Two OSs???

[TanBrae]

Well, not so impressed with Apple store's "help". I had asked, after having my hard drive (which, of course, was High Sierra) replaced, about partitioning my hard drive to install two versions of OS.

I currently run Mavericks, which I "reinstalled", because I have legacy softwares that are not High Sierra compatible. I'm not all that opposed to upgrading my OS, but, I DO need to be able to run those legacy softwares.

I was told at the Apple store that it is not a good idea to do so, yet I've been reading where it is OKAY to do so. What I'm a bit confused about is which software should I use - Parallels, or VMFusion? Or, is it better to boot from an external when I need to use Mavericks? I'm leaning towards booting from an external, as it's likely I won't have to run both OSs at the same time.

Should you need it, my computer is a Mid 2011 iMac, with OS X 10.9.5 installed. It has four memory slots, all of which are in use - two 4GB, and two 2GB, so it should have enough "umph" to do what I want it to do, right?

 

[mikzn]

You can partition the drive if it is large enough to handle the 2 separate OS's and the files, my preference would be to have separate drives - you can buy a second drive and a USB enclosure - install the other OS and reboot into the less used OS version?

With 2 Drives can disconnect the less used OS and avoid accidentally save files into the wrong drive etc.

You have plenty of memory no issue there, just the cost of another drive vs the capacity of the existing drive if you want to save some $$ and use one drive and partition.

Disk Utilitity can do the partition

 

[TanBrae]

You can partition the drive if it is large enough to handle the 2 separate OS's and the files, my preference would be to have separate drives - you can buy a second drive and a USB enclosure - install the other OS and reboot into the less used OS version?

With 2 Drives can disconnect the less used OS and avoid accidentally save files into the wrong drive etc.

You have plenty of memory no issue there, just the cost of another drive vs the capacity of the existing drive if you want to save some $$ and use one drive and partition.

Disk Utilitity can do the partition

So, to make certain I understand you correctly, I can boot from an external with Mavericks on it, right?

I already have an external with the Mavericks installer on it. Do I boot to that? Then, how do I see the softwares I need to use?

Forgive me if I sound stupid, but I've never done this before (obviously!), and it makes me nervous.

 

[mikzn]

yes as long as your external drive is a bootable drive? not all are

you can connect the empty external you have then install the os from the iMac - if the install goes well on the external you can go to preferences < startup disk and select the external drive to restart from.

once you are running on the external then you can migrate your data and files with Migration Assitant ( assuming you want to have you files and set up the same?)

hope that helps

 

[Fishrrman]

If you want to boot/run a "second OS", my suggestion is that you get an EXTERNAL USB3 drive of some sort, and install the second OS onto it. Then, boot and run from it.

It could a platter-based hard drive, an SSD, or even a USB flash drive (of sufficient speed and capacity).

Things just go better that way.

Personal experience:
I do this all the time. In fact, as I type this I'm booted onto my "test drive" which contains the latest version of the High Sierra public beta (released yesterday). Just got it installed about 15 minutes ago.

 

[flowrider]

Apple support was BS for the OP. Really don't understand this. My cMP has seven internal discs. Five have OS's on them. I typically have two OS's installed at any one time, though In the past I have had three. I also recommend separate startup discs for each OS. But, there is absolutely no reason not to have multiple startup disks in a system at one time.

Lou

 

[ipodssss]

So you went into the Apple store for help/advice and they advised you don’t do that on a 7 year old machine..

And I’m guessing when this goes wrong you will blame Apple staff/software/hardware.

Classic

 

[mikzn]

Apple support was BS for the OP. Really don't understand this.
Lou

Assuming that Apple Support did say that to the OP

 

[TanBrae]

So you went into the Apple store for help/advice and they advised you don’t do that on a 7 year old machine..

And I’m guessing when this goes wrong you will blame Apple staff/software/hardware.

Classic

Nice. Helpful.
Why did you bother?
I KNOW THIS IS AN OLD MACHINE!!! Not everybody can afford to, or want to, upgrade to the "latest and greatest". Thanks. For nothin'.
[doublepost=1516382812][/doublepost]

Apple support was BS for the OP. Really don't understand this. My cMP has seven internal discs. Five have OS's on them. I typically have two OS's installed at any one time, though In the past I have had three. I also recommend separate startup discs for each OS. But, there is absolutely no reason not to have multiple startup disks in a system at one time.

Lou

Thank you, Lou. I thought so, too. Apparently, some others think I'm stupid.

It really annoys me to come here to ask for guidance, and get snark instead.
[doublepost=1516383013][/doublepost]

Assuming that Apple Support did say that to the OP

What/who ever OP is... YES, Apple Support DID say that. Thanks for thinking I'm a liar.

I'm not totally stupid when it comes to computers. I took a computer forensics class in college, AND was on the Cyber Defense team. I am still learning, though, and because of TWO recent hard drive fails, and Time Machine messing up, I'm a bit nervous about losing even more data.

For what it's worth, WHY did you feel the need to be snarky? I thought this forum is here to HELP!
[doublepost=1516383146][/doublepost]

If you want to boot/run a "second OS", my suggestion is that you get an EXTERNAL USB3 drive of some sort, and install the second OS onto it. Then, boot and run from it.

It could a platter-based hard drive, an SSD, or even a USB flash drive (of sufficient speed and capacity).

Things just go better that way.

Personal experience:
I do this all the time. In fact, as I type this I'm booted onto my "test drive" which contains the latest version of the High Sierra public beta (released yesterday). Just got it installed about 15 minutes ago.

Thank you! I will likely be booting from an external hard drive.

 

[mikzn]

What/who ever OP is... YES, Apple Support DID say that. Thanks for thinking I'm a liar.

I'm not totally stupid when it comes to computers. I took a computer forensics class in college, AND was on the Cyber Defense team. I am still learning, though, and because of TWO recent hard drive fails, and Time Machine messing up, I'm a bit nervous about losing even more data.

For what it's worth, WHY did you feel the need to be snarky? I thought this forum is here to HELP!

OP = "original poster"

Did not say or think you were lying or stupid, and was not trying to be snarky etc.

I too have many past personal customer service issues with apple - to the point of I will not go to apple stores any more. I prefer Best Buy for purchasing new product and another small "Apple / Computer / Repair" company for parts and other services because it seems like they place more importance on Customer Service than Apple.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I run Lion and Mountain Lion on my MacBook. All I did was partition the drive in two. Loaded each OS on it’s own partition, then designated which partition I wanted as the startup drive.

 

[imasterus]

Wow.

I run Lion and Mountain Lion on my MacBook. All I did was partition the drive in two. Loaded each OS on it’s own partition, then designated which partition I wanted as the startup drive.

Wow, fantastic combination of OS X versions Why do you need to run two legacy OS X versions?
My point is that more than a year ago I used to run two OS X versions on my MBA 2011 - Mountain Lion (for nostalgic feelings and kind of for work) and El Capitan (to run modern software). Sometimes I get itchy to erase my MBA and install either Mountain Lion or Mavericks and, plus, El Capitan. Haven't decided yet. Though I definitely won't forgive High Sierra for not letting me to install and use BlackBerry Blend software for my Blackberry Passport smartphone.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Wow.

Wow, fantastic combination of OS X versions Why do you need to run two legacy OS X versions?
My point is that more than a year ago I used to run two OS X versions on my MBA 2011 - Mountain Lion (for nostalgic feelings and kind of for work) and El Capitan (to run modern software). Sometimes I get itchy to erase my MBA and install either Mountain Lion or Mavericks and, plus, El Capitan. Haven't decided yet. Though I definitely won't forgive High Sierra for not letting me to install and use BlackBerry Blend software for my Blackberry Passport smartphone.

Technically my MacBook shouldn’t run ML but, I used Macpostfactor to install it. I figured if it ran like crap I could just dump it and continue using Lion. I don’t really use it for anything important so I figured it was worth a shot since ML offers imessage and some other features not available on Lion. I have to say, ML works really well so I left things as is.

 

[ipodssss]

Didn’t say you needed a brand new machine OP.
Clearly stating the fact you asked Apple for advice on running 2 OS’s on a vintage machine and they rightfully said it was a bad idea.
You are just throwing your toys out the pram because they didn’t tell you what you wanted to hear.

 

[flowrider]

Rightfully said????? It certainly is NOT a bad idea.

Lou

 

[TanBrae]

OP = "original poster"

Did not say or think you were lying or stupid, and was not trying to be snarky etc.

I too have many past personal customer service issues with apple - to the point of I will not go to apple stores any more. I prefer Best Buy for purchasing new product and another small "Apple / Computer / Repair" company for parts and other services because it seems like they place more importance on Customer Service than Apple.

Thank you! After reading the other response, my dander was up.
[doublepost=1516678831][/doublepost]

Didn’t say you needed a brand new machine OP.
Clearly stating the fact you asked Apple for advice on running 2 OS’s on a vintage machine and they rightfully said it was a bad idea.
You are just throwing your toys out the pram because they didn’t tell you what you wanted to hear.

NOT helpful, either. Go away, kid. You bother me.
[doublepost=1516678944][/doublepost]

Rightfully said????? It certainly is NOT a bad idea.

Lou

Thank you, again, Lou.
I didn't think it was such a bad idea, either. However, I wasn't all that comfortable with it, as I've never done such a thing before this. I'm really considering using the external, but need to read more about how to do so.

 

[camelia]

You can partition the drive if it is large enough to handle the 2 separate OS's and the files, my preference would be to have separate drives - you can buy a second drive and a USB enclosure - install the other OS and reboot into the less used OS version?

With 2 Drives can disconnect the less used OS and avoid accidentally save files into the wrong drive etc.

You have plenty of memory no issue there, just the cost of another drive vs the capacity of the existing drive if you want to save some $$ and use one drive and partition.

Disk Utilitity can do the partition

Is there a video @ yourtube where I can see what you are talking about?

Thanks
Came

 

[mikzn]

Is there a video @ yourtube where I can see what you are talking about?

Thanks
Came

I really like iFixit for any repair info - great videos and step by step tutorials- but youtube has plenty too. Just make sure the model and specs are the same as your Mac on any info you are watching.

On the other hand (and in my case) using and external SSD like a EVO 850 500 gb and a cheap enclosure like an Insignia is an easy way to install a new OS on the external without affecting your present drive (usually in stock at Best Buy). You can do a clean install or clone the existing drive onto the external and then boot from the external. Again depends on your Mac and hardware specs. Once you have the 2 drives working fine you can swap them if you wish - but that would involve taking the Mac apart.