Downgrade from Yosemite to Snow Leopard

[welsh_flag]

I upgraded to Yosemite from Snow Leopard on 20th October, but I don't like the new interface at all. Basically I want to go back to SL.
I thought that I could do this easily via Time Machine. The last backup I made was before upgrading, and expected to be able to use this. However, the only option I have is to use a 'full' backup I made in January - useless because of all the files etc I have since then.
So, if I do a clean install using the SL installation disc, will I then be able to access Time Machine and restore all the files and folders that were backed up on the 20th October? Or is there an easier option which doesn't necessitate doing a clean install?
Thanks in advance...

 

[chscag]

So, if I do a clean install using the SL installation disc, will I then be able to access Time Machine and restore all the files and folders that were backed up on the 20th October? Or is there an easier option which doesn't necessitate doing a clean install?

Yes, that the best way. Time Machine backups are not bootable which is why you can not easily return to Snow Leopard. If you had used cloning software such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper you would have been able to restore back very quickly without having to do a clean install. After reinstalling Snow Leopard from disk, use your latest Time Machine backup prior to installing Yosemite and that will take you back to where you were.

 

[chas_m]

Good luck with this plan.

 

[Alwyn]

Yes, that the best way. Time Machine backups are not bootable which is why you can not easily return to Snow Leopard. If you had used cloning software such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper you would have been able to restore back very quickly without having to do a clean install. After reinstalling Snow Leopard from disk, use your latest Time Machine backup prior to installing Yosemite and that will take you back to where you were.

Having taken your advice and installed CCC is it only necessary to do CCC backups before an update and, if it's successful, immediately after it? I already use TM.

 

[chscag]

What I do is use CCC immediately before doing any major update that could possibly cause problems with the system. OS X updates, my business software updates, etc, are those which if went wrong, could cause problems. I then set that CCC backup aside, and use another external hard drive to make a new CCC backup of the updated system or software after it's been running for a day or so. I keep 5 external hard drives on my desk along with my iMac and each is used for a different purpose. I guess you could say I'm a bit paranoid about making backups.