reverting to mavericks from another computer

Question

Level 1

8 points

reverting to mavericks from another computer

I have an app which controls my piano keyboard which only runs on Mavericks. I did a backup on my time machine, with a partitioned hard drive, from a friend's iMac which was still on Yosemite. I would like to start my MacBook, which runs on Yosemite, from the backup and then make a copy of Mavericks on a thumb drive so that I can start my MacBook from the thumb drive. I could then use the app which runs on Mavericks to control my key board. I assume I could start up my MacBook from my Yosemite backup. Is this possible and if so how do I do it. Thanks

MacBook, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), Mac book intel duo

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 11:49 AM

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Answer 1

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,116 points

Apr 30, 2015 12:13 PM in response to ginasdad

If your Mac came from Apple with Yosemite as the OS, it cannot boot to Mavericks no matter how you try.

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Answer 2

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2015 2:07 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Thanks for the reply. My Macbook is old so it didn't come with either Mavericks or Yosemite. If it helps it's a late 2008.

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Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Apr 30, 2015 10:51 PM in response to ginasdad

If you downloaded Mavericks with your Apple ID, the idea might work; however, if it was downloaded using someone else's Apple ID, then it is tied to that Apple ID and anything downloaded from the app store is NOT transferable. And, if you downloaded it previously, you should be able to use internet recovery to wipe your drive, reinstall your original OS (or possibly Lion if yours came with Snow Leopard or earlier) and then update to the previously purchased Mavericks.

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Answer 4

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2015 3:35 PM in response to babowa

Thanks babowa, I have used my own ID to do all the updates. I am thinking that you are suggesting using a CD that came with the MacBook to start with that OS and then the subsequent upgrades would be available at the App store. Is this the idea?

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Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Apr 30, 2015 10:51 PM in response to ginasdad

Yes, if you use the original install media, boot from that, erase the entire hard drive and then reinstall, then all of it would be tied to your apple ID - you need to be at 10.6.8 to have access to the app store. If yours came with Lion or later, then Internet Recovery should also work, but if it was Snow leopard or earlier, you'll need the disks.

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Answer 6

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2015 10:50 PM in response to babowa

It seems from my research that my MacBook is too old to use Internet Recovery. I will see if I can come up with a disc.

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Answer 7

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

May 1, 2015 9:53 AM in response to ginasdad

Try going to the App Store Purchases tab download Mavericks and install it on the USB drive as Babowa 1st suggested.

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Answer 8

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 12:10 PM in response to Eric Root

When I search Mavericks in the app store I do not get the OS. Is there a trick?

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Answer 9

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,116 points

May 1, 2015 12:39 PM in response to ginasdad

No, there's no trick. Only if you obtained Mavericks while it was available (before Yosemite's release) will you have access to it. And that would be in your list of purchases, such as listed in mine:

If you didn't get it then, you can't at all now.

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Answer 10

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 12:57 PM in response to Kurt Lang

I didn't look in my purchases. It is there. Can I download it and install it on the flash drive?

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Answer 11

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,116 points

May 1, 2015 1:04 PM in response to ginasdad

Yes. There are a few ways to create a bootable full installer on a flash drive. I use DiskMaker X. You need an 8 GB drive.

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Answer 12

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 4:58 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Thanks for walking me through this.I have installed the app Disc Maker X, do I download Mavericks to the flash drive I want it on, or my MacBook?

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Answer 13

kahjot

Level 4

2,462 points

May 1, 2015 5:16 PM in response to ginasdad

Download Mavericks to your HD. The "Install OS X Mavericks.app" will launch, but at that first screen, just quit the installer app. Then launch DiskmakerX and follow the prompts to create a bootable installer on the flash drive.

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Answer 14

ginasdad Author

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2015 5:23 PM in response to kahjot

Tried opening Mavericks from the dock and I got the message that it was too old to open in my OS. It has since disappeared from the dock and is not in my downloads file. Any ideas?

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Answer 15

Kurt Lang

Level 9

58,116 points

May 6, 2015 7:06 PM in response to ginasdad

"Too old" only makes sense if you currently have Yosemite installed as the Mac's OS. You can't install an older major release over a newer one. You'd have to back up your data, boot to the Mavericks USB installer you made, erase the hard drive, install Mavericks, then restore your personal data and reinstall your third party apps.

The Mavericks downloaded .dmg file should still be in the Applications folder.

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