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Install Snow Leopard on a Yosemite Mini?

sean barry

sean barry

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 3, 2012
152
9
Belding, MI
Screenshot X.png


I am trying to install Snow Leopard in a partition. (The partition has nothing on/in it) on my mini's internal HD. The OS is Yosemite. I get this message;
Screenshot.png

If I double click the installer.
If I drag the installer to the Snow Leopard partition the installer goes there but when I click on it I get the same message?
Also....If I install SL on my external HD (that has Time Machine on it) will that mess with Time Machine? Thanks.
 
You cannot install Snow Leopard on a 2012 Mac Mini. If you need Snow Leopard, you must install Snow Leopard Server into a virtual machine.
 
If your mini is 2011 or newer you're out of luck as it can't natively run Snow Leopard. If it's 2010 or older you can boot from the install DVD by selecting it in System Preferences > Startup Disk and restarting.
 
redheeler said:
If your mini is 2011 or newer you're out of luck as it can't natively run Snow Leopard. If it's 2010 or older you can boot from the install DVD by selecting it in System Preferences > Startup Disk and restarting.
Click to expand...

Boy do I suck! Will it work on an external HD? And will it interfear with Time Machine that is on/in the EXternal HD?
Thanks.
 
sean barry said:
Boy do I suck! Will it work on an external HD? And will it interfear with Time Machine that is on/in the EXternal HD?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

No, because SL does not have the device drivers (kexts) to interface with the new components. There's no way to load SL onto a modern Mac at this point.
 
sean barry said:
...
Will it work on an external HD? And will it interfear with Time Machine that is on/in the EXternal HD?
...
Click to expand...

The answer to both is "no" - unless you have a Mac that can boot natively to Snow Leopard.
Which mini do you have? If you are not sure, click on the Apple menu/About this Mac. The information window that appears will say that you have OS X Yosemite, and underneath will tell you what Mac mini model you have, for example:
Mac mini (Late 2012)
Click to expand...
The Late 2012 can boot to OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion, but not a system as old as Snow Leopard.
 
DeltaMac said:
The answer to both is "no" - unless you have a Mac that can boot natively to Snow Leopard.
Which mini do you have? If you are not sure, click on the Apple menu/About this Mac. The information window that appears will say that you have OS X Yosemite, and underneath will tell you what Mac mini model you have, for example:
The Late 2012 can boot to OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion, but not a system as old as Snow Leopard.
Click to expand...
Thanks again for the bad news Delta :D SL cost US$18.00 from App store so not the end of the world. I was just getting it to run Front Row? On the living room TV once in awhile. If you feel like it, what year/model Mini, I guess with Leopard or prior OS could I upgrade to SL/ l'll go to AnyMac to check it out as well. Perhaps I could get an older mini with the Super Drive in? Thanks again!
 
sean barry said:
Thanks again for the bad news Delta :D SL cost US$18.00 from App store so not the end of the world. I was just getting it to run Front Row? On the living room TV once in awhile. If you feel like it, what year/model Mini, I guess with Leopard or prior OS could I upgrade to SL/ l'll go to AnyMac to check it out as well. Perhaps I could get an older mini with the Super Drive in? Thanks again!
Click to expand...

That, or return SL for a refund. Even if you get an older Mac Mini, the retail version of the SL DVD may not work on the Mini, especially if the Mini was released after SL's launch. (IIRC, the latest version of SL to be distributed on DVD was 10.6.3, so the Mini must have been released prior to the 10.6.3 update. Hope that makes sense!)
 
sean barry said:
Thanks again for the bad news Delta :D SL cost US$18.00 from App store so not the end of the world. I was just getting it to run Front Row? On the living room TV once in awhile. If you feel like it, what year/model Mini, I guess with Leopard or prior OS could I upgrade to SL/ l'll go to AnyMac to check it out as well. Perhaps I could get an older mini with the Super Drive in? Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Yes, you can use the disk to install Snow Leopard on any Mac mini 2010 or earlier.

----------
KoolAid-Drink said:
That, or return SL for a refund. Even if you get an older Mac Mini, the retail version of the SL DVD may not work on the Mini, especially if the Mini was released after SL's launch. (IIRC, the latest version of SL to be distributed on DVD was 10.6.3, so the Mini must have been released prior to the 10.6.3 update. Hope that makes sense!)
Click to expand...

The mid 2010 Mac mini was the last mini to ship with Snow Leopard, it shipped with 10.6.3.
 
redheeler said:
Yes, you can use the disk to install Snow Leopard on any Mac mini 2010 or earlier.

----------



The mid 2010 Mac mini was the last mini to ship with Snow Leopard, it shipped with 10.6.3.
Click to expand...

sean barry said:
Thanks, I'll check it out.
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind: the 2010 Mac Mini that shipped with 10.6.3 may have been loaded with a special version of 10.6.3 designed only for that specific Mac Mini. As in, you'd need a retail copy of 10.6.4 which would natively support the 2010 Mac Mini, which doesn't exist. A retail copy of 10.6.3 would not support the Mini, as sometimes computers are released mid-point update cycle (for example, between 10.6.3 and 10.6.4).

I hope that made sense.

EDIT: The 10.6.3 update was released in March 2010, while the 2010 Mac Mini was released in June. So, no, the plain retail DVD of 10.6.3 will not support the Mini.
 
... or update the retail version of Snow Leopard to the slipstreamed version of Snow Leopard, 10.6.7.
 
Reviewing this thread, did we ever confirm which model Mac Mini is yours: 2010 or 2011 or 2012?

If 2012, there is no way to install Snow Leopard natively for that model; you can only run Snow Leopard in virtualization.

If it is late 2011, you must go through various hoops to get Snow Leopard to work. See the work of newfoundglory in this thread

If it is 2010, I bet the retail Snow Leopard 10.6.3 will work; try it first! If it works, be sure to use Software Update to get to 10.6.8.

If not, call 800-SOS-APPL and give them the serial number and they will supply a replacement Snow Leopard disc for that model for about $18.
 
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late 2012

MichaelLAX said:
Reviewing this thread, did we ever confirm which model Mac Mini is yours: 2010 or 2011 or 2012?

If 2012, there is no way to install Snow Leopard natively for that model; you can only run Snow Leopard in virtualization.

If it is late 2011, you must go through various hoops to get Snow Leopard to work. See the work of newfoundglory in this thread

If it is 2010, I bet the retail Snow Leopard 10.6.3 will work; try it first! If not, call 800-SOS-APPL and give them the serial number and they will supply a replacement Snow Leopard disc for that model for about $18.
Click to expand...

I have Parallels 10 installed running Win 7 home premium. Can I run Leopard 10.6.3 (The disk I have) on a partition in/on the HD using Parallels 10?
 
sean barry said:
I have Parallels 10 installed running Win 7 home premium. Can I run Leopard 10.6.3 (The disk I have) on a partition in/on the HD using Parallels 10?
Click to expand...

I assume from your question, you are confirming that you have the 2012 Mac Mini.

You can install and run your Snow Leopard client disc in Parallels 10, but it is cumbersome to install, run and maintain.

I recommend that you purchase the Snow Leopard Server disc from Apple for $20: it is much easier to install, maintain and run and you can just ignore the Server apps (I even remove them from the Dock).

Call: 1.800.MYAPPLE (1.800.692.7753) - Apple Part Number: MC588Z/A (telephone orders only)

Can you give me more details why you want to run Snow Leopard?

Installing Snow Leopard Server into Parallels for DUMMIES!
 
MichaelLAX said:
I assume from your question, you are confirming that you have the 2012 Mac Mini.

You can install and run your Snow Leopard client disc in Parallels 10, but it is cumbersome to install, run and maintain.

I recommend that you purchase the Snow Leopard Server disc from Apple for $20: it is much easier to install, maintain and run and you can just ignore the Server apps (I even remove them from the Dock).

Call: 1.800.MYAPPLE (1.800.692.7753) - Apple Part Number: MC588Z/A (telephone orders only)

Can you give me more details why you want to run Snow Leopard?

Installing Snow Leopard Server into Parallels for DUMMIES!
Click to expand...

In my last title it states "Late 2012" I wanted to get SL to use the mini for a TV occasionally, using Front Row. I think I am losing interest in the project as it appears to be more complex than my pea sized brain can comprehend :D
You are very helpful and I thank you.
I have a thread here;

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=20704024#post20704024
And I am about to attempt to install Yosemite on my newly installed 120G SSD. Can I just download that and install? (I am registered.) Or are there more trix?
Thanks again!
 
Most people, including myself, just regained Front Row-like capability by purchasing the AppleTV device for $99.

Also, Front Row will not work in virtualization; so you cannot use your 2012 Mac Mini for this purpose on any level.
 
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