Feb 09, 2018 As the OS X Base System is the only thing left in the computer, every time I start it up, it does directly into the Recovery menu. I've researched on the internet and a lot of people made this mistake. Most of them where able to either erase or re-install the system, but I'm at a dead end, as I don't have any of these options available. Mac OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8) is the nineth major release of Mac OS X (now named macOS), Apple’s desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. OS X Mountain Lion brings a lot of great things from iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to the Mac. You can send iMessages. Get your Mac in on Game Center. Receive notifications.
If you have a problem with your Mac and need to reinstal the operating system you should be able to simply reinstall macOS (or Mac OS X) via the Recovery partition. In this article we'll look at. High Sierra emphasizes the already-existing benefits of MacOS previous system, Sierra. There are few bells and whistles, but the changes are noticeable and positive. The Apple file system is the most significant feature it brought. It enables the storage and encryption of a large number of files.
So, you’ve decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac’s performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we’ll explain where to get one and what problems you may face down the road.
A list of all Mac OS X versions
We’ll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.
Cheetah 10.0 | Puma 10.1 | Jaguar 10.2 |
Panther 10.3 | Tiger 10.4 | Leopard 10.5 |
Snow Leopard 10.6 | Lion 10.7 | Mountain Lion 10.8 |
Mavericks 10.9 | Yosemite 10.10 | El Capitan 10.11 |
Sierra 10.12 | High Sierra 10.13 | Mojave 10.14 |
Catalina 10.15 |
STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation
Given your Mac isn’t new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have “fuel” to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.
Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free up space on your drive:
- Uninstall large unused apps
- Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
- Locate the biggest files on your computer:
Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size
Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.
If you aren’t comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic “room cleaners”. Our favorite is CleanMyMac as it’s most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.
Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.
If you aren’t comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic “room cleaners”. Our favorite is CleanMyMac as it’s most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.
Download Macos Recovery System Recovery
Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)
Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)
Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)
STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download
Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That’s why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your computer.
How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store
If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you’ll find all the installers you can download. However, it doesn’t always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:
- Click the App Store icon.
- Click Purchases in the top menu.
- Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
- Click Download.
This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.
Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer
If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.
Purchase an older version of Mac operating system
You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.
Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8
The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of it.
How to get macOS El Capitan download
If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it’s possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should take:
1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.
“I can’t download an old version of Mac OS X”
If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don’t expect it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.
But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.
After you’ve completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.
STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive
The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.
- Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
- Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
- Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
- Select external drive as a source.
- Enter your Apple ID.
Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is “captured” onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.
- Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
- Connect the external drive.
- Go to external drive > OS X Install Data.
Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.
How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions
If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Sierra
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Sierra
Instruction to downgrade from macOS High Sierra
![Download Macos Recovery System Download Macos Recovery System](/uploads/1/1/9/8/119877805/311337022.jpg)
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Mojave
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina
Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).
Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version
If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.
These might also interest you:
How do I download Macintosh HD? This tutorial will shows you how to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery with step by step guides. And you will also learn how to preform Macintosh HD Recovery with a professional Mac data recovery program.
PAGE CONTENT:
- What Is the Difference Between Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data
- How to Perform Macintosh HD Download from macOS Recovery
- Macintosh HD Recovery - How to Recover Lost Data from Macintosh HD
- Macintosh HD Download FAQs
Mac's hard drive, also know as Macintosh HD, is the primary storage facility or database for keeping system and data for Mac users. And macOS or Mac OS X has been committed to providing the best protection of Mac hard drive to avoid data loss for many years. However, sometimes, your Macintosh HD will fail to boot because of a particular reason and needs reinstalling macOS. In this article, you will first learn how to use macOS Recovery to perform Macintosh HD download on your built-in drive or an external drive. Then, you'll see how to use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, professional Macintosh HD data recovery software to recover data from Macintosh HD - Data.
What Is the Difference Between Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data
Many users are not clear about the difference between Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data, let's briefly talk about them here. Before performing a Macintosh HD download and data recovery, it is necessary for you to take a look.
For most Mac computers, whether it is an iMac or MacBook, the default configuration is only one disk, that is, Macintosh HD. The Macintosh HD is where the system and system support files are kept, and the user has no access to them. The Mac HD - Data is where your files and apps are kept, and you have access to them just like the older system volumes. Both Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD Data are in the same disk.
How to Perform Macintosh HD Download from macOS Recovery
macOS Recovery is part of the built-in recovery system of Mac. You can start up from macOS Recovery and use it to restore from Time Machine, reinstall macOS, get help online, repair or erase a hard disk from certain software issues or take other actions on your Mac. Now, follow the guides below to download Macintosh HD on your Mac.
Step 1. Startup Mac from macOS Recovery
Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the combinations on your keyboard: Command (⌘)-R, Option-⌘-R, Shift-Option-⌘-R. If you need to enter a password, do as required.
When you see the utility window as shown below, you have started up from macOS Recovery.
Step 2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk
If you are going to selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, or you have an issue that requires you to erase, you can choose to erase your computer. Click 'Disk Utility' > 'Continue', and follow the onscreen instructions to finish.
As erasing disk will delete the data completely with no chance to recover, thinks twice before your take action.
Step 3. Install macOS
You can skip step 2 and select 'Reinstall macOS' to start reinstalling macOS directly. Follow the instructions on the screen to proceed.
- If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
- Don't put your Mac to sleep or closing its lid until the installation completes.
- The specific device model determines whether you can install the latest macOS. If you can't install macOS Catalina, you might be able to install an earlier macOS, such as macOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite.
You can also finish Macintosh HD download from the App Store or Software Update preferences. Or you can create a bootable installer disk, then use that disk to install macOS on your Mac or another Mac.
Tip: If you have any questions about 'Does Recovery Mode delete everything on Mac?', read the article for answers.
Macintosh HD Recovery - Recover Lost Data from Macintosh HD
Although you can use the macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS or Mac OS X without missing user data, you may still find it seems unavoidable to losing important photos, documents, emails, or videos on Macintosh HD if you have used the Disk Utility in HD Recovery to format your disk. Then, how could such an issue be settled? How to recover the lost files from Mac? Now, all these problems could be solved directly by using a professional Macintosh HD data recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is an easy-to-use and reliable data recovery software for Mac users. It can recover 200+ types of data from your Mac internal hard drive as well as other external media storage devices. It works with many versions of Mac from Mac OS X 10.9 to the latest macOS 10.15.
- Full file system support: support Mac data recovery from NTFS, HFS, HFS+, HFSX, HFS Wrapper, FAT file system volumes, as well as APFS data recovery.
- Convenient data recovery preview: the preview of scanned photos, audios, and videos to specify what you want to recover effectively.
- Multiple Mac data recovery types: recover all the usual file types, including documents, images, files, videos, and other files from your Mac internal/external hard drive.
- Powerful data recovery capability: recover data from the emptied trash bin, formatted hard drive/USB/memory card, lost partitions, etc..
Only three steps will solve the data loss troubles for Macintosh HD Recovery.
Step 1. Select the disk location (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device) where you lost data and files. Click the 'Scan' button.
Step 2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane.
Step 3. In the scan results, select the file(s) and click the 'Recover Now' button to have them back.
Except for recovering lost data caused by Macintosh HD recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac also works very well to restore lost files on Mac due to the following reasons.
- Empty Trash bin.
- Format hard drive without backup by mistake.
- Lose data after system restore.
- Wrong operations on the existing partitions cause the partition table damaged.
- The hard drive logic is corrupted, and the data is inaccessible.
- The hard drive is inaccessible because of the virus attacks.
Macintosh HD Download FAQs
1. How do I download Macintosh HD?
How to install a fresh copy of OS X on your Mac
Step 1. Shut down your Mac.
Step 2. Press the Power button.
Step 3. Immediately press the command (cloverleaf) key and R together.
Step 4. Make sure you're connected to the internet through Wi-Fi.
Download Macos Recovery System Windows 10
Step 5. Select Install Mac OS X, then click Continue.
Windows Recovery System
2. What is Macintosh HD?
In the Finder, both volumes appear as Macintosh HD. The Disk Utility app in macOS Catalina shows that Macintosh HD is the read-only system volume and Macintosh HD - Data contains the rest of your files and data.
3. How do I find Macintosh HD on my Macbook Pro?
Get Macintosh HD In Finder Sidebar
Download Mac Os Recovery System Mechanic
![Download Macos Recovery System Download Macos Recovery System](https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/TimeMachineSelectBackup.png)
Step 1. On your Mac launch Finder.
Step 2.Click on the Finder option from the menu bar and click on 'Preferences'.
Step 3.On the Finder Preferences click on the 'Sidebar' tab.
Download Macos Recovery System Software
Step 4.Under 'Show these items in the sidebar' click on the 'Hard disks' option.