Install OS X Snow Leopard on external blank USB HD from Mac running el Capitan

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Level 1

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Install OS X Snow Leopard on external blank USB HD from Mac running el Capitan

Greetings,

I am trying to install OS X Snow Leopard on an external blank USB drive using the original DVD. The drive is connected to my iMac, which is running OS X El Capitan. The drive is for an older iMac 24 (2007) that does not support OS X Sierra.

I cannot launch the Snow Leopard install from the original DVD; I get the following message:

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.

How can I install the OS X Snow Leopard on the External Drive?

Thank you.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 2, 2016 3:44 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,849 points

Oct 2, 2016 3:46 PM in response to robertbrou

Restart with the disk in the drive and the C or Option key held down.

(145071)

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

685,341 points

Oct 3, 2016 8:25 AM in response to robertbrou

How old is the computer you are booting off of? Did you select the external drive before clicking install?

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Answer 3

robertbrou Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 3, 2016 2:02 PM in response to Niel

Thank you Niel for your support.

I am running a newer iMac (27", Late 2012). So when I attempt to boot from the CD drive (also USB, external), I get an Unsupported CPU message:

It looks like I'll just have to get the original iMac and perform the install directly on that. I had thought it might be easier to just take the USB drive (much smaller and lighter) than the whole unit.

Best regards,

Rob

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Answer 4

robertbrou Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 3, 2016 2:04 PM in response to Eric Root

Eric,

I am running a newer iMac (27", Late 2012). So when I attempt to boot from the CD drive (also USB, external), I get the Unsupported CPU message.

It looks like I'll have to get the original unit and go from there.

Thanks anyway,

Rob

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