Safe Way to Try OpenCore Legacy Patcher?

[starshipenterprise]

Hello all. I have a mid-2012 Macbook Pro upgraded with 16GB RAM and SSD. I am stuck on Catalina but feel the machine is capable of running a newer version and don't really want to buy a new machine for another year or two. I am looking into Opencore Legacy Patcher as a way to install a newer OS. However, I need an answer to a vital question that I cannot seem to find!

Can I try this out without altering my computer in any significant way? I currently have Catalina as my main OS with Mavericks on another partition for occasional use of legacy apps. If I install Ventura or another unsupported OS via OCLP, will these other installations remain unaffected and accessible? Can I continue to hit the option key upon restart and just boot to whatever OS I want (Catalina, Ventura or Mavericks)? My plan would be to create a large enough partition for Ventura and then keep the other installs as is (in case it doesn't work out) and this would get me another year or two before I buy a new machine. Sorry if this has been answered but I could not find it and don't want to mess my machine up by trying it out. If it alters/harms those other installs I don't think I am up for it.

 

[floral]

Hello all. I have a mid-2012 Macbook Pro upgraded with 16GB RAM and SSD. I am stuck on Catalina but feel the machine is capable of running a newer version and don't really want to buy a new machine for another year or two. I am looking into Opencore Legacy Patcher as a way to install a newer OS. However, I need an answer to a vital question that I cannot seem to find!

Can I try this out without altering my computer in any significant way? I currently have Catalina as my main OS with Mavericks on another partition for occasional use of legacy apps. If I install Ventura or another unsupported OS via OCLP, will these other installations remain unaffected and accessible? Can I continue to hit the option key upon restart and just boot to whatever OS I want (Catalina, Ventura or Mavericks)? My plan would be to create a large enough partition for Ventura and then keep the other installs as is (in case it doesn't work out) and this would get me another year or two before I buy a new machine. Sorry if this has been answered but I could not find it and don't want to mess my machine up by trying it out. If it alters/harms those other installs I don't think I am up for it.

Why do you want to switch to Big Sur+?

 

[davidlv]

Hello all. I have a mid-2012 Macbook Pro upgraded with 16GB RAM and SSD. I am stuck on Catalina but feel the machine is capable of running a newer version and don't really want to buy a new machine for another year or two. I am looking into Opencore Legacy Patcher as a way to install a newer OS. However, I need an answer to a vital question that I cannot seem to find!

Can I try this out without altering my computer in any significant way? I currently have Catalina as my main OS with Mavericks on another partition for occasional use of legacy apps. If I install Ventura or another unsupported OS via OCLP, will these other installations remain unaffected and accessible? Can I continue to hit the option key upon restart and just boot to whatever OS I want (Catalina, Ventura or Mavericks)? My plan would be to create a large enough partition for Ventura and then keep the other installs as is (in case it doesn't work out) and this would get me another year or two before I buy a new machine. Sorry if this has been answered but I could not find it and don't want to mess my machine up by trying it out. If it alters/harms those other installs I don't think I am up for it.

First, how much empty space do you have on the internal SSD? If you have enough to create a big enough partition for the Ventura install, you should be OK. You really must read the OCLP instructions first;

OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Experience macOS just like before

dortania.github.io

In some cases, you will need to zap the NVRAM in order to use OCLP. I don't know if that will harm your other system installs, but if it does you probably shouldn't try OCLP.
I had a late 2011 MBP 8,2 that works quite well running OCLP 0.6.1 and Big Sur. The 2012 MBP should work well with either Big Sur or Monterey, maybe even Ventura (using a later OCLP version).
Get an OCLP version here;

Releases · dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher

Experience macOS just like before. Contribute to dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

There is a thread dedicated to running either Big Sur, Monterey or Ventura on unsupported hardware;

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-13-ventura-on-unsupported-macs-thread.2346881/

etc.

 

[starshipenterprise]

Security updates primarily, and maybe a few newer features that I would like to have. Some people have even said their older machines were actually more responsive, so I thought why not as long as it doesn't mess with my current installs.

I have about 170GB available so that should be enough. My 2012 Mini (I know, it's old too!) stores all my media so the Macbook's storage needs are pretty stable.

 

[starshipenterprise]

Is Monterey maybe a better choice for my 2012 in terms of reliability? I don't need the absolute newest OS, I just want to bring my computer somewhat up to speed and get the continuing security updates.

I guess I still have this question. By going through the install process, what happens to the existing installs? If it sucks can I just reboot to Catalina and then delete the partition it was on? What changes does it make to the HD? Would it be safer to install to external HD first to try out? I've messed around with installing various (past) OSX versions and it has never been a big deal to simply delete them because they don't affect one another. Is this the same thing or does OCLP do something more permanent? Sorry, but I just don't have a handle on the extent of the changes it makes to the machine.

 

[bogdanw]

There is no safe way for a MacBook. Ventura will alter APFS volumes and Spotlight indexes of its internal drive.

 

[starshipenterprise]

OK. Maybe I will just hang on with Catalina. I already stopped using Safari and switched to browsers with regular security updates. Hopefully that will mitigate the risk of staying on an unsupported OS version. And I'll try OCLP/Ventura on this computer when I have a new one and this one isn't as crucial.

 

[gilby101]

The only "safe" way is to have a complete TM backup which you are supremely confident can be used to recover if your need to revert with a disk erase and reinstall. And keep that backup disk disconnected from your Mac so that a newer macOS can't modify it in any way. Use a new disk for future backups.

 

[davidlv]

OK. Maybe I will just hang on with Catalina. I already stopped using Safari and switched to browsers with regular security updates. Hopefully that will mitigate the risk of staying on an unsupported OS version. And I'll try OCLP/Ventura on this computer when I have a new one and this one isn't as crucial.

The OCLP app will install an EFI partition and a small folder of items within the EFI partition. At first, you must start up from a USB install disk (can be made using the OCLP app) and on first boot, use the option key held down at startup to choose the EFI partition and then the USB installer disk. OCLP was designed to work with HDDs and SSDs but the later systems you would be using, Big Sur and later, all require target partitions made with the Apple APFS files system and GUID partitioning.
In your case, the easiest way to test the use of OCLP would be with an external SSD connected via USB. Of course, that connection will be USB II and so it will not be fast. Assuming from your prior posts that the MBP has a HDD installed internally. You could install an SSD internally but that would mean losing your current OS installs.
In all, best to save up, and get a new M2 MacBook Air!
In the meantime, try the Brave browser, available at Techspot.

Browsers Downloads | TechSpot

www.techspot.com

 

[starshipenterprise]

I think it would work on my machine because of the upgrades I've done (fast SSD + 16GB ram) but I don't have the time for all the busy work if it turns out to be a poor choice. Sounds like I would be better off just waiting until this machine is for play and not for everyday dependability. I guess the newer OS versions just make too many changes upon install. Thanks for the info!

 

[Insidious]

Definitely have at least two time machine backups handy on different externals. I use Big Sur with OCLP 0.4.11. It runs really great. When you decide which OS you want to use, come visit the unsupported Macs with OCLP threads in the various OS forums here if you have any questions about it.

 

[jdryyz]

Is installing another macOS to external drive still a thing? This is what I always did when testing out a new OS. With the recent notice of Chrome support being dropped for Mojave, I am looking at alternatives for an old Mac mini I have. Glad to see it on the supported hardware list.

 

[starshipenterprise]

I would love to try this on an external drive but the info I’m getting from this thread says that even with external installations, irreversible changes will be made to the INTERNAL drives as well. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[Insidious]

You choose which drive to patch the EFI with, so I don't think it matters whether your drive is external or not. You can even keep OCLP running via a USB thumb stick if you want.

 

[jdryyz]

Curious now that EFI was mentioned. If this is modified, could I lose my ability to boot from my Windows partition?

 

[jdryyz]

And if Windows survives after a patched EFI, could this also make it possible to install Windows 11? Probably not now that I remember a TMP module is necessary for Win11 last I checked.

 

[Dirty Mac]

You can install Windows 11 without needing TPM. Rufus for windows (freeware) has settings to install a windows 11 iso onto a usb stick blocking or removing the bits requiring TPM.

 

[jdryyz]

Thanks for the info. I have read about work-arounds but have not yet dug into anything. It helps that I am already familiar with Rufus.

I will need to start getting familiar with Win 11 at some point this year but will not be purchasing any new PC hardware created in the past 10 years. Haha. There's a possible exception to that but prices on this old Mac are still high in the used market.