frantic searching for a Mavericks install that there were serious security holes in Mavericks... maybe that is why the original installers were pulled.

Apple removed it because they introduced Yosemite.

Mr. Spock wrote:

I read somewhere in all my frantic searching for a Mavericks install that there were serious security holes in Mavericks... maybe that is why the original installers were pulled.

That is most illogical Mr. Spock.

Apple are still releasing security updates for 10.9 even after it was pulled from the store…

Apple security updates - Apple Support

Apple have repeatedly pulled the previous OS from sale in the App store ever since 10.8 came out. They moved the older versions to use redeem codes via http://store.apple.com

Perhaps 10.9 will eventually go this way too?

I have the feels, too, Drew.

Sorry, I know this is inane, but this whole thing makes my brain hurt.
I'm not myself. LoL

Hope this doesn't get me banned.

: P

After desperately looking for a solution to upgrade from Mountain Lion to Mavericks, by accident I discovered that after logging into my App Store account, there was the Mavericks download hidden in my so called 'Hidden items'!!! 🙂

ℹ Path from the App Store menu bar: Store / Show my account / Hidden items --> left click Management (translated from Dutch, so path names can differ a bit in English) and there is (at least in my account) the sneaky 5 Gb Mave, which then installed flawlessly 😎

I had previously not installed Mavericks and after the release of Yosemite it had vanished. I was so happy to find out it was still there! 😁

I guess many of you will be able to apply the same solution. At least I hope so! Good luck! 😍

(maybe this solution was already posted before: had no time to read the lot of it)

You can still download Mavericks (5 .3 GB) from App Store. Just go to Purchases and check all software you have already downloaded.

Just select Mavericks from the software listed and download it again.

That is only IF you downloaded it previously or if it was the originally installed OS.

Because Steve Jobs is not here to make sure things are done as he wanted them to be. It's shocking that there is no one that could've been his TRUE protege and actually kept the company on the right path. Too many wannabe's and trendy brats ruining it for the rest of us. I run all editing software, but I can't run Chrome, and now I can't download Maverick. I never thought it would come to this!!!😢