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Running old OSX on EHD

That is exactly how it is labelled.

I'm using a wireless Logitech keyboard but I also have a Mac wired keyboard and tried that but it made no difference. Looking on the web, the suggestions was to use option-R, which should give me recovery. I'll try that in a mo.
 
I finally got the correct size of disk, produced an ISO and burnt it to the CD.When I run it on VirtualBox, I get the error message "no bootable media available." Searching the web, the answer is that the disk is corrupt. However, I made it via terminal and it is the correct file:
 

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sunnyjohn2 said:
I finally got the correct size of disk, produced an ISO and burnt it to the CD.When I run it on VirtualBox, I get the error message "no bootable media available." Searching the web, the answer is that the disk is corrupt. However, I made it via terminal and it is the correct file:
Click to expand...
VirtualBox can use ISO files directly. No need to burn a disc.
Is your VM configured for a macOS guest?
 
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I did that and got this:
 

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How did you create the ISO? The commands given earlier will create a DMG, not an ISO — VirtualBox requires an ISO. Did you convert the image?
 
I used this terminal command:
hdiutil convert ~/Desktop/'high sierra.dmg' -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/'high sierra.iso'
which gave me "high Sierra.iso.cdr". I deleted cdr and was asked if this was what I wanted and agreed. Since neither the cd nor the iso will work, I assume there is something wrong with the iso or the original dmg, or maybe the high Sierra install. Shall I try producing another by a different method?
 
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I also tried making a Big Sur ISO from terminal with the same result.

Virtual box forums came up with this:
A Mac VM needs to be able to recognise the Host Processor; and that it was designed to run that version of MacOS. That's down to 'protections' programmed by Apple, which are designed specifically to prevent users from installing/running 'older' MacOS versions on newer hardware than it was designed for.

There's no way that a Yosemite installer will 'recognise' a Mac built in 2020 as compatible out of the box. You would have to convince the installer it that the Mac running the VM is of the same 'era' as Yosemite OS. See this quite old thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81600&p=479109&hilit=change+cpuid#p479109 which provides some guidance on the possibilities which might work.

Could this be the problem - some form of security on apple's part that I need to circumvent?
 
The saga continues. I decided to give Parallels a try - what a lovely app! I downloaded High Sierra and have successfully run it. However, the particular app that I want to run requires an older OS and I have encountered another problem. I can download the dmg to the desktop but it won't open because Apple have blocked it for security reasons. Is there any way around that?
 
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Just to tidy up this thread, I found that:
- there was nothing wrong with my dmg's or iso's - they worked fine on Parallels. The problem was with VirtualBox and I've no doubt that those familiar with it could tweak it so the iso's would work.
- it is not possible to download and run installers for any OS earlier than High Sierra because Apple have blocked the earlier OS's as they consider them a security risk, and
- the app that I particularly wanted to run is from 2013 and would require Yosemite, so can't be done.

I have however, during the whole saga learned:
- where to download older OS's (MacPaw is the best bet)
- how to produce a working iso
- how to use the excellent OS patcher tool
- the excellent of Parallels, despite its 80 Euro price tag, and
- that my expertise is insufficient to work out the intricacies of VirtualBox

And the other thing I've found is what a brilliant forum this is and how helpful everyone has been, especially amethyst, to this old silver surfer.

Nothing is ever wasted!
 
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sirroderick said:
You can't get High Sierra from Apple any more [...]
Click to expand...
You can. Use this tool, and click Tools > Download macOS High Sierra. It'll download the installer straight from Apple's servers and put it in the Applications folder. Don't use this tool for anything else if you have a Mac that can run High Sierra!
 
Amethyst1 is correct. You use the excellent Patcher Tool. At the time I wrote on March 26, you could get High Sierra from MacPaw. I assume that this is no longer the case. Never mind - use the Patcher Tool!
 
sirroderick said:
Funnily enough I found that earlier this morning but the dl rate is so slow it may hours to get it. I may have to leave it overnight
Click to expand...
Yes, it is a VERY slow download, but it will (should) give you what you want. Keep us posted.
 
As a matter of interest is the partitioning scheme created by the OCLP version that I used for my current Catalina install still used by the current OCLP versions? If not that might explain my problems upgrading to Big Sur.
 
sirroderick said:
1.5 days to go on High Sierra patcher
Click to expand...
with reference to OCLP, are you using Dortania? There's a whole list of compatible machines and OS's on their site page.

1.5 days does sound rather a long time. I think mine took about 8 hours. Still, hang on in there!
 
Is that the Clover configurator group? I tried so many of the OCLP wrappers it's easy to get them confused. My overriding question though is why have I had such mind a boggling ride on the Big Sur upgrade when countless people with the exact same hardware seem to have had no problems at all. I've even heard some boasting that it took just 20 mins. I can't help but think it's incompatibility with earlier versions of OCLP.
 
sirroderick said:
Is that the Clover configurator group? I tried so many of the OCLP wrappers it's easy to get them confused. My overriding question though is why have I had such mind a boggling ride on the Big Sur upgrade when countless people with the exact same hardware seem to have had no problems at all. I've even heard some boasting that it took just 20 mins. I can't help but think it's incompatibility with earlier versions of OCLP.
Click to expand...
As I recall, my upgrade to Big Sur from Catalina took about 2 hours. It's interesting your upgrade took so long and now this download looks like being lengthly. What machine have you got? Are you short on disk space I wonder?
 
It didn't 'take a long time' more like 'is taking a long time'. Actually that's an understatement it's been nearly 2 years now. I give up for long periods then come back for more punishment from time to time. I think if I can get High Sierra working and that doesn't solve the problem I'll probably just finally come to terms with being stuck with Catalina. I have vast amounts of RAM on my 3 Mac Pros and with current Mac hardware that's big bucks so I'll hang on for as long as I can.
 
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