Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
El Capitan on 2017 iMac?
- Thread starter oYx
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Generally you cannot install an OS older than the one that shipped with your Mac. If your system shipped with Sierra, then you cannot install anything pre-Sierra due to not having the right drivers for the new hardware.
Even if you would restore a working OS < pre-installed OS (= macOS 10.12.5 "special build') it will not start up.
All necessary drivers simply exist only on the pre-installed OS and upwards.
Has been like this on Macs since.... ever..?
All necessary drivers simply exist only on the pre-installed OS and upwards.
Has been like this on Macs since.... ever..?
You can run Snow Leopard on a Late 2011 Macbook Pro which shipped with Lion. However, you must run at least 10.6.7 I believe. I've done it out of curiosity.
On an iMac it will be tough due to GPU driver support. Not saying its impossible, but it is impractical. And if its not a "fun project" will likely end up being a "total nightmare".
I'm assuming you have some software that doesn't have Sierra support?
I'm assuming you have some software that doesn't have Sierra support?
Snow Leopard was the original operating system on most 2011 models. From 12 June 2012 one was offered a free download of Lion until the late 2012 models were released.
I couldn't even run the usual release version of 10.12.5 on the 2017 iMac... and the 2017 iMac ships with 10.12.5. The Mac refused to boot.
10.12.5 on a 2017 iMac is a later build than the release version of 10.12.5 that all the other non-2017 Macs have. Thus, I could not do a direct clone from an older iMac with 10.12.5 to the 2017 iMac.
This problem is solved now though, since 10.12.6 is out, and it should be the same build for everyone.
10.12.5 on a 2017 iMac is a later build than the release version of 10.12.5 that all the other non-2017 Macs have. Thus, I could not do a direct clone from an older iMac with 10.12.5 to the 2017 iMac.
This problem is solved now though, since 10.12.6 is out, and it should be the same build for everyone.
Yes, that's the reason.
[doublepost=1501294916][/doublepost]
Looks like I shouldn't even try it then.
I didn't meet that problem, as I decided to start fresh by manually copying my data over from a hard disk backup. My previous iMac was already gone when the 2017 one arrived.
"Did any try installing El Capitan on their 2017 iMac? Or even Yosemite? Is it possible?"
Impossible.
Can't be done (at least as the "boot OS").
An alternative method might be to install a virtual machine, and then run an older OS that way...
Impossible.
Can't be done (at least as the "boot OS").
An alternative method might be to install a virtual machine, and then run an older OS that way...