Regretting El Capitan - can I rollback?

Hi - I read a glowing review of El Capitan and upgraded.

Now my sound device and Xbox controller won't work (I've uninstalled and re-installed) and I wonder if I can roll the OS back to 10.9.5?

To make matters worse, I can't find the disk that came with the Mac - actually I can't remember if it came with a disk or arrived preloaded.

I have backed up all my docs and files.

Is it safe to restart, holding Apple + R ?

Any help! Thank you.

You can roll back. If you boot from the Internet recovery, you can reinstall the original OS that was installed on the drive, then update to whatever version you want, as long as it is in the Purchased tab of your Mac Apple Store. So, check there to see what Install xxx versions are there, then read https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314 and follow the instructions. CMD+R will only boot the Recovery partition that Yosemite installed which won't get you what you want. You'll need to boot to the Internet Recovery mode.


EDIT: One caution: if any of your apps were updated to the Yosemite version as part of your upgrade and you roll back, if the backed up files are the Yosemite version, they may or may not work and may need to be reinstalled for the 10.9 version.

Great! Thank you - I'll give it a go. Much appreciated
___________________

edit: Ah, I've just looked in my Purchased tab at Apple Store and my old version isn't there.
I bought the machine from an authorised reseller - this is why I can't remember if it came with a disk. I'll find the purchase confirmation email and see if it sheds any light.

thank you.

Without knowing the model and year it is hard to guess what version internet recovery will install. If you use the Recovery System stored on your startup drive to reinstall OS X, it installs the most recent version of OS X previously installed on this computer. If you use Internet Recovery to reinstall OS X, it installs the version of OS X that originally came with your computer.

Mac computers introduced before 2009 came with OS X Install or Restore discs. After that no disks, just a recover partition or over the internet.

To get to the recovery system - restart and hold down the command + r keys.

Lisa

Lisa and Jake - thank you so much. I'm reassured now, that I can do this, so really appreciate both your help.
It's a mid 2011 model and should revert to 10.9.5 I think.
I never bothered with Yosemite, on the reseller's advice!
Thanks very much indeed!

I spoke too soon!
I went the Internet Recovery route and the only option is El Capitan.

What am I missing?

For extra info, I haven't actually ever used Time Machine.... oops.
__________

Yep, the only image on Startup Disk is 10.11

noobuk66 said:

It's a mid 2011 model and should revert to 10.9.5 I think.

Click to expand...

You didn't mention the exact model of the computer. But if it's a mid-2011…this is most likely an iMac or a MacBook Air (versus a MacBook Pro, etc.).

If it's a Mid-2011 iMac…it originally shipped with OS 10.6.6 "Snow Leopard. If it's a Mid-2011 MacBook Air…it originally shipped with 10.7 "Lion".

- Nick

HI Nick - yes, it's a 27" iMac mid-2011, i5, 2.7GHz

noobuk66 said:

I spoke too soon!
I went the Internet Recovery route and the only option is El Capitan.

What am I missing?

Click to expand...

There are three ways to reinstall the OS on Macintosh computers since Apple stopped shipping them with disks:

1. The Recovery Partition on the HD.
2. Internet Recovery.
3. From a bootable USB stick (that the user makes on their own).

- The Recovery Partition method reinstalls the most current version of the OS that was installed on the computer (which in this case would be El Capitan).
- The Internet Recovery Method reinstalls the OS that originally shipped with the computer.

If El Capitan with the only option you've seen so far…that's the "Recovery Partition" method (not the Internet Recovery Method).

Please see this document for more info:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

- Nick

Here's a thought: could I buy a new version of Snow Leopard off Ebay, then upgrade to 10.9.5?

pigoo3 said:

There are three ways to reinstall the OS on Macintosh computers since Apple stopped shipping them with disks:

1. The Recovery Partition on the HD.
2. Internet Recovery.
3. From a bootable USB stick (that the user makes on their own).

- The Recovery Partition method reinstalls the most current version of the OS that was installed on the computer (which in this case would be El Capitan).
- The Internet Recovery Method reinstalls the OS that originally shipped with the computer.

If El Capitan with the only option you've seen so far…that's the "Recovery Partition" method (not the Internet Recovery Method).

Please see this document for more info:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

- Nick

Click to expand...

Thanks again Nick, but I'm pretty sure the Internet Recovery option went to El Capitan but I'll give it another bash.
Sorry if this is naive noob stuff!

noobuk66 said:

HI Nick - yes, it's a 27" iMac mid-2011, i5, 2.7GHz

Click to expand...

Thanks for the model info. As mentioned…this computer originally shipped with OS 10.6.6. And as mentioned…Internet Recovery will reinstall the OS that originally shipped with the computer. With Internet Recovery…I think that ONLY OS 10.7 and higher can be reinstalled. Since this computer came with 10.6.6…it's hard to know what it will reinstall.

This is what I can tell you. I had the exact same computer (Mid-2011 27" iMac)…and I had hard drive problems with it (needed to install a new HD). When I did Internet Recovery on it…OS 10.7 was Reinstalled.

If the Apple document that I linked is read…I believe that the computer will use the OS reinstall feature from the Recovery Partition FIRST. It will only attempt Internet Recovery if there is no useable Recovery Partition OS install option. If this is the case…El Capitan may be the only option at this point.

I don't think you can "force" the computer to do Internet Recovery IF the Recovery Partition on the HD is present and operational.

- Nick

noobuk66 said:

Thanks again Nick, but I'm pretty sure the Internet Recovery option went to El Capitan but I'll give it another bash.
Sorry if this is naive noob stuff!

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure if El Capitan was the reinstall option…this reinstall was coming from the HD's Recovery Partition…not Internet Recovery. If the Apple document is read…it states that:

- Recovery Partition reinstalls the most recent OS that was on the HD.
- Internet Recovery reinstalls the OS that originally shipped with the computer.

We both know that this computer did not originally ship with El Capitan (El Capitan was released just 2 days ago). So the reinstall option of El Capitan had to have come from the HD's Recovery Partition (not Internet Recovery).

- Nick

BTW. If the hard drive has an operational Recovery Partition…I don't think that Internet Recovery can be "forced" instead. If a brand new HD (or completely erased HD) were used…then Internet Recovery would kick-in (since these HD's would not have a Recovery Partition on them).

I guess it could be possible that a Terminal command exists that could be used to force Internet Recovery. But I'm not 100% sure on this. FYI…Terminal is a Apple app that is auto-installed with the OS (in case you didn't know).

- Nick

Thanks Nick - I REALLY appreciate all the time you're giving me - but (!) I've attached the screen shot and the only option that seems akin to Internet Recovery is: 'Get Help Online'

I've been up to File menu but am mystified by what I see... sorry

How would I find out if there's an optional recovery partition, btw?

The photo you posted is the Recovery Partition. When Internet Recovery is encountered…you see a globe of the Earth…that looks something like this:



- Nick

noobuk66 said:

How would I find out if there's an optional recovery partition, btw?

Click to expand...

There is no "optional" Recovery Partition. There's just one Recovery Partition on an HD…and that's the one you're seeing with the photo you posted.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

The photo you posted is the Recovery Partition. When Internet Recovery is encountered…you see a globe of the Earth…that looks something like this:

- Nick

Click to expand...

Oh, but I've not seen that screen... how do I get to that?

i'm holding in Apple + R and I get the screenshot I posted