Installing Snow Leopard on macbook pro that came with Lion?

I recently bought a new MBP, model MC721LL/A, that was originally released with Snow Leopard. When I received it I found out that it had Lion installed. Can I install Snow Leopard on it? I have some software that is NOT Lion compatible and am waiting for an update, but till then wanted to stay with Snow Leopard.
Also, can I leave the Lion Restore partition on the hard drive for future use or will I need to do some kind of backup os the entire OS?

Mine did not include snow leopard disks.
I did try to startup from my Snow Leopard disk but it never finished the startup
Where did you get the Snow Leopard disc from if you did not originally have it? In either case, the one you have now did you get it from the previous owner? You need the system discs that originally came with the computer.
As to how to downgrade an os from Lion to Snow Leopard, you should post in the Mac OS X v10.7 Lion forum area.

Similar Messages

Installing Tiger on a Macbook Pro that came only with Leopard

Hi guys,
Any ideas on how to install Tiger onto a Macbook Pro that came preloaded with Leopard, and only has a Leopard disc?
I've got a refurbished Macbook Pro recently. Realised that one of my application doesn't work, Capture One Pro. Visited Phase One's website and they said it only supports 3.9 and above at the time it was released, which makes it 10.4.10.
Systems in the story below: Macbook Pro Core Cuo. Macbook Pro C2D (new set), Mac Pro, iMac Core 2 Duo
Here's what I've tried
1. I've an original disk that came with my MBP CD. When I try to boot from that disk on my MBP C2D, it gives me the crash screen -> "please hold the power for secs to restart".
2. I've tried installing Tiger onto my iMac and did a harddisk clone via Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) to my MBP CD. Tiger was able to run on my MBP CD fine.
3. Then I tried using CCC to clone it over to my MBP C2D. It doesn't work. Shows me the crash screen.
4. I've tried installing Tiger on my Mac Pro. Used CCC to clone over the disk image to MBP C2D. Doesn't work too. Crash screen.
5. Created disk images of Tiger with Disk Utility on iMac, Mac Pro. Tried to restore using the iMac, Mac Pro disk images of Tiger. Doesn't work. Shows me the crash screen.
6. Updated Tiger to 10.4.11 on my Mac Pro. Created disk image using Disk Utility. Restored MBP C2D with it. Crash screen on load.
I'm out of ideas and Apple Support won't open until Monday.
It seems that this MBP C2D is set on not installing Tiger, no matter what. Wonder if getting hold of a Tiger retail disc will do the trick?

You can install tiger onto a MacBook Pro up to version 3,1.
Run System Profiler and under hardware:
Hardware Overview:
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1 This line is the model number!
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B00
SMC Version: 1.27f1
Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
I have got tiger installed onto this MacBookPro which is the latest 4,1 model, but you require the latest Tiger disk (which the Apple Genius had in my case), but the volume, brightness and trackpad gestures do not work! Everything else is fine.

Can't install Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro MC700 - 3 beeps after installer starts.

can't install Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro MC700 - 3 beeps after installer starts (10.6.3 retail). Lion installer starts normally. What's a problem?

I have the same trouble, I try installing rEFI but when I try start my Pro from DVD doesn't recognize.
Can I start from USB Memory? with files from SL DVD? or have some thing else?
I have original DVD of SL 10.6.3, if I buy the latest stable version, can I install? or the EFI firmware with Lion change again?
I try to use Lion, more than one week but I can't, and some app that I use for my profession, doesn't work, I really need downgrade to SL.
Really Thanks for any help.
Pablo

Cannot install snow leopard in macbook pro early 2011. disk is rejected. what do I do?

Unable to install snow leopard in macbook pro early 2011. When I put in the disk, the computer does not accept it. What can I do?

lord1908,
some Early 2011 MacBook Pros originally came with Snow Leopard installed, and some originally came with Lion installed. If yours originally came with Snow Leopard installed, then you should be able to install Snow Leopard from its model-specific grey Mac OS X Install DVD. (The white retail Snow Leopard DVD can’t be used with it; it was made for use with earlier models, which originally came with either Tiger or Leopard installed.) If yours originally came with Lion installed, then it won’t accept any Snow Leopard DVD; instead, you’d be able to use OS X Internet Recovery to download and install its original version of Lion from Apple’s servers.

How to install Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro? keep getting msg- cannot install Internal HD is used for Time Machine- this was reset to external HD and still get msg?

How to install Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro? keep getting msg- cannot install Internal HD is used for Time Machine- this was reset to external HD and still get msg?

At some point, your internal HD was selected for use as Time Machine backups, and a Backups.backupdb folder was created at the top level. So OSX thinks you're trying to install it on the same drive as your backups.
Open your internal HD with the Finder (you won't find it via a Spotlight or Finder search) and delete that folder.

I bought a used macbook pro that came with xcode

I bought a used macbook pro that came with xcode, this means I can develop Apps but to publish in App Store needed pay developer fees? Or must pay these fees from now?

All you have are the basic tools. Without a paid program in your name, you cannot distribute apps to the store.
See iOS Developer Program

Can't install Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro - DVD won't mount

I am unable to install Snow Leopard on my MacBook Pro as the DVD won't mount. This is an early 2008 vintage MacBook Pro, intel core duo...
I'm using a OS X Snow Leopard install DVD (family licensed). This DVD has been used to install 3 other Macs in my house without a problem (about a year ago), but cannot be used to upgrade my MBP. Actually, this disk mounted on the MBP exactly once - inserted with system up, the disk mounted. Upon running the installed (a year ago), the computer restarted but hung in boot. After getting the disk ejected and the computer restarted, the disk would never mount again. I've defered upgrade for a year but at this point need to upgrade my MBP at least to Snow Leopard and possibly Lion.
The problem doesn't seem to be with the DVD, since it continues to mount fine in other computers, and in fact a borrowed Snow Leopard DVD also will not mount on the MBP.
BUT ... the problem also does not seem to be with the optical drive in my computer, as it can read & mount the install/restore disks that came with the computer as well as other CDs and DVD ROMs. Only the Snow Leopard install DVDs fail to mount.
I've also tried mounting the 10.6 install DVD on my Mac Pro desktop, making it available over the network (ethernet) with DVD/CD sharing. I can mount the remote disk from my MBP that way, but when I launch the installer, the application launches (its own menus are displayed, I can quit from menu, for example) but does nothing -- no windows open, nothing.
I've also tried "Remote Install" (again with the DVD made available with the Remote Install MacOS X application on my desktop), but when I boot the MBP with option held down, the remote disk is not available as a startup disk.
Zapping the PRAM did not help.
Am off to the store to get an optical drive cleaning kit and a blank DVD big enough to burn a new disk image, but would appreciate any further ideas at this point....

Solution that worked: Copy the Install DVD to a USB flash drive and boot from that.
http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html
Up and running with Snow Leopard now and working on the updates.

How to re-install Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro i7?

When using a retail copy of Snow Leopard DVD I get "Unknown CPU" error.
I tried to install it by moving the HDD onto another (older) macbook. But then when I move the HDD back, I get the "Unknown CPU" error again. I do not have the original DVD that came with the i7 Macbook Pro.
Thanks,
Roman.

Thanks! That actually worked.
Didn't work for Macbook Air, naturally, though, since Air doesn't have an HDD case.

Can I install Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro 2013

Can I install Snow Leopard on my new MacBook Pro 2013. I'm so tired of the UGLY grey icons. I keep thinking that the mail or iPhoto window is not the active one because everything is grey. I use Snow Leopard on my 27inch iMac and love it. Nice RED delete button for mail, etc. Thanks

Firmware restrictions prevent directly loading any OSX earlier than what came with the system.
The *only* way around is to load SnowLeopard *Server* (not Client) into a virtual machine (Parallels, VMWare Fusion, VirtualBox). But that costs $20+shipping/tax for the disk and is a learning curve into SL Server. And you *still* need your host OSX to run it, and the VM will not most efficiently use the hardware resources.

Installing Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro primo 2011

How do I install Snow Leopard on my MacBook Pro primo 2011?
It came pre-installed with Lion.
When I put in my Snow Leopard DVD I just get a kernel panic and must restart.
Help! I can't use Lion on my university so I need Snow Leopard.

Hello,
In response to eww, and others.
I have a MacBook Pro 15" early 2011, shipped with Lion.
I installed Snow Leopard 10.6.7 with a grey disk from an other MacBook Pro 15" early 2011, shipped with SnowLeopard 10.6.7!
It works except that the trackpad isn't recognised correctly. In System preferences, if I click on TrackPad, I don't have the full options, but it's waiting for an external bluetooth trackpad. So I can't have the multi touch options.
If I click on mouse, instead of waiting for an bluetooth mouse, i can set the speed of the mouse with two cursors.
Do you think that an other instal can fix the problem? Maybe by apple care as eww said, or with a genius in an Apple Store.
Thanks
dogm

Cannot Install Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro 7,1

Hello guys,
I've recently bought a USED Macbook Pro, which has installed Mac O SX Lion (10.7)
The thing is I need to install Snow Leopard and I can't do it. I have tried by simply clickin on the Installer Icon and also by booting pressing the key "Option" but when I do this the system asks me to restart my Macbook.
The DVD I'm using a Original Copy of Snow Leopard 10.6
Any ideas? Please! Help me!
my Macbook Pro:
Macbook Pro 7,1
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4
4 GB Ram DDR3
HD 250 GB Hitachi HTS545025B9SA02

You need the SL discs that came with the coputer. The original SL DVD you have is probably too old to support the hardware on your Mac.

Installing Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro

I have a question about the install.
I put in the disc and choose to install Snow Leopard.
It started the install, did a reboot and came back and said 45 mins remaining...
then when it past that amount of time, it started to go into negative time. Right now it says -1 hours -2 minutes. And just keeps going up from there.
Is this installing correctly? Should I quit the install?
Most people have said it installs in less than an hour...
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

That shouldn't be the problem, but one never knows. This is pretty baffling. I'm even surprised that Carolyn's install took that long. I had to install SL like 4 times before it took and it never exceeded 15 minutes each time.
I hope you have a good back up or clone to fall back on if things go poorly.
You can only wait it out though, it's true that stopping too soon may make your Mac unusable. If it doesn't resolve itself, then that's where the Apple "Pros" come in. Depending on the Apple Store, I use that term rather loosely. SL was supposed to install over ones existing 10.5.8 system pretty seamlessly. What's happened for quite a few people is that it hasn't. I had to do a complete erase and install with nothing migrated over whatsoever to get the best results.
I wish you luck with this, I would be very nervous in your shoes, but it's still only software. The most you may lose is data. A bad thing to be sure, but at least your Mac will still be safe.

Installing Snow Leopard on Macbook Pro 15'' 2.4 ghz

I have a MacBook Pro 15" 2.4ghz Intel Core Duo with 2 Gigs Ram and it comes with Leopard. I'm having problems installing Snow Leopard, keeps giving me the option to Backup or Restart. Is there something I'm doing or missing? Please help.

How to Install OS X Updates Successfully
A. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions:
Boot from your current Tiger Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger and later.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
B. Make a Bootable Backup Using Restore Option of Disk Utility:
Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
Select the destination volume from the left side list.
Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
Check the box labeled Erase destination.
Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
C. Important: Please read before installing:
If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it. Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've restarted.
You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update. While the installation is in progress do not use the computer.
D. To upgrade:
Purchase the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.
Boot From The OS X Installer Disc:
Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
Restart the computer.
Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
Wait for installer to finish loading.
E. If updating:
Download and install update(s)
Use Software Update, or
Download standalone updater(s).

Installing Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro Core Duo

Hello,
I've got an 2006 Mac Book Pro (2.0 Ghz, 2*512 Ram)
listed here, it is the MA600LL version
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook_pro_2.0.html
It should be able to run snow leopard since it is an intel proc.
However, I've tried installing the new os with a Snow L.installer (in fact two different, one DVD and one usb key that came with my 1year old MB Air), and both tell me that this mac os x cannot be installed on this computer
Any clue?
Thanks in advance

I've got the retail for leopard, if I reinstall it (now I've erased the DD), will I be able afterwards to upgrade usingone of my snow leopard install (one dvd mac mini, and one mac book air usb key)??
If it is not the case, I find it a bit strange, cause after all I've paid for these OS several times...
EDIT: Oh yeah and my dvd and usb are not upgrade but proper install btw

What is the Best Way to Re-Image and Re-Install Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro

Hello,
Is there a well documented best practices procedure for re-imaging and re-installing Snow Leopard on a MacBook Pro?
Thank you for any assistance.
Tony

Hi Tony;
The only best practices I know for that is backup first. I usually suggest a bootable clone that has been tested so that you are sure it is bootable. Insert DVD and boot from the DVD. Then install Snow Leopard. That's it.
Allan

Installing Snow Leopard on macbook pro that came with Lion?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for