Downgrade from Mavericks to Snow Leopard without using Time Machine

Hello.
I upgraded from Snow Leopard (OSX 10.6.8) and upgraded to Mavericks but the Time Machine was not turned on. Is there anyway to downgrade back to Snow Leopard?
I contacted Apple Support and was told that it is not advisable to format the drive and do a clean install using Snow Leopard installation Cd's since Mavericks made changes to the hardware on the iMac. They advise using time Machine to downgrade, but this option is not available to me. Is this true?? Or can I re-install Snow Leopard with no issues?
Thanks.

Mavericks - reverting back from:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6162

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I want to downgrade from Mavericks to Snow Leopard. How can I do this?

I want to downgrade my 2009 IMac from Mavericks to Snow Leopard. Please explain how I do this.

Insert the Mac OS X 10.6 DVD, restart the computer with the C key held down, and install Snow Leopard onto a blank volume. If needed, use the Disk Utility to erase or repartition the internal drive.
(113491)

Downgrading from Mavericks to Snow Leopard, can't boot from USB drive

I'm attempting to do a clean install of Snow Leopard on a 2010 Macbook. The MB had recently been upgraded to Mavericks, but because it was running slowly, I decided to downgrade. (If you respond to this post, please don't ask me why I'd make this decision.)
As with any other clean install I've done--all pre-Mountain Lion--I backed everything up, I created a .dmg file of the Snow Leopard, and made a perfectly good, bootable USB drive with the OS (1 partition, GUID table); I tested this USB drive on another Macbook, one currently running Snow Leopard, by holding option as I booted up. It works fine and gets to the installation screen.
I booted the Mavericks Macbook while holding command+r, and I erased the main HD. I then formatted it with 1 partition, with a GUID table. All was normal.
But here's where the problem starts. I plugged the USB drive into the formerly Mavericks computer, and held option for the bootloader. It recognizes the OS. But when I click the arrow to proceed, it inevitably has a kernel panic and tells me to restart the computer.
I re-made my bootable drive, and I tested it again on the other machine. Again, it's still fine. Plugged it into my main machine--again, a panic.
Using command+r to reach disk utility, I've now erased and repartitioned the computer's hard drive several times, even using the advanced-security erase feature. Still, the panic.
When I hold command+r at boot, it always forces me through the Internet Recovery. The only option offered to reinstall OS X is with Lion, which I didn't buy with my Apple ID.
What can I do?

Sorry, but this didn't help me. From what I gather, Mavericks (or maybe Mountain Lion) included a firmware update that, for some reason, prevents users from downgrading to anything before Lion. This makes things difficult, because I didn't buy Lion--I made the leap from SL to Mavericks.
Here's the strange part, I learned: When I enter Internet Recovery, I'm prompted to reinstall Lion, not Mavericks. And because I didn't buy Lion, my Apple ID/password, which are asked for, don't help.
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I backed up the system just prior to upgrading.
Hardware Information:
    MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)
    MacBook - model: MacBook6,1
    1 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
    2 GB RAM
Video Information:
    NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB
System Software:
    OS X 10.9.1 (13B42) - Uptime: 0 days 1:43:50
Disk Information:
    TOSHIBA MK2555GSXF disk0 : (250,06 GB)
        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209,7 MB
        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 249,2 GB (147,64 GB free)
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
    MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898
USB Information:
    Western Digital Elements 1048 1 TB
        disk1s1 (disk1s1) <not mounted>: 32 KB
        harddrive n.hahn (disk1s3) /Volumes/harddrive n.hahn: 1 TB (878,94 GB free)
    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
    Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
    Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600
    Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
Startup Items:
    HWNetMgr: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWNetMgr
    HWPortDetect: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist 3rd-Party support link
    [loaded]    com.DesignScience.DSMTTool.plist 3rd-Party support link
Launch Agents:
    [failed]    com.promethean.activhardwareservice.plist 3rd-Party support link
    [failed]    com.promethean.activmgr.plist 3rd-Party support link
    [failed]    com.promethean.flashextension.plist 3rd-Party support link
User Launch Agents:
    [loaded]    com.divx.agent.postinstall.plist 3rd-Party support link
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist 3rd-Party support link
    [loaded]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist 3rd-Party support link
User Login Items:
    iTunesHelper
    Dropbox
    SPanel
    DaemonManager
Internet Plug-ins:
    Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 3rd-Party support link
    Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
    Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.3.8.1 3rd-Party support link
    NP2020Player: Version: 4.5.2.0 3rd-Party support link
    OVSHelper: Version: 1.0 3rd-Party support link
    Silverlight: Version: 4.0.51204.0 3rd-Party support link
    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link
    DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 2.2 3rd-Party support link
    Flash Player: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update
    AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101737: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link
    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
    NP_2020Player_IKEA: Version: 5.0.93.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link
    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Outdated! Update
Audio Plug-ins:
    BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
    AirPlay: Version: 1.9 - SDK 10.9
    AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0 - SDK 10.9
    iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
User Internet Plug-ins:
    BrowserPlus_2.9.8: Version: 2.9.8 3rd-Party support link
3rd Party Preference Panes:
    BrowserPlus 3rd-Party support link
    DivX 3rd-Party support link
    Flash Player 3rd-Party support link
    Flip4Mac WMV 3rd-Party support link
    Perian 3rd-Party support link
    SMART Board 3rd-Party support link
Bad Fonts:
    None
Old Applications:
    SMART Product Update:    Version: 5.1.125.0 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link
        /Applications/SMART Technologies/SMART Tools/SMART Product Update.app
    activationwizard:    Version: 3.0.118.0 - SDK 10.5
        /Library/Application Support/SMART Technologies/activationwizard.app
    LIMBO:    Version: 1.1.0 - SDK 10.0 3rd-Party support link
    Amazon MP3 Downloader:    Version: INFO_PLIST_VERSION - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link
    MathType:    Version: 6.7e 12112800 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link
        /Applications/MathType 6/MathType.app
Time Machine:
    Auto backup: YES
    Volumes being backed up:
        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 232.09 GB Disk used: 94.59 GB
    Destinations:
        harddrive n.hahn [Local] (Last used)
        Total size: 931.39 GB
        Total number of backups: 7
        Oldest backup: 2013-10-28 17:02:36 +0000
        Last backup: 2014-01-21 20:48:05 +0000
        Size of backup disk: Excellent
            Backup size 931.39 GB > (Disk size 232.09 GB X 3)
    Time Machine details may not be accurate.
    All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
Top Processes by CPU:
        24%    firefox
         4%    WindowServer
         2%    hidd
         1%    EtreCheck
         1%    sysmond
Top Processes by Memory:
    535 MB    firefox
    61 MB    Dropbox
    53 MB    mds_stores
    53 MB    mds
    47 MB    Finder
Virtual Memory Information:
    55 MB    Free RAM
    649 MB    Active RAM
    601 MB    Inactive RAM
    327 MB    Wired RAM
    669 MB    Page-ins
    15 MB    Page-outs

How do i downgrade from mavericks to snow leopard

I have been having a very difficult time with mavericks and would like to do a clean factory restore on my MacBook. I have the disks that came with my device which are Mac OS X Snow Leopard DVD, MacBook Applications Install DVD and the iWorks DVD. I have tried multiple times to erase my drive and do a clean install but for some reason the Applications Install DVD will not load. It keeps giving me error messages. I have also attempted to install any updates that might be available for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and again I receive error messages telling me that the updates can not be installed.
I can get to the point to where Snow Leopard loads, but I am missing many of my programs such as App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, etc that originally came installed on my machine.
Can someone please walk me through how to do this?
All help would be appriciated.
Thanks,
Selena

I have been having a very difficult time with mavericks and would like to do a clean factory restore on my MacBook. I have the disks that came with my device which are Mac OS X Snow Leopard DVD, MacBook Applications Install DVD and the iWorks DVD. I have tried multiple times to erase my drive and do a clean install but for some reason the Applications Install DVD will not load. It keeps giving me error messages. I have also attempted to install any updates that might be available for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and again I receive error messages telling me that the updates can not be installed.
I can get to the point to where Snow Leopard loads, but I am missing many of my programs such as App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, etc that originally came installed on my machine.
Can someone please walk me through how to do this?
All help would be appriciated.
Thanks,
Selena

Is it possible to reinstall Snow Leopard without a Time Machine backup?

I have Lion but I absolutely loathe everything about it and want Snow Leopard back; I have my SL install disk but everything I've read says I'll need a Time Machine backup which I don't have. If I try to downgrade, will I lose all my programs and things? Is there a way around that at all?

Unfortunately, Time Machine will not backup a NAS (e.g. AirDisk). AirDisk can be used as a TM backup drive as you have already discovered. The only way to backup the iTunes library on your HDD is to connected directly to your Mac. TM will be able to back up to your 1TB HDD connected to your Extreme. If you are dead set with keeping your iTunes connected to your Extreme, I believe CarbonCopyCloner (donateware) or SuperDuper! (purchase) may support backup of a NAS to a NAS.
P.S. I've notified the moderator to remove your second post.

Can i install snow leopard on Macbook without using Time Machine?

Hi, I've backed up my files using SuperDuper and made 2 copies of my data on 2 usb sticks. Do I also need to use Time Machine to back up my files aswell, in order to update osx and install snow leopard?? If I've already got my 2 copies of my files on usb sticks, isn't that enough backing up? Any suggestions will be appreciated thanks!

aprilsviv wrote:
Thanks for answering, so did you manage to upgrade your mac with snow leopard without using time machine? I'd just like to make sure I'm doing the right thing.
To clear up some possible confusion, you don't need any backups (Time Machine or otherwise) to upgrade a Mac from an earlier OS version to Snow Leopard. To do that, just follow Apple's instructions to launch the "Install OS X" app on the Snow Leopard DVD, which upgrades the OS to Snow Leopard without changing your user settings, erasing or changing your user files, & so on. It is an easy process & generally works quite well.
The backup(s) are in case something goes wrong, which is unlikely but not impossible. You should regularly be backing up at least your important user files to an external device whether or not you upgrade ("important" meaning anything you can't afford to lose) since hard drives can fail without warning or other calamities might destroy some or all of the data on them.
At upgrade time, bootable clones like SuperDuper! makes are especially good insurance against any unforeseen upgrade problems: if something goes wrong you can just clone back to the internal drive & return to the pre-upgrade state, without having to hassle with installing anything.

I have to downgrade from Yosemite to Snow Leopard because of compatibility issues with some of my software. Can I use PS Elements 12 with snow leopard?

I have to downgrade from Yosemite to Snow Leopard because of compatibility issues with some of my software. Can I use PS Elements 12 with snow leopard?

PSE12 became a 64 bit app for the first time on Mac. The recommended system requirements are Mac OS X v10.7 through v10.8.
Are you not able to use lion or Mountain Lion?

Is there a way to access notes from iPhone 4 in Snow Leopard without using Mail?

I want to be able to access the notes from the iPhone 4 notes app on a Macbook Pro, running Snow Leopard, without using Mail. Is there a way to do this? Any good 3rd party software that does it without storing the information in the Cloud?

You could probably use something like PhoneView
http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/
but, frankly, I thnk that's more of hassle than just setting up an iCloud or other IMAP account on the iPad.
Even if Notes syncing is the only feature you use, it's going to be a far more seemless experience.
Matt

How can I downgrade from Lion to Snow Leopard?

Hello.
Yesterday, I upgraded my Mac to Mac OS X (10.7 Lion) from 10.6.8 Snow Leopard. However, I wish to downgrade.
Obviously, I would like to not lose any data at all. However, I have never downgraded before.
I still have the Snow Leopard installation disk that came with my Mac.
How should I do this? I was thinking it would be easiest to simply head on over to an Apple Store...
I did some research (aka Googling), and I read up on the subject quite a bit.
If I simply put in the disk, will I be able to downgrade from Lion to Snow Leopard as easily as the upgrade was?
Also, I have heard about holding down the "C" button to do this... how exactly?
I have never backed up my Mac, nor used Time Machine.
Also, is it possible to install Snow Leopard on a separate disk, and set it up so that I can switch between them on command?
Will all of my preferences be saved, or does this wipe everything, not just the system and libraries folders?
I realize that I have a lot of questions, and therefore I appreciate everyone's help in advance. Thanks again.
Sincerely, Zach

Backup your files.
Booting From An OS X Installer Disc
1. Insert Snow Leopard Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.
Erase Drive
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Upon completion quit DU and return to installer. Install Snow Leopard. Restore your files after the installation has completed.

Going from Mavericks to Snow Leopard?

I'm trying to go from Mavericks to Snow Leopard on my 2011 Macbook Air (intel i7, 1.8 Ghz, 4 GB of Ram), but it won't let me. I tried going into Disk Utility and deleting everything off the hard drive itself, then booting from the disc itself, but it won't work. I tried restoring for a Snow Leopard back-up, it would work, although it did let me boot to a Lion backup. I even tried to simply set the start-up disc to my Snow Leopard retail disc, but it wouldn't boot. I could hear the disc moving in my USB superdrive for 15-20 sec, then it just stopped and the computer stays at the Apple logo. Any suggestions?

You cannot run Snow Leopard on that model. You can reinstall Lion which is what came pre-installed from the factory:
Install Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion Using Internet Recovery
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears on the screen. Wait patiently - 15-20 minutes - until the Recovery main menu appears.
Partition and Format the hard drive:
1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
2. After DU loads select your newly installed hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion. Mavericks: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion, Mavericks and click on the Install button. Be sure to select the correct drive to use if you have more than one.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
This should restore the version of OS X originally pre-installed on the computer.

Updating from Tiger to Snow Leopard without buying the Mac Box Set

Is it possible to update from Tiger to Snow Leopard without buying the Mac Box Set? My sister already has iLife 09 so I could borrow it and simply buy Snow Leopard. Is that possible or would it still violate the licensing agreement?

R C-R:
Barry Hemphill wrote:
You will note that Apple says that the upgrade is for OS X 10.5 users.
Note that this does not say Snow Leopard is not an upgrade for 10.4 users.
Did you read item C from the license link you posted (underline was added for emphasis)?
Leopard Upgrade Licenses. If you have purchased an Upgrade for Mac OS X Leopard license, then subject to the terms and conditions of this License, you are granted a limited non-exclusive license to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-branded computer _as long as that computer has a properly licensed copy of Mac OS X Leopard already installed on it._ If you have purchased a Family Pack Upgrade for Mac OS X Leopard license, then subject to the terms and conditions of this License, you are granted a limited non-exclusive license to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on up to a maximum of five (5) Apple-branded computers at a time as long as those computers are located in the same household (as defined above), are used by persons who occupy that same household, and each such computer has a properly licensed copy of Mac OS X Leopard already installed on it. The Family Pack Upgrade for Mac OS X Leopard License does not extend to business or commercial users.
The OP asked about using the upgrade (and, obviously, try to avoid buying the box set) to move from OS X 10.4 to OS X 10.6. I mentioned the license agreement to allow the OP to make their own decision.
Barry

I recently Downgraded from Lion to Snow Leopard 10.6. How do I update to 10.6.2 or beyond?

This is the problem... How do I fix that?

app61 wrote:
I recently Downgraded from Lion to Snow Leopard 10.6
How did you do that ?

Downgrade from Mavericks to Snow Leopard without using Time Machine

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