Install Lion on Snow Leopard SSD Partition or a SATA HDD?

[3282868]

I installed 10.7 on another SATA bay in my 6-Core Pro, but considering the benefits of SSD and now TRIM support, I'm considering partitioning my 120 GB OCZ SSD for Lion.

I'm running "Snow Leopard" on my 120GB SSD with just system and application files (all my user documents are on another SATA bay, Media files on another, and Time Machine on a third). I have ~70 GB's available on the SSD. I'd install Lion and configure my "Home" account from "Snow Leopard" is used for both, essentially leaving only the necessary system files for Lion to run. However, how do I point "Lion" to recognize my "Snow Leopards" Applications folder as the default Application folder for future installations? I know this is tricky given that Lion uses new core app's such as iCal/Mail/Address Book that I need to utilize, but I would rather not have two copies of my applications.

Will this hinder the SSD in any way? I work in tech so I know the answer, pretty much, just want to make certain nothing new/unknown is amiss.

Thanks!

 

[axu539]

I installed 10.7 on another SATA bay in my 6-Core Pro, but considering the benefits of SSD and now TRIM support, I'm considering partitioning my 120 GB OCZ SSD for Lion.

I'm running "Snow Leopard" on my 120GB SSD with just system and application files (all my user documents are on another SATA bay, Media files on another, and Time Machine on a third). I have ~70 GB's available on the SSD. I'd install Lion and configure my "Home" account from "Snow Leopard" is used for both, essentially leaving only the necessary system files for Lion to run. However, how do I point "Lion" to recognize my "Snow Leopards" Applications folder as the default Application folder for future installations? I know this is tricky given that Lion uses new core app's such as iCal/Mail/Address Book that I need to utilize, but I would rather not have two copies of my applications.

Will this hinder the SSD in any way? I work in tech so I know the answer, pretty much, just want to make certain nothing new/unknown is amiss.

Thanks!

Does having two OS's point to the same home folder even work? I'd think that Lion has different ways of managing the home folder. It's also not likely a good idea at this point, even if it does work, since Lion is in an early beta, and I wouldn't want my data at the mercy of early beta software.

 

[3282868]

Does having two OS's point to the same home folder even work? I'd think that Lion has different ways of managing the home folder. It's also not likely a good idea at this point, even if it does work, since Lion is in an early beta, and I wouldn't want my data at the mercy of early beta software.

It will still maintain separate home libraries, but having the same home folder simplifies both systems and allows for any personal documents/data that may have been worked on/altered from duplicating or becoming disorganized. I have this set up on another system and all the User accounts in Lion point to "Snow Leopard" and I was able to delete the User accounts all together. The only trick is maintaining the Applications folder for each, as Lion has entirely different core App's such as Mail and iCal. Otherwise, it poses no threat to the system at large, as long as you know what you're doing.

I simply wanted information regarding partitioning a SSD for two OS's and what such an act may do to the SSD.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I've never heard of having the same home folder for 2 different OS's, keep us up to date. Will this work?

 

[ReedR95]

I want to try this too

I have pretty much the exact same setup as you (ssd with system and apps, and a HD with media, docs, etc.) except I have a macbook pro, and the SSD is where my disk drive used to be. I made a 20gb partition on my 120gb ssd for Lion. I am curious if it can have the same path to my home folder (on my hd) as i have on snow leopard. Keep us posted...

 

[axu539]

It will still maintain separate home libraries, but having the same home folder simplifies both systems and allows for any personal documents/data that may have been worked on/altered from duplicating or becoming disorganized. I have this set up on another system and all the User accounts in Lion point to "Snow Leopard" and I was able to delete the User accounts all together. The only trick is maintaining the Applications folder for each, as Lion has entirely different core App's such as Mail and iCal. Otherwise, it poses no threat to the system at large, as long as you know what you're doing.

I simply wanted information regarding partitioning a SSD for two OS's and what such an act may do to the SSD.

This shouldn't do anything bad to the SSD. Plenty of people run OS X and Windows on one SSD, so you should be fine. Both OSs will only deal with their own partitions on the drive. They shouldn't interfere with the other partition, and you will simply see it as an external in finder.

 

[Auzburner]

I have Lion on a partition on my MBP SSD. Runs very snappy. I'd recommend you do the same. Granted, I'm not willing to make Lion my primary, I have given it 32GB of my SSD until the Golden Master Version is available for purchase this summer. Then bye, bye to the partition and I'm back to one disk.

The two partitions absolutely should not interfere with one another. I don't believe you will have any issues.

 

[3282868]

Thanks guys! So far it's working well. The only exception is making certain that you recognize the two different "Applications" folders, as "Snow Leopard" and "Lion" will each have their own (and this cannot be changed as both OS's have different core app's). In Lion I use the Mail/iCal/Safari/Address Book/etc. app's and try to install any new applications while either booted in "Snow Leopard" or into the "Snow Leopard" Applications directory if the installation process allows it. Otherwise, it's great!

In case you don't know how to do it:

In "System Preferences", under user accounts, right click on your user account, and "Advanced Options" should appear. Simply change "Home directory" to your "Snow Leopard" User Account Home Directory. Your "Aliases" (MobileMe accounts, etc.) will automatically follow suit. Everything will point to your "Snow Leopard" Home directory while maintaining your "Lion" Home directory (the only aspect of which will be the now "hidden" ~/Library/ directory in Lion). I'd recommend NOT deleting the Lion Home directory and simply let it be, and use the same Home directory for "Snow Leopard" and "Lion" from there on out.

Good luck, and if it kernel panics, don't blame me! LOL (j/k it won't kernel panic, worst case, just option-boot into "Snow Leopard" if Lion gets all up in your George Foreman).

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Thanks guys! So far it's working well. The only exception is making certain that you recognize the two different "Applications" folders, as "Snow Leopard" and "Lion" will each have their own (and this cannot be changed as both OS's have different core app's). In Lion I use the Mail/iCal/Safari/Address Book/etc. app's and try to install any new applications while either booted in "Snow Leopard" or into the "Snow Leopard" Applications directory if the installation process allows it. Otherwise, it's great!

In case you don't know how to do it:

In "System Preferences", under user accounts, right click on your user account, and "Advanced Options" should appear. Simply change "Home directory" to your "Snow Leopard" User Account Home Directory. Your "Aliases" (MobileMe accounts, etc.) will automatically follow suit. Everything will point to your "Snow Leopard" Home directory while maintaining your "Lion" Home directory (the only aspect of which will be the now "hidden" ~/Library/ directory in Lion). I'd recommend NOT deleting the Lion Home directory and simply let it be, and use the same Home directory for "Snow Leopard" and "Lion" from there on out.

Good luck, and if it kernel panics, don't blame me! LOL (j/k it won't kernel panic, worst case, just option-boot into "Snow Leopard" if Lion gets all up in your George Foreman).

If I go this rout I will not try running 10.6 apps in 10.7 but it sounds good. My concern is screwing up my 10.6 home folder.

 

[3282868]

If I go this rout I will not try running 10.6 apps in 10.7 but it sounds good. My concern is screwing up my 10.6 home folder.

Your 10.6 Home Folder won't be touched with regards to the ~/Library/ folder, only personal documents you utilize. When you make the switch, the OS seems to keep things "in check".

Oh, and the only app I ran into issues with is "Little Snitch"

Otherwise:

Adobe CS5 Master Collection, iWork 09, iLife 11, Aperture, Lightroom, AutoCAD, CleanMyMac, DiskAid/TuneAid, Dropbox, iStat Menus, iSkysoft iMedia, Mac BlurayRipper Pro, MacPilot, MacScan 2, MakeMKV, Office 2011, MKXTools, Moyea Blu-Ray Ripper, Pacifist, Quickbooks 2009-2010, Rosetta Stone 3, RemoteHelper, Skype, Song Sergeant, Tinyumbrella, Toast Titanium 10, Transmit, VLC and VueScan all work 100%

 

[ReedR95]

iWork 09 not working for me

I just changed the path of my home folder in Lion partition to my normal home folder, and so far everything seems fine, except iWork 09 doesn't open. The icon bounces once and then gives me an error message.

Has this happened to anyone else? It seems weird that apple software isn't working on Lion...

 

[3282868]

I just changed the path of my home folder in Lion partition to my normal home folder, and so far everything seems fine, except iWork 09 doesn't open. The icon bounces once and then gives me an error message.

Has this happened to anyone else? It seems weird that apple software isn't working on Lion...

Works perfectly on my system. What's the kernel panic report from the crash?

 

[pierrot555]

library folder

If both Snow Leopard and Lion use the same home folder -- therefor the same ~/Library folder, wouldn't the core apps ( iCal/Mail etc) that store user data within ~/Library get corrupted by the different versions and how they handle the data?

 

[3282868]

If both Snow Leopard and Lion use the same home folder -- therefor the same ~/Library folder, wouldn't the core apps ( iCal/Mail etc) that store user data within ~/Library get corrupted by the different versions and how they handle the data?

Don't delete the user Library folder and you'll be ok