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installing Leopard on a new MBP

B

bchaplin

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 18, 2006
48
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I would like to buy a new MBP but would need to remove Snow Leopard and install Leopard. Is this possible? I know Snow Leopard can be installed on older machines but an not sure if Leopard will run on a newer model...?

Never mind why, but I have reasons for needing to do this.
 
Macs that come with 10.x.y can't get a version prior to that version (10.x.y - 0.0.1) installed, so no 10.6.1 on a Mac that came with 10.6.2, and definitely no 10.5.x.
 
OK, thanks!

Oh, well. And I can't even run Leopard in virtual mode, via Parallels. Darn!
 
Just buy a refurb. MBP. That's what I did. I needed the Express SLot and Leopard to run some of my software. Apple ships the 2008/early 2009 refurbs with a copy of SL.

I don't see much of an advantage by getting a new Macbook Pro except that it store up to 8GB of RAM and has a SD slot. You can buy a card reader for $5 for that much.


Keep checking back to see when its stocked

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http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB470?mco=Nzk2MTU1Ng

http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0G02LL/A?mco=MjE0NjE5MA
 
i wouldnt count on the refurbs being able to do any better than a new one at running Leopard.
some of the refurbs could be ones made/released in the past couple months.

Unfortunately there is no easy way to run an older version of OS X; such as Leopard on one that has SL.

As I, aswell have been trying to run 10.5.8 on newer versions of Macs.
I tried with both a 13" MBP and 27" iMac.
both ran and booted 10.5.8 well. there little inconsistencies however. especially with driver and graphic support.
 
I wouldn't say right off the bat that 10.5 wouldn't run on a new MBP. It's possible that it may run, perhaps with some limitations, since the new MBP's are 95% identical hardware-wise to the late '09 MacBook Pro 5,1 which originally shipped with Leopard. I don't know which specific revision of 10.5.x you would need though.
 
Bill Gates said:
I wouldn't say right off the bat that 10.5 wouldn't run on a new MBP. It's possible that it may run, perhaps with some limitations, since the new MBP's are 95% identical hardware-wise to the late '09 MacBook Pro 5,1 which originally shipped with Leopard. I don't know which specific revision of 10.5.x you would need though.
Click to expand...

You need a version 10.5.7 Install Disk on the Macbook Pros to install from the DVD, but you can install Leopard to an external HD use that to boot te machine and clone the HD to the laptop. It's a cludge, but it will work, as said above with some possible limitations. Running the combo updater to 10.5.8 clears up everything needed to use the machine. Still, SL is in my experience, quite a bit faster. I did this on my Macbook Pro, only to clean install to SL later.
Unless you have a very demanding reason to run Leopard, it seems like SL is better on these machines, even given it does need an update or two.. HInt to Apple:cool:. (Place your varying opinions here...)
 
Maybe I am missing something, but my MacBook Pro came with Leopard on it back in September. I formatted my harddrive and installed a clean copy of Snow Leopard. Are you all saying that I could not format my harddrive again and re-install Leopard? If so why?

My MacBook Pro is the latest 13" base model, purchased one week after Snow Leopard release, so I have both discs.
 
kny3twalker said:
Maybe I am missing something, but my MacBook Pro came with Leopard on it back in September. I formatted my harddrive and installed a clean copy of Snow Leopard. Are you all saying that I could not format my harddrive again and re-install Leopard? If so why?

My MacBook Pro is the latest 13" base model, purchased one week after Snow Leopard release, so I have both discs.
Click to expand...
No, the questions is whether or not Leopard can be installed on a model that originally came with Snow Leopard.
 
thanks!

Thanks, everyone, for the advice.
I was considering upgrading to a new computer but any possible complications staying with Leopard are a deal-killer. Right now I need to run software that isn't Snow Leopard-compatible. That's fine; I'll just save money and keep my current laptop for another year.
 
Bill Gates said:
No, the questions is whether or not Leopard can be installed on a model that originally came with Snow Leopard.
Click to expand...

Why would it make any difference? Like I said before my MacBook pro is the latest model. I would say if you format the harddrive you could install leopard on the current MacBook pros without any issue.
 
kny3twalker said:
Why would it make any difference? Like I said before my MacBook pro is the latest model. I would say if you format the harddrive you could install leopard on the current MacBook pros without any issue.
Click to expand...
Yes, you're right. I have a habit of responding to threads like these late in the day or early in the morning, both times of limited brain-function.
 
Could buy one, try it, and if it doesn't work take it back?

Failing that, you could ask the folks at the Apple store prior to purchase.
 
I am pretty sure the downgrade would be fine. I've seen in discussions people who are dissatisfied with Snow Leopard downgrading their computers to Leopard. Even new-bought ones.

Obviously you would need a Leopard install DVD.

(I'm dissatisfied with Snow Leopard. There are too many bugs still compared with Leopard. I have thought about downgrading myself but the hassle is just a bit much. What's particularly galling is that I paid Real Money to upgrade applications like Parallels to SL compatibility!)

Search for Snow Leopard downgrade on these forums, you'll find people who have done it.
 
FWIW my late 2009 MBP came with 10.6.0 installed. I just booted it from a 10.5.8 backup I had. It all seemed to work OK, it booted, Mail & Safari worked.

So I am pretty sure that you could downgrade your new MBP to 10.5.8 with no problems.
 
bchaplin said:
Thanks, everyone, for the advice.
I was considering upgrading to a new computer but any possible complications staying with Leopard are a deal-killer. Right now I need to run software that isn't Snow Leopard-compatible. That's fine; I'll just save money and keep my current laptop for another year.
Click to expand...

What software is that?
 
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