Will Time Machine 'Clone' my comp internal Hard Drive

Question

If I buy a brand new Macbook Pro with Snow Leopard, can I attach my current desktop external backup drive to it and use the version of Time Machine on my new laptop to backtrack to Leopard and get rid of Snow Leopard, and also copy my entire MacPro Desktop disk onto the laptop? I must stay with OS 10.5.8 - thousands of dollars of real (not virtual) instruments, Logic Pro Studio 8, other equipment, and audio studio software and I can't/won't "upgrade". Use my name at hotmail to respond if you want?

Answer 1

Depending on the exact question asked, relating to hardware by
model number, serial number, and build information; an answer
could vary. ie: A few early Intel-based Macs could revert, from say
Leopard 10.5 to Tiger 10.4.11 (and only a fringe few.)
While there may be some inside information, short of calling in
to Apple Support and if you have an AppleCare plan in effect
on hardware, the fee may be waived, if not, pay the initial fee
to discuss the matter with an Apple representative. If you have
an Apple Store in your area, it may be worth a trip to call ahead
& arrange to talk to a Genius; or a technical specialist may know.
{If there is a firmware hack involved, the idea would probably not
be followed up on, in the retail environment where there is an
AppleCare plan on new hardware; and a clouded future in that
specific product if it should be modified in an unusual way.}
The usual path in hardware upgrade includes a new OS version
it would ship with, and even before OS X, the path was clear to
some extent. In old Mac OS, where drag & drop installs and use
of older bits in newer systems was marginally OK, this was not
as great an issue. Some parts would work past their due.
However, since there are differences in the major releases of OS
X, these become more focused given new processors, GUI units
and other hardware changes in the computers. Since the software
upgrade is not desired, perhaps you should consider an older yet
refurbished computer from a supplier, without a newer OS X?
Some offer quite good older hardware with some assurance.
Backup computers can be handy, or slight upgrades in older
versions over whatever you currently have in a model.
And then when or if ready, or orphaned into a change, get a suitable
computer with the latest OS at that time. Change is still a constant.
Or get the recent software for newer hardware to use your current
files with, in the new computer; and be ready for the change.
I am unfamiliar with the full features and functionality of Time Machine;
but do use a different backup strategy to make bootable full clones. A
number of TM users also use a separate external drive to make a clone
that can boot and run their computer, in addition to a TM backup. They
can be used to do different things within limits, as you probably are aware.
In any event...
Good luck & happy computing!
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