Current iMac Pro - can I install Mojave

[marklemac]

Hi guys,

I know refurb iMac Pro's are normally shipping with Mojave on them (the ones I've bought have).

If I bought a new iMac Pro, and I enable the boot from external option, I'm guessing I can boot from my Mojave installer and erase Catalina as they all ship new with Catalina on.

Can anyone confirm this before I drop £7k on one.


When I speak to Apple, all they says is that it comes with Catalina and that's it. As soon as I say T2 chip and boot from external they aren't interested.

 

[CoastalOR]

There has been no new models of the iMac Pro since it's release in December 2017 (macOS 10.13.2). There is no reason that you could not use Mojave (10.14). It's a pain to wipe the drive to get rid of Catalina, but Mojave can run on the 2017 iMacPro1,1.

 

[marklemac]

There has been no new models of the iPad Pro since it's release in December 2017 (macOS 10.13.2). There is no reason that you could not use Mojave (10.14). It's a pain to wipe the drive to get rid of Catalina, but Mojave can run on the 2017 iMacPro1,1.

That's what I thought, I've got all the installers, just wanted clarification. (Apple's stance is a sort of no when you ask them)

 

[Fishrrman]

You can probably install Mojave.
But be aware that you have to back up anything you wish to save (I recommend CarbonCopyCloner).
Then, boot from an external source (for Mojave, you'd probably want to do this from a bootable USB flashdrive).
Then, completely ERASE the internal drive, and do a clean Mojave install.
Finally, restore your data.

 

[gevalt]

since the imac pro in general shipped originally with mojave, you SHOULD be able to downgrade.
i've read that it isn't as simple as fisherrman said. google 'downgrading catalina to mojave'.
there are several articles that go step by step through the process.
the only thing i DON'T know is if there have been any firmware updates that might prevent you from doing it.
anyone...? beuller...?

 

[marklemac]

I'm fully aware how to degrade the OS (inc enabling external boot on the T2)

I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks once the machine arrives. Will be interesting to see if they've applied any firmware patches to stop this. But like I said, the refurb machines I've bought have all come with Mojave installed.

Let's see what happens with a new build.

I'll report back

since the imac pro in general shipped originally with mojave, you SHOULD be able to downgrade.
i've read that it isn't as simple as fisherrman said. google 'downgrading catalina to mojave'.
there are several articles that go step by step through the process.
the only thing i DON'T know is if there have been any firmware updates that might prevent you from doing it.
anyone...? beuller...?

 

[Tozovac]

I'll report back

How'd it go?

 

[marklemac]

Dead easy. Turned on Mac, created a user account, rebooted into recovery, turned off T2 and enabled external booting, booted from my mojave installer, wiped hard drive, installed Mojave. Simples, prob no more than an hour to do.

Just peeved me off that the official line from Apple was, no it can't be done.

Also bought some more refurbished iMac Pro's and they come with Mojave as standard.

How'd it go?