A Cunning Plan....?

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I am 'sort of' - 'maybe/could be' in the market for a laptop.

If I should indulge myself and get one (which would have recent OS on it), would I be able to partition it so that I could run an older OS My idea would be to minimise the space for the basic OS and devote most of the space for an earlier one?

Could it work?

Thanks
 
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You cannot install an OS older than the one that originally came on the Mac. So your plan, as you stated it, will not work. Now what you could do is buy a used Mac that came with the older version you want to run and then add a second system on a different partition to run something more modern.

Can you tell us why you want to run an older version of the OS? Maybe your objective can be accomplished in a different way.
 
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MBAmtloin

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What i have is a macbook with 3 different ssd drives.
when i need to use a canon-scan LTE3o and HP inljet 932 printer, i install that SSD that runs snow leopard.
when i need to run Dreamweaver and other cs3-4 programs, I install a ssd with Mountain lion.
when i need to compute in 2020, I keep the ssd with High Sierra installed.
this is not gospel or a suggestion, just something i learned recently to keep me productive while using the macbook.

I would recommend a 2012-2015 macbook pro that can upgrade both memory and HD while using older programs.
the innards are still capable of perform today's' computing tasks.
 
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Mitcherooney
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Thanks for your quick reply.

It is as I suspected, Apple have devised a system designed to scupper my idea. I am somewhat frustrated by the merry-go-round of update OS, replace now outdated software. Oh look, another new OS has arrived. Go back to start....

The reason for my - I think, reasonable idea is that I have on older, steam driven iMac and its life is surely limited. I would like to have laptop available when I am away from my desk. I would then be able to carry on the work that I was doing.

Obtaining a satisfactory older laptop that will outlast the iMac is doubtful, I think...

What do you think?
 
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MBAmtloin

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last year i ditched the whole desktop and desk computing workspace and went mobile!: laptops, ipads and futons!
this year i realize i am not getting things done like i used to.
so i searching for an imac instead of getting a monitor, hds and other things for my laptops.
i am currently scanning and merging these images together in a 2GB document with a laptop.
so far everything is good but wished i had a desktop computer for extra ports, better screen and more storage space.

I would keep the imac for older projects and storage, they are great machines and purchase a Macbook that suits your needs while keeping up with these apple upgrades. which one is up to you, just be aware of the macbooks that were recalled due to typing and battery malfuntions.
 
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Mitcchrooney2, what is it that you want to do? What software do you want to run?

Apple has never supported running an older version of the OS on a newer Mac. They don't go backwards like that. Never have, AFAIK.

But that doesn't mean you can't do what you want, have mobility. The key is what software do you want to run, what files do you want to be able to open and use? Many time software can bo from newer to older machines, or the outputs can, with success.

So, what is it that you want to accomplish, exactly?
 

chscag

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@Mitcherooney and Mitcherooney2:

You have registered two names in our forums. Our forum software will automatically ban you because of that. I just happened to remember who you are. Tell us which name you wish to use and we will combine both registrations into one. If you have forgotten your password or other data, let us know by using the "Contact Us". Do not create another registration.

Thanks.
 
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Hi chscag and thanks for your message. Ages ago, I was Mitcherooney. Later, when I tried to log on, the username was not accepted, so I dreamt up Mitcherooney2. Inventive, no?

Given a choice, I prefer the name without the digit, but I'll go along with whatever you decide.

Many thanks

Austen
 

chscag

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Okay, thanks. We will combine your identities into one: "Mitcheroonery". The #2 will be gone.
 

chscag

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As you can see, your old name is back along with your avatar. Hopefully, you can remember your password. If not, let us know.
 
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If you buy an older model year laptop, you should be able to do what you want to do, depending on the OS version you want to use?
 

pigoo3

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It is as I suspected, Apple have devised a system designed to scupper my idea. I am somewhat frustrated by the merry-go-round of update OS, replace now outdated software. Oh look, another new OS has arrived. Go back to start....

This is the way the computer industry works (macOS or Windows)...and has worked since the early 1980's when personal computers started to be affordable. If computer & software companies didn't have some sort of "product cycle" (launch new products periodically)...then all of us Apple enthusiasts would still be running an all-in-one Mac from 1984 running the very first Mac OS (System 1) aka "Macintosh System Software 1".

Even if you got a brand new Apple computer today (of course with the latest macOS version)...in a couple years you will still be faced with new macOS versions (usually once/year)...and apps that eventually may or may not be compatible with the latest OS version.

My suggestion is...if you would like to be able to run the latest macOS version...and...be able to run an older rmacOS version for compatability with older hardware or software...first determine what older version of the macOS you want/need to run. The find the newest model Apple notebook that can run that older macOS version & also run the latest macOS. Hopefully that older macOS version is not too old...otherwise this compromise won't be possible.

HTH,

- Nick
 

Rod


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Honestly, and no offence meant but I think you (and many others) must just give up this idea of somehow keeping old macOS's running to support older software if it is on your primary device. If you have multiple devices, sure, running a 2009 mac with Snow Leopard on board to run old apps and games from that era is fine but it's an impossible ask if, like me, you only have one device.

I only have a 2015 MBP and keeping it up to date is essential for security, syncing and compatibility with other devices and software. Change is inevitable and so is upgrading. When my MBP is unable to upgrade I will buy a new one.

You can stay on one macOS for three years before Apple makes it unsupported which should be plenty of time to find new software and learn about predicted changes. A lot of people work one macOS behind which is a good idea in many ways and gives time to absorb the implications of upgrading as well as ensuring all the bugs have been ironed out but if you buy a new iPhone or iPad or simply upgrade their operating systems you may run into compatibility problems again.

Of course Apple and other developers make money out of this constant change but thats how the system has always worked, they do not change just for the sake of change, its about competition, profit and progress. If not for those motivators we would still be using D cell batteries and incandescent light globes.
 

krs


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Thanks for your quick reply.
It is as I suspected, Apple have devised a system designed to scupper my idea.

It's not so much that Apple devised a system to prevent newer Macs to run older macOSs but that some of the hardware required in the new Macs to keep up ith user expectations requires some of the functionality of a newer macOS.

But having said that, there is the odd Mac that will run properly on a somewhat older macOS than it was shipped with.
I have two of those, the latest one being a 2017 13-inch MacBook Air that was shipped with 10.12 but I wanted to use 10.11 to keep the same macOS that was used on the MBp it was replacing. So since there was only a CPU speed upgrade from the 2015 model which shipped with 10.10 I ewas pretty confident 10.11 would run fine - and it has now for well over a year.
So, depending how far back you want to go with the macOS, there may be options.
The other possibility that was mentioned in this forum a while back is the possibility to run an older macOS in some virtual environment.
 

chscag

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You can stay on one macOS for three years before Apple makes it unsupported which should be plenty of time to find new software and learn about predicted changes.

You can no longer depend on that time frame either. Just look what Apple did with their iWork apps...

However, some other developers have been more understanding and still provide older builds of their apps so folks who run an older version of macOS can still use them. A good example of that are the developers of CCC and OnyX.
 

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