Challenges in installing/ reinstalling old Mac OS versions

[rib00]

Some users on this forum use old Mac OS versions. For example, pre-2011 versions.
Due to bitrot, etc those users might sometimes want to reinstall the operating system.

Is that a problem with some of the older operating systems? For example, the old hardware/ software having trouble in connecting to the Apple server? Or, Apple not hosting the needful?

I am mostly interested in the answer to this question with respect to El Capitan and later. But, in a decade some of these OSes could meet fates similar to what earlier ones face today. So, I am interested in those, too.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Build bootable installer USB drives. Only needs 32GB each.

 

[chabig]

Install and run them in virtual machines. VirtualProg is fully supported (by a developer who offers support here at MacRumors). It's $20 and fully supports both Intel and M-series Macs. Try it.

VirtualProg - Virtual Machine App - App Store

Download VirtualProg - Virtual Machine by Balasubramanian Ramanathan on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like…

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VirtualProg - Virtual Machine

 

[rib00]

Build bootable installer USB drives. Only needs 32GB each.

I get the sense that the installers sometime want to connect to Apple's servers. So, I am concerned about how future proof this method is.
I would think that you can create a disk image right after install (or after you put all of your settings in, maybe install all applications that you are going to use).
You also have to be cognizant of any software that you want to install on the computer. Some of that might not be that easy to reinstall. (You might be stuck with a version before any updates, etc)

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I get the sense that the installers sometime want to connect to Apple's servers. So, I am concerned about how future proof this method is.

It's as good an option as you have ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[rib00]

I came across these links to download Apple OSes.

Is it possible to install MacOS offline? No, but a bootable USB disk can help.

Here is how to install macOS offline, without an internet connection, by creating a USB drive from the full macOS installer downloaded from the Store.

www.smartin.in

It seems like the downloads are directly from Apple.

This is appealing to me because I don't own an Apple Desktop or laptop with an OS that is currently supported. So, I would prefer to not have to connect the Apple computer to the internet.

I get the sense that there is a catch here. Am I missing something?

Also, is there a way to figure out if these are likely the full version of the installer? I think there are some installers that need to download a lot of additional files from Apple during the installation.

I see that the versions for download are specific point versions. For example, 12.7.4 instead of 12.0 or 12.1. Why do you think that is?

 

[Fishrrman]

"This is appealing to me because I don't own an Apple Desktop or laptop with an OS that is currently supported. So, I would prefer to not have to connect the Apple computer to the internet."

You keep throwing roadblocks up "in front of yourself" when offered possible pathways towards a solution. Why is that?

 

[rib00]

"This is appealing to me because I don't own an Apple Desktop or laptop with an OS that is currently supported. So, I would prefer to not have to connect the Apple computer to the internet."

You keep throwing roadblocks up "in front of yourself" when offered possible pathways towards a solution. Why is that?

I think this is smaller roadblock than the following:
1) have a (reasonably well) trusted Apple computer running one of the 3 latest OSes.
2) use an end of support life Apple computer on the internet.

Your post might also be referring to another thread when I balked at installing additional software instead of the trials and tribulations with a single command. Your comment on that event is reasonable.

 

[eyoungren]

My old Tiger and Leopard disks still work for my PowerPC Macs. Apple's servers are still supporting updates for Tiger and Leopard.

For the rest, with the exception of Mavericks for some reason only known to Apple, see here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mist-no-not-the-game-a-macos-downloader.2444136/

 

[rib00]

Apple's servers are still supporting updates for Tiger and Leopard.

interesting. You mean updating from the .0 or .1 version to the later versions?
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On a different note,
I tried to download Mac OS Big Sur from the page that I linked to. Might have been one of the other releases around the same time, though.

It looked like the progress was about half complete. Took about 75 mins to get that that point (ballpark).
Error message: could not be saved because the source file could not be read.

The file name that was downloading is InstallAssistant.pkg the partial download is 6.6 GB.