How to get OS back to 10.5 ???

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I have a older Mac Laptop that say's OS 10.5 cannot be installed although it has OS 10.6.8 installed on it now! I think it maybe because the discs I am using came from my iMac rather than a laptop. I need to get back to an earlier version like OS 10.5 or earlier to get some specialized programs to work. The programs won't work on OS 10.6.8.

How do I get back to an earlier OS? Can I download 10.5, or do I have to buy the discs from Apple... as usual?
 

bobtomay

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If the notebook shipped with 10.6, 10.5 cannot be installed on it.

What specialized programs do you need to run that have not been updated in 5 years?
 
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Which MacBook do you have specifically? (as above you can't go back beyond the version that was shipped)

You can't download 10.5. Only 10.7 onwards is downloadable.

The MacBook will have come with OSX discs if these have been lost etc then I suspect you'll need to approach Apple support or scour eBay et al for a 10.5 retail disc
 
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...and 10.5 discs are not cheap!
 
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1. iMac discs will never install - extremely model specific.

2. Always supply model details. Who knows maybe OS X.5 will install depending on the model.

3. Older PowerPC programs will run under Snow Leopard if you activate Rosetta.
 
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I suspect I need to find Powerbook 10.5 or earlier discs, or the first upgrade disc sold after OS 10 hit the market. Apple's greed is making us afraid to buy it's upgrades since it is near impossible to go backwards if the upgrade causes you problems.

Anyone have Powerbook discs or the first Powerbook OS 10 upgrade disc they don't need? Help!

I can probably take it to an Apple Store & get charged $145. minimum to get the OS put back on it! Yikes! :Not-Amused:

Good Idea "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!"

I tried to make a bootable external H.D., but it didn't work! What's the trick?
 

bobtomay

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If the notebook shipped with 10.6, 10.5 cannot be installed on it.

What specialized programs do you need to run that have not been updated in 5 years?

Which MacBook do you have specifically?...

...
2. Always supply model details. ...
3. Older PowerPC programs will run under Snow Leopard if you activate Rosetta.

If you would like a specific, rather than the generic responses to your inquiry, you will have to provide us with the model of MacBook you have.

And/or provide us with the name of the app you want to install - it's possible someone knows how to get it running or can confirm it will not run in 10.6.

No, you cannot use a PowerPC disc from a PowerBook. It will not install on an Intel Mac.
 
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I'm not sure how not having the discs that shipped with the Mac is Apple's fault or down to their greed.

I've got all mine since 10.5 and can regress from any upgrade should the need arise.

However, we may be able to help you and avoid any cost depending on the information you supply as per the requests above.
 
C

chas_m

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One can also backup before a system upgrade -- using Time Machine or a clone program -- and hang onto that backup for a few days/weeks till you're sure you don't need to downgrade.

I have only been using Apple's since the SE/30 and needless to say I've done the upgrade dance many times. There have been a few times where I was confounded briefly but in 30+ years I can't say I've ever been sorry to upgrade, in fact quite the opposite.
 

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