Project Legacy Mac Mini 2011

[I WAS the one]

I have a server running on a Mac Mini mid 2011 with macOS Yosemite. But I found in my garage a bunch of old software programs I bought long time ago, and I didn't remember I own Adobe Creative Premium CS3! So I'm planning to downgrade that old Mac Mini to macOS Lion to install that legacy software. Here's what I'm going to do:

1. I need to clone my Mac Mini mid 2011 to a 2012 Mac Mini I have for Office management. Why? Because I can't install Lion on a 2012 Mac Mini and I don't want to lose all my server data.

2. Once I Clone my 2011 Mac to the 2012 Mac I will reboot the Mac 2011 with a Lion OS Thumbdrive and wipe out everything to have a factory ready Mac Mini (or maybe I just can restore online if I boot pressing the power button, idk)

3. Then I will install my Adobe Software and see how it goes. I don't think I'm going to have any issues because everything is legal and registered on my name. I just want to see how it goes and how it will work, comparing it with my Mac Mini M1 with Adobe CC.

Here's my first question of this adventure:

Can I use a USB to clone the Mac Mini?
I know I can turn any of those into a hard drive mode in the startup tab inside System Preferences (Something that you can't do with the M1 by the way)

Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated. Yes I own 6 Mac Minis. Part of the job... no big deal.

 

[InuNacho]

CS3 huh?
I found a complete copy of CS3 at a Goodwill for $8 and installed it on my 2018 Mini running Mojave. I haven't installed the ancient Java it requires to run InDesign or anything else, but here is it running Bridge.

 

[I WAS the one]

CS3 huh?
I found a complete copy of CS3 at a Goodwill for $8 and installed it on my 2018 Mini running Mojave. I haven't installed the ancient Java it requires to run InDesign or anything else, but here is it running Bridge.

View attachment 1992313

Let me know if Mojave can run PS or AI so I don’t need to go Lion. Do you think it will run on Mountain Lion? That’s the lowest I can go on the 2012 Mac Mini.

 

[Boyd01]

I used Photoshop CS3 on my 2013 MacBook Air up through Sierra. It worked fine, but was somewhat crash-prone.

 

[I WAS the one]

I used Photoshop CS3 on my 2013 MacBook Air up through Sierra. It worked fine, but was somewhat crash-prone.

What about java? Work some how great even with updated Java?

 

[InuNacho]

Let me know if Mojave can run PS or AI so I don’t need to go Lion. Do you think it will run on Mountain Lion? That’s the lowest I can go on the 2012 Mac Mini.

I'll have to remember where I put the installer disc haha. I only checked off InDesign since I was in a pinch and needed to read a .indb for a project I did ages ago. I bought Affinity Publisher shortly after.

 

[I WAS the one]

I'll have to remember where I put the installer disc haha. I only checked off InDesign since I was in a pinch and needed to read a .indb for a project I did ages ago. I bought Affinity Publisher shortly after.

Affinity suite has been my main tools recently. It’s impressive how advance those apps are in version 1! People criticizing those apps forget is just the first version! They’re so good that most of the haters compare them versus Adobe CC ?L?M?A?O? bro, that’s how good those apps are!

 

[StoneJack]

imho, it is not worth to incur too much costs for old hardware and software. Surely it may sound economical, but with time and money spent and lack of future proof growth perspectives, why not to invest into something more modern? Surely one can use Windows XP for old PC soft and Mac Lion for old Adobe software, but it is mostly corporations that keep old hardware and software for specific tasks, as a consumer I'd better invest in something future-oriented. Example: i wanted to pay for Adobe's suit (I worked professionally on Photoshop, Pagemaker, Indesign and Illustrator), but in my country Adobe woudn't accept my card and let me rent its software, so I just bought Pixelmator, which can do 85% of what Photoshop can for a fraction of price. Then Affinity suite and an app called Graphic replaced Illustrator and finally FCPX replaced Premiere. All in all, I saved so much money just by moving ahead and leaving expensive Adobe apps.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I have CS5 running on my 2011 Mac Mini, and it works fine.

 

[Boyd01]

What about java? Work some how great even with updated Java?

It's been a long time ago, but I think I downloaded the old version of Java that was needed. It might have even been available from Apple at that time, sorry, I don't recall the details. Basically everything worked, but it crashed often enough to be annoying. I only use Photoshop though and none of the other Adobe apps.

 

[I WAS the one]

imho, it is not worth to incur too much costs for old hardware and software. Surely it may sound economical, but with time and money spent and lack of future proof growth perspectives, why not to invest into something more modern? Surely one can use Windows XP for old PC soft and Mac Lion for old Adobe software, but it is mostly corporations that keep old hardware and software for specific tasks, as a consumer I'd better invest in something future-oriented. Example: i wanted to pay for Adobe's suit (I worked professionally on Photoshop, Pagemaker, Indesign and Illustrator), but in my country Adobe woudn't accept my card and let me rent its software, so I just bought Pixelmator, which can do 85% of what Photoshop can for a fraction of price. Then Affinity suite and an app called Graphic replaced Illustrator and finally FCPX replaced Premiere. All in all, I saved so much money just by moving ahead and leaving expensive Adobe apps.

My Friend I no longer use Adobe Products, see attachment for Adobe Alternatives I use today. I'm doing this to see if I can run my own apps from old days on an old Mac I own. Experimental / educational project if you asked me.

 

[MBAir2010]

Can I use a USB to clone the Mac Mini?
I know I can turn any of those into a hard drive mode in the startup tab inside System Preferences (Something that you can't do with the M1 by the way)

OWC has a cloning guide thar explains eveything, i hope!

CS4 works well with Mojave if anyone needs to know.

 

[I WAS the one]

OWC has a cloning guide thar explains eveything, i hope!

CS4 works well with Mojave if anyone needs to know.

How did you work out the Authorization code? Im in that area right now. It is not in my booklet or in the serial number at the back of the box. I am sure I registered at Adobe but I went there and nothing is under my account. All my old info is vanished. They just have the Adobe CC info. SMH I bought that software you know.

 

[I WAS the one]

I have CS5 running on my 2011 Mac Mini, and it works fine.

Let me know how you managed the Authorization code. I can’t find that info on the label or the booklet. And I call the register line and it’s not working anymore.

 

[MBAir2010]

How did you work out the Authorization code? Im in that area right now. It is not in my booklet or in the serial number at the back of the box. I am sure I registered at Adobe but I went there and nothing is under my account. All my old info is vanished. They just have the Adobe CC info. SMH I bought that software you know.

i think i just upgraded every OS from 2009 to 2019 on the macbook air
and timemachined that to the Mini in December.
Since i do own the DVD's but do not remembering install those since 2018.
Time machine saved my butt many times, but i cant get Dreamweaver on the macmini
adobe screwed that up.
Adobe makes great software but horrible user rights and customer service,
like every company since 1996.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Let me know how you managed the Authorization code. I can’t find that info on the label or the booklet. And I call the register line and it’s not working anymore.

I honestly cant remember, as the machine is so old.

 

[I WAS the one]

I honestly cant remember, as the machine is so old.

OK, Time to surf Reddit.

 

[InuNacho]

Let me know how you managed the Authorization code. I can’t find that info on the label or the booklet. And I call the register line and it’s not working anymore.

If you complain enough to the Adobe people, they'll do things they say they can't. I needed a Lightroom 6 file and they provided it and activated it too!

 

[I WAS the one]

If you complain enough to the Adobe people, they'll do things they say they can't. I needed a Lightroom 6 file and they provided it and activated it too!

Perfect. I will put my 3 years old child costume and fight for my rights.

 

[Fozziebear40]

I'm afraid the CS3 servers have been switched off, so no way to activate it I'm angry as I've paid for this software, but Adobe insistent, you have to move to a higher version (I hate monthly subscriptions for software).

 

[Boyd01]

Don't know about CS3, but when Adobe deactivated the CS2 servers they provided a single serial number that anybody could use for direct activation. There were a number of articles about this at the time. You might want to investigate this further, perhaps tech support would help if you found the right person?

OTOH, CS3 was introduced in 2007 - I bought my copy when I got my 2008 MBP. Doubt that you'll find many companies still supporting 15 year old software today.

 

[I WAS the one]

Don't know about CS3, but when Adobe deactivated the CS2 servers they provided a single serial number that anybody could use for direct activation. There were a number of articles about this at the time. You might want to investigate this further, perhaps tech support would help if you found the right person?

OTOH, CS3 was introduced in 2007 - I bought my copy when I got my 2008 MBP. Doubt that you'll find many companies still supporting 15 year old software today.

Actually, I have a specific hardware for lithography plate production that we still use for Miller press paint rollers that only work with a Power Mac G4 running Panther. So, never underestimate the power of a Mac. ;-)