Q: Trying to create older os boot
I have an early 2011 Macbook Pro with upgraded RAM (upgraded from 4GB to 8GB). I recently upgraded the operating system to El Capitan 10.11.6. Now, I cannot use my older audio recording software (ProTools 8 LE) and audio interface devices (Mbox 2 Mini, Digidesign 003 Rack) for recording voice and music. I Googled until my fingers are blue and seems a common fix is to install a bootable older version of a Mac operating system, or 'downgrade' from El Capitan back to an earlier operating system. I want to create a bootable older operating system but am having no success. Apple doesn't let you go back and download just any of their old operating systems. In my case, only Mavericks came up as a free option for download. So, I did that, plus I paid $20 for Apple to mail me a disk with Snow Leopard 10.6.3 on it, since I saw somewhere online that 10.6 was the last version supported by ProTools 8 (though I think I was using my ProTools 8 with Yosemite before El Capitan).
My problem is, neither Snow Leopard or Mavericks will install. I created the proper partition on my hard drive as well as on an external 32GB thumb drive and had no luck getting the install to work on either. In both cases, I get an error message immediately when trying to install Mavericks saying: "This copy of the “Install OS X” application is too old to be opened on this version of OS X". For Snow Leopard I get an error message saying: "You can’t use this version of the application “Install Mac OS X” with this version of OS X....You have “Install Mac OS X” 23.1.1."
So, do I need some older version of whatever "Install Mac OS X" is?
MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Upgraded ram from 4GB to 8GB
Posted on Sep 18, 2016 11:48 AM
Macs have a minimum OS that can be installed, this app seems to be a quick way to see that info …
mactracker.ca otherwise use everymac.com along with your model info/ model identifier from About this Mac > More Info > System information.
Early 2011 Macbook Pros seem to require 10.6.6, so your 10.6 disk may be before that (see if it is printed on the disk in tiny text). Later models seem to require 10.7.2.
Mavericks should work so I suspect you are doing something wrong - how are you making the bootable USB disk? Where are you getting the 10.9 installer from? Use DiskmakerX.com or use Apple's own guide to make a bootable installer… NOTE: some USB disks just won't boot some Macs, try another.
Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support
Another option is to try internet recovery, which downloads the OS that shipped with the Mac. Use a wired internet connection if you go that route - it downloads a basic install OS & then the entire OS installer - about 6GB or more. WiFi can be too flaky.
Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery - Apple Support
About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
After that is installed you can upgrade via the store assuming you have 10.9 or another version already purchased in your store account, otherwise I believe the Apple store sells redemption codes for some OS versions that can be used in the App store (simple huh?!).
Posted on Sep 18, 2016 12:10 PM