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Can I install macOS 10.6.8 on a mid-2011 MacBook Air?
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1
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Can I install macOS 10.6.8, Snow Leopard, to a mid-2011 MacBook Air that came preloaded with macOS 10.7.0, Lion, like the MacBook Pros can?
Or even a mid-2012 MacBook Air that came with 10.7.4 to capitalize on the 8 GB RAM upgrade?
I’m looking at purchasing an early model MacBook Air, preferably the 2012 model where they bumped up the capable RAM to 8 GB. In 2011 the early MacBook Pros came with macOS 10.6.6, Snow Leopard, the late 2011 models came with Lion 10.7.2 but from what I’m told these late model MacBook Pros are capable of having Snow Leopard installed even when Lion was pre-installed.
I know that you can’t back install macOS platforms on MacBooks like you can with iMacs but 2011 seems to be a particular case between late models having the ability to accept early model macOS 10.6, Snow Leopard.
macbook snow-leopard
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Can I install macOS 10.6.8, Snow Leopard, to a mid-2011 MacBook Air that came preloaded with macOS 10.7.0, Lion, like the MacBook Pros can?
Or even a mid-2012 MacBook Air that came with 10.7.4 to capitalize on the 8 GB RAM upgrade?
I’m looking at purchasing an early model MacBook Air, preferably the 2012 model where they bumped up the capable RAM to 8 GB. In 2011 the early MacBook Pros came with macOS 10.6.6, Snow Leopard, the late 2011 models came with Lion 10.7.2 but from what I’m told these late model MacBook Pros are capable of having Snow Leopard installed even when Lion was pre-installed.
I know that you can’t back install macOS platforms on MacBooks like you can with iMacs but 2011 seems to be a particular case between late models having the ability to accept early model macOS 10.6, Snow Leopard.
macbook snow-leopard
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
I know for a fact you can't run Snow Leopard on a 2012 Macbook Air—I've tried. Attempting to boot normally results in a kernel panic. Because I don't know when to quit, I tried installing a custom kernel (!) designed for AMD Hackintosh machines, and this actually got the OS boot! Unfortunately, there was no graphics acceleration, which rendered the machine unusable for day to day use. However, I think the 2011 Airs might work, you'd have to try it.
– Wowfunhappy
4 hours ago
@Wowfunhappy make that an answer !
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
someone did something similar forums.macrumors.com/threads/…
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
hmm, that's good that you did try it on the 2012 Air so I know not to buy that one then. All those used the Sandy Bridge chips that year and since the MBP's could have Snow Leopard downloaded to that chip i have to assume that the Air could be loaded with the same.
– Megatron
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Can I install macOS 10.6.8, Snow Leopard, to a mid-2011 MacBook Air that came preloaded with macOS 10.7.0, Lion, like the MacBook Pros can?
Or even a mid-2012 MacBook Air that came with 10.7.4 to capitalize on the 8 GB RAM upgrade?
I’m looking at purchasing an early model MacBook Air, preferably the 2012 model where they bumped up the capable RAM to 8 GB. In 2011 the early MacBook Pros came with macOS 10.6.6, Snow Leopard, the late 2011 models came with Lion 10.7.2 but from what I’m told these late model MacBook Pros are capable of having Snow Leopard installed even when Lion was pre-installed.
I know that you can’t back install macOS platforms on MacBooks like you can with iMacs but 2011 seems to be a particular case between late models having the ability to accept early model macOS 10.6, Snow Leopard.
macbook snow-leopard
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
Can I install macOS 10.6.8, Snow Leopard, to a mid-2011 MacBook Air that came preloaded with macOS 10.7.0, Lion, like the MacBook Pros can?
Or even a mid-2012 MacBook Air that came with 10.7.4 to capitalize on the 8 GB RAM upgrade?
I’m looking at purchasing an early model MacBook Air, preferably the 2012 model where they bumped up the capable RAM to 8 GB. In 2011 the early MacBook Pros came with macOS 10.6.6, Snow Leopard, the late 2011 models came with Lion 10.7.2 but from what I’m told these late model MacBook Pros are capable of having Snow Leopard installed even when Lion was pre-installed.
I know that you can’t back install macOS platforms on MacBooks like you can with iMacs but 2011 seems to be a particular case between late models having the ability to accept early model macOS 10.6, Snow Leopard.
macbook snow-leopard
macbook snow-leopard
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
edited 4 hours ago
Graham Miln
25.6k55986
25.6k55986
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
asked 4 hours ago
Megatron
361
361
I know for a fact you can't run Snow Leopard on a 2012 Macbook Air—I've tried. Attempting to boot normally results in a kernel panic. Because I don't know when to quit, I tried installing a custom kernel (!) designed for AMD Hackintosh machines, and this actually got the OS boot! Unfortunately, there was no graphics acceleration, which rendered the machine unusable for day to day use. However, I think the 2011 Airs might work, you'd have to try it.
– Wowfunhappy
4 hours ago
@Wowfunhappy make that an answer !
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
someone did something similar forums.macrumors.com/threads/…
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
hmm, that's good that you did try it on the 2012 Air so I know not to buy that one then. All those used the Sandy Bridge chips that year and since the MBP's could have Snow Leopard downloaded to that chip i have to assume that the Air could be loaded with the same.
– Megatron
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
I know for a fact you can't run Snow Leopard on a 2012 Macbook Air—I've tried. Attempting to boot normally results in a kernel panic. Because I don't know when to quit, I tried installing a custom kernel (!) designed for AMD Hackintosh machines, and this actually got the OS boot! Unfortunately, there was no graphics acceleration, which rendered the machine unusable for day to day use. However, I think the 2011 Airs might work, you'd have to try it.
– Wowfunhappy
4 hours ago
@Wowfunhappy make that an answer !
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
someone did something similar forums.macrumors.com/threads/…
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
hmm, that's good that you did try it on the 2012 Air so I know not to buy that one then. All those used the Sandy Bridge chips that year and since the MBP's could have Snow Leopard downloaded to that chip i have to assume that the Air could be loaded with the same.
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I know for a fact you can't run Snow Leopard on a 2012 Macbook Air—I've tried. Attempting to boot normally results in a kernel panic. Because I don't know when to quit, I tried installing a custom kernel (!) designed for AMD Hackintosh machines, and this actually got the OS boot! Unfortunately, there was no graphics acceleration, which rendered the machine unusable for day to day use. However, I think the 2011 Airs might work, you'd have to try it.
– Wowfunhappy
4 hours ago
I know for a fact you can't run Snow Leopard on a 2012 Macbook Air—I've tried. Attempting to boot normally results in a kernel panic. Because I don't know when to quit, I tried installing a custom kernel (!) designed for AMD Hackintosh machines, and this actually got the OS boot! Unfortunately, there was no graphics acceleration, which rendered the machine unusable for day to day use. However, I think the 2011 Airs might work, you'd have to try it.
– Wowfunhappy
4 hours ago
@Wowfunhappy make that an answer !
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
@Wowfunhappy make that an answer !
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
someone did something similar forums.macrumors.com/threads/…
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
someone did something similar forums.macrumors.com/threads/…
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
hmm, that's good that you did try it on the 2012 Air so I know not to buy that one then. All those used the Sandy Bridge chips that year and since the MBP's could have Snow Leopard downloaded to that chip i have to assume that the Air could be loaded with the same.
– Megatron
2 hours ago
hmm, that's good that you did try it on the 2012 Air so I know not to buy that one then. All those used the Sandy Bridge chips that year and since the MBP's could have Snow Leopard downloaded to that chip i have to assume that the Air could be loaded with the same.
– Megatron
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
This really ends up build you asking yourself "What installer do you have to install 10.6.8?"
You can know the exact build and version of the potential installers and go through the documentation to see which models "support" that installer.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201686
Furthermore, even if you don't have Apple official support, then you can see if you want to consider modifying the OS to hack it to try the install anyhow and see how badly it breaks. Lastly, some people use an installer to install from a supported machine to an external drive and then take that drive to the Mac that's not supported and see how badly things break when you boot. On iMacs, typical failure modes are WiFi not working and AirDrop / bonjour not working. Some of those items you can get around with USB adapters, other items you can't get around since the kernel and low level drivers are just not present to start up unsupported machines.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260
https://web.archive.org/web/20150225022618/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/HT201260 (use archive.org to look at older versions of support articles)- https://web.archive.org/web/20150223074747/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/ht1159
That last link shows all 2012 MacBook Air shipped originally with 10.7 so you would not expect 10.6 to have the drivers needed for full compatibility.
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
This really ends up build you asking yourself "What installer do you have to install 10.6.8?"
You can know the exact build and version of the potential installers and go through the documentation to see which models "support" that installer.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201686
Furthermore, even if you don't have Apple official support, then you can see if you want to consider modifying the OS to hack it to try the install anyhow and see how badly it breaks. Lastly, some people use an installer to install from a supported machine to an external drive and then take that drive to the Mac that's not supported and see how badly things break when you boot. On iMacs, typical failure modes are WiFi not working and AirDrop / bonjour not working. Some of those items you can get around with USB adapters, other items you can't get around since the kernel and low level drivers are just not present to start up unsupported machines.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260
https://web.archive.org/web/20150225022618/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/HT201260 (use archive.org to look at older versions of support articles)- https://web.archive.org/web/20150223074747/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/ht1159
That last link shows all 2012 MacBook Air shipped originally with 10.7 so you would not expect 10.6 to have the drivers needed for full compatibility.
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
This really ends up build you asking yourself "What installer do you have to install 10.6.8?"
You can know the exact build and version of the potential installers and go through the documentation to see which models "support" that installer.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201686
Furthermore, even if you don't have Apple official support, then you can see if you want to consider modifying the OS to hack it to try the install anyhow and see how badly it breaks. Lastly, some people use an installer to install from a supported machine to an external drive and then take that drive to the Mac that's not supported and see how badly things break when you boot. On iMacs, typical failure modes are WiFi not working and AirDrop / bonjour not working. Some of those items you can get around with USB adapters, other items you can't get around since the kernel and low level drivers are just not present to start up unsupported machines.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260
https://web.archive.org/web/20150225022618/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/HT201260 (use archive.org to look at older versions of support articles)- https://web.archive.org/web/20150223074747/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/ht1159
That last link shows all 2012 MacBook Air shipped originally with 10.7 so you would not expect 10.6 to have the drivers needed for full compatibility.
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
This really ends up build you asking yourself "What installer do you have to install 10.6.8?"
You can know the exact build and version of the potential installers and go through the documentation to see which models "support" that installer.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201686
Furthermore, even if you don't have Apple official support, then you can see if you want to consider modifying the OS to hack it to try the install anyhow and see how badly it breaks. Lastly, some people use an installer to install from a supported machine to an external drive and then take that drive to the Mac that's not supported and see how badly things break when you boot. On iMacs, typical failure modes are WiFi not working and AirDrop / bonjour not working. Some of those items you can get around with USB adapters, other items you can't get around since the kernel and low level drivers are just not present to start up unsupported machines.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260
https://web.archive.org/web/20150225022618/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/HT201260 (use archive.org to look at older versions of support articles)- https://web.archive.org/web/20150223074747/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/ht1159
That last link shows all 2012 MacBook Air shipped originally with 10.7 so you would not expect 10.6 to have the drivers needed for full compatibility.
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
This really ends up build you asking yourself "What installer do you have to install 10.6.8?"
You can know the exact build and version of the potential installers and go through the documentation to see which models "support" that installer.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201686
Furthermore, even if you don't have Apple official support, then you can see if you want to consider modifying the OS to hack it to try the install anyhow and see how badly it breaks. Lastly, some people use an installer to install from a supported machine to an external drive and then take that drive to the Mac that's not supported and see how badly things break when you boot. On iMacs, typical failure modes are WiFi not working and AirDrop / bonjour not working. Some of those items you can get around with USB adapters, other items you can't get around since the kernel and low level drivers are just not present to start up unsupported machines.
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260
https://web.archive.org/web/20150225022618/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/HT201260 (use archive.org to look at older versions of support articles)- https://web.archive.org/web/20150223074747/http://support.apple.com:80/en-us/ht1159
That last link shows all 2012 MacBook Air shipped originally with 10.7 so you would not expect 10.6 to have the drivers needed for full compatibility.
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
answered 4 hours ago
bmike♦
152k46271590
152k46271590
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I have many Snow Leopard install discs from 10.6.0 to 10.6.8 I think all versions on original install discs, maybe a version of some of these install driver may work, possibly the earlier versions like the 10.6.0 or something you think?
– Megatron
2 hours ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
I'd try the one with the build that's numerically greatest - closest to 10.6.8 in the hopes that Apple put in the drivers your 2012 Air needs later. The 10.6.0 has less chance to have the drivers you need, but trying an install won't take much time other than connecting a drive and installing.
– bmike♦
1 hour ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
okay good point, I will try the 10.6.6 disc that I have and if that doesn't work then I will have another disk preloaded with Snow Leopard and just sap the drives and see what happens.
– Megatron
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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I know for a fact you can't run Snow Leopard on a 2012 Macbook Air—I've tried. Attempting to boot normally results in a kernel panic. Because I don't know when to quit, I tried installing a custom kernel (!) designed for AMD Hackintosh machines, and this actually got the OS boot! Unfortunately, there was no graphics acceleration, which rendered the machine unusable for day to day use. However, I think the 2011 Airs might work, you'd have to try it.
– Wowfunhappy
4 hours ago
@Wowfunhappy make that an answer !
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
someone did something similar forums.macrumors.com/threads/…
– Buscar웃
3 hours ago
hmm, that's good that you did try it on the 2012 Air so I know not to buy that one then. All those used the Sandy Bridge chips that year and since the MBP's could have Snow Leopard downloaded to that chip i have to assume that the Air could be loaded with the same.
– Megatron
2 hours ago