Installing Yosemite on external drive (while computer runs 10.13)

[Loa]

Hello,

I'm trying to bring my old MacBook back to life (for my young daughter) using a spare SSD. It's a 5,2 MacBook and it can go up to 10.11, but I'd prefer using 10.10. I'm running 10.13.5 on my Mac Pro and would like to use the Mac Pro to install 10.10 on the SSD. I have downloaded the 10.10 installer, but I can't run it because it says that it's too old to run on my system.

What gives?

My plan was to open the installer, select the fresh SSD and put that SSD in the MacBook. Seemed like a simple enough plan.

Any solutions?

Thanks

 

[CoastalOR]

I'm trying to bring my old MacBook back to life (for my young daughter) using a spare SSD. It's a 5,2 MacBook and it can go up to 10.11, but I'd prefer using 10.10. I'm running 10.13.5 on my Mac Pro and would like to use the Mac Pro to install 10.10 on the SSD. I have downloaded the 10.10 installer, but I can't run it because it says that it's too old to run on my system.

What gives?

My plan was to open the installer, select the fresh SSD and put that SSD in the MacBook. Seemed like a simple enough plan.

Any solutions?

Make a bootable USB installer with Yosemite on it. boot from it with the Macbook and install Yosemite.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
Make a Yosemite Install USB Drive
1. Grab a USB flash drive that's at least 8GB

2. Download Yosemite from the app store (should download to your Applications folder (named Install OS X Yosemite app). The install app will launch automatically after download, but Quit it, do not install yet.

3. Open Disk Utility and do the following:
-highlight the USB drive in the left column
-click on the Partition tab
-select "1 Partition"
-click “Options" and select GUID Partition Table
-under name leave the default (Untitled)
-under format choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"
-click “Apply" and “Partition"

4. Now open terminal (found under utilities) and paste the following into it:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app --nointeraction

Some other references:
https://www.macworld.com/article/23...otable-os-x-10-10-yosemite-install-drive.html
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/201...otable-os-x-10-10-yosemite-usb-install-drive/
https://mac-how-to.gadgethacks.com/...ll-usb-drive-mac-os-x-10-10-yosemite-0155306/

 

[Loa]

Thanks!

Do I have to change the volumes names in the terminal command?

 

[CoastalOR]

Do I have to change the volumes names in the terminal command?

No, the Volumes name is Untitled (/Volumes/Untitled). If you name the USB something else during the format then your USB drive name would have to replace Untitled. Leave /Volumes/.

 

[Fishrrman]

Instead of using the terminal, you can use a free app called "Diskmaker X" to create the bootable flash drive. It will make the process much simpler.

Download the correct version (make sure you pick the right one) from here:
http://diskmakerx.com/whats-this/