downgrade from 10.7 to 10.5

Thudbutt · Thudbutt #1 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 12:26 AM

I have a macbook that has lion installed but I want to downgrade to 10.5. I have the 10.5 install discs which came from an older iMac. Will I be able to simply insert the discs to remove lion and install 10.5?

Winz · Winz #2 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 12:32 AM

much better answer than mine below

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #3 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thudbutt

I have a macbook that has lion installed but I want to downgrade to 10.5. I have the 10.5 install discs which came from an older iMac. Will I be able to simply insert the discs to remove lion and install 10.5?

Depends on exactly which model MacBook you have. All Apple computers are limited to a minimum (or oldest) OS version that can be installed on them.

So for example...if a MacBook model was released in "Late 2009" the oldest OS version that can be installed on it would be a version of OS 10.6 (OS 10.5 wouldn't work).

Also...even if your MacBook is "old enough" to install OS 10.5 on it...those gray/silver disks from an older iMac will not work on it. Those gray/silver discs are model specific...so gray/silver iMac disks will not work on a MacBook.

HTH,

- Nick

Thudbutt · Thudbutt #4 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 05:05 AM

I want to downgrade my macbook pro, made in china! late 2011. Is this possible?

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #5 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 05:08 AM

No it's not. Why would you want to downgrade all the way to Leopard? Many bugs that were never fixed and a much slower OS than Snow Leopard and Lion. Your 2011 MBP is probably going to need at least Snow Leopard. What OS did it ship with?

Nick above told you the facts. You can not install older versions of OSX on a Mac that came with a newer version.

MacDude121 · MacDude121 #6 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 05:13 AM

I can somewhat understand wanting to downgrade to Snow Leopard (10.6) if you have some PowerPC apps that will not run on Lion. But 10.5 is very old now, and unsupported by Apple.

Thudbutt · Thudbutt #7 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 05:35 AM

My imac has leopard installed I have no issues with this OS, I would like to run the same OS on both my computers.

Could I downgrade my MBP late 2011 to snow leopard? the MBP came installed with lion, which I have several issues with.

Thudbutt · Thudbutt #8 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 05:41 AM

My imac has leopard installed I have no issues with this OS, I would like to run the same OS on both my computers.

Could I downgrade my MBP late 2011 to snow leopard? the MBP came installed with lion, which I have several issues with.

I do not have time machine. If its possible to downgrade I will buy a SL install disk.

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #9 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thudbutt

Could I downgrade my MBP late 2011 to snow leopard? the MBP came installed with lion, which I have several issues with.

No you cannot. All "Late 2011" MacBook Pro's came preinstalled with OS 10.7.2...which means this is the minimum OS version that they will run on them.

This is one of the parameters that must be considered when purchasing a brand new model Macintosh. Some older applications may not work with OS 10.7...and some older hardware may not work with OS 10.7.

- Nick

Thudbutt · Thudbutt #10 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 11:28 AM

changing the theme should solve my problems, any suggestions or tips?

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #11 (**permalink**)

12-29-2011, 04:05 PM

One tip.....stick with Lion.

You cannot go backwards to any older operating system.

phxmummy · phxmummy #12 (**permalink**)

01-10-2012, 08:33 PM

I need to reinstall OS on my MacBook Pro. It originally came with OS X 10.5, then I upgraded to OS X 10.7. When I use the original CD's that came (10.5) and reboot, it just starts rebooting and I never get to the installation page.

Same applies when I access the 10.5 CD and reboot from the installation point "Click the button below to restart your computer and begin the installation process."

Am I doing something wrong? I think I should be able to downgrade to the original OS with the original software? Need to do a clean install since I don't think I can do it with 10.7 as I bough that one on the App Store. At least I don't know how to do it. When I login to the App Store, it tells me the 10.7 is installed, and it's grayed out.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

phxmummy · phxmummy #13 (**permalink**)

01-10-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phxmummy

I need to reinstall OS on my MacBook Pro. It originally came with OS X 10.5, then I upgraded to OS X 10.7. When I use the original CD's that came (10.5) and reboot, it just starts rebooting and I never get to the installation page.

Same applies when I access the 10.5 CD and reboot from the installation point "Click the button below to restart your computer and begin the installation process."

Am I doing something wrong? I think I should be able to downgrade to the original OS with the original software? Need to do a clean install since I don't think I can do it with 10.7 as I bough that one on the App Store. At least I don't know how to do it. When I login to the App Store, it tells me the 10.7 is installed, and it's grayed out.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Update: The CD (10.5) works just fine on my older MacBook Pro, also originally came with the 10.5, now on 10.7. Was able to boot to it and get to the new installation.

My other MacBook Pro still restarts after trying to boot to the same original CD - please help!!!

TattooedMac · TattooedMac #14 (**permalink**)

01-10-2012, 09:09 PM

To help with the Lion problem in the App Store. When opening the Mac App Store hold down the Option key and now Lion won't be greyed out and you can go about your day no problems.
Not sure what is happening when booting. As long as the Disk's are the Grey machine specific installation media then you should be fine.
Did you hold down the 'c' key or 'option' key when trying to boot from the DVD??

Cheers

phxmummy · phxmummy #15 (**permalink**)

01-10-2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TattooedMac

To help with the Lion problem in the App Store. When opening the Mac App Store hold down the Option key and now Lion won't be greyed out and you can go about your day no problems.
Not sure what is happening when booting. As long as the Disk's are the Grey machine specific installation media then you should be fine.
Did you hold down the 'c' key or 'option' key when trying to boot from the DVD??

Cheers

I was able to hold the Option key and now it's downloading. Not sure where, but it is. Any suggestions on if I can do a clean install from the Lion once it's downloaded? If so, how?

Yes, I tried with the "c" key, still just restarting. However, my other MacBook Pro got no issues with the same DVD :-(

dtravis7 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca. Posts: 25,815 Mac Specs: iMac C2D Late 2007 20" with 10.8.3, Macbook Santa Rosa 4GB Ram OSX 10.8.3	12-29-2011, 05:08 AM No it's not. Why would you want to downgrade all the way to Leopard? Many bugs that were never fixed and a much slower OS than Snow Leopard and Lion. Your 2011 MBP is probably going to need at least Snow Leopard. What OS did it ship with? Nick above told you the facts. You can not install older versions of OSX on a Mac that came with a newer version. ...Dennis Mac-Forums Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	12-29-2011, 04:05 PM One tip.....stick with Lion. You cannot go backwards to any older operating system. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

TattooedMac #14 (permalink)
Member Since: May 19, 2009 Location: Western Astraya Posts: 6,462 Mac Specs: 13"MBP 2.9Ghz Intel Core i7 10.8.3 ~ iPhone5 6.1.3 ~ iPad Mini 6.1.3 ~ ATV2 5.2.1	01-10-2012, 09:09 PM To help with the Lion problem in the App Store. When opening the Mac App Store hold down the Option key and now Lion won't be greyed out and you can go about your day no problems. Not sure what is happening when booting. As long as the Disk's are the Grey machine specific installation media then you should be fine. Did you hold down the 'c' key or 'option' key when trying to boot from the DVD?? Cheers Dont forget to use the Reputation System if someone has helped you out !!! Arguing with a zealot is only slightly easier than tunneling through a mountain with your forehead!!!!!
	QUOTE Thanks

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Thudbutt #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 26, 2011 Posts: 36	12-29-2011, 12:26 AM I have a macbook that has lion installed but I want to downgrade to 10.5. I have the 10.5 install discs which came from an older iMac. Will I be able to simply insert the discs to remove lion and install 10.5?
	QUOTE Thanks

Winz #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 28, 2011 Posts: 3	12-29-2011, 12:32 AM much better answer than mine below
	QUOTE Thanks

Thudbutt #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 26, 2011 Posts: 36	12-29-2011, 05:05 AM I want to downgrade my macbook pro, made in china! late 2011. Is this possible?
	QUOTE Thanks

MacDude121 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 22, 2010 Posts: 1,385 Mac Specs: Black MacBook 2.2GHz C2D, 4GB Ram - iMac G4 700MHz, 512MB Ram	12-29-2011, 05:13 AM I can somewhat understand wanting to downgrade to Snow Leopard (10.6) if you have some PowerPC apps that will not run on Lion. But 10.5 is very old now, and unsupported by Apple.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thudbutt #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 26, 2011 Posts: 36	12-29-2011, 05:35 AM My imac has leopard installed I have no issues with this OS, I would like to run the same OS on both my computers. Could I downgrade my MBP late 2011 to snow leopard? the MBP came installed with lion, which I have several issues with.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thudbutt #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 26, 2011 Posts: 36	12-29-2011, 05:41 AM My imac has leopard installed I have no issues with this OS, I would like to run the same OS on both my computers. Could I downgrade my MBP late 2011 to snow leopard? the MBP came installed with lion, which I have several issues with. I do not have time machine. If its possible to downgrade I will buy a SL install disk.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thudbutt #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 26, 2011 Posts: 36	12-29-2011, 11:28 AM changing the theme should solve my problems, any suggestions or tips?
	QUOTE Thanks

phxmummy #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 08, 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro	01-10-2012, 08:33 PM I need to reinstall OS on my MacBook Pro. It originally came with OS X 10.5, then I upgraded to OS X 10.7. When I use the original CD's that came (10.5) and reboot, it just starts rebooting and I never get to the installation page. Same applies when I access the 10.5 CD and reboot from the installation point "Click the button below to restart your computer and begin the installation process." Am I doing something wrong? I think I should be able to downgrade to the original OS with the original software? Need to do a clean install since I don't think I can do it with 10.7 as I bough that one on the App Store. At least I don't know how to do it. When I login to the App Store, it tells me the 10.7 is installed, and it's grayed out. Any help is greatly appreciated.
	QUOTE Thanks

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