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studiostuff · Jul 27, 2011, 04:07 PM

I want to create a dual-boot MBP with SL and Lion.

On Monday (7/25/11), my new MBP arrived with Lion installed. I had been given a new copy of SL by the Apple Store because I was concerned that I would have some apps that wouldn't work with Lion (...and they do not). I thought it would be an easy thing to partition the drive in my MBP and simply install SL in a clean partition. WRONG!!

I've tried to also install SL to an external drive... Same deal, no joy!

Also did the thing where you restart with the option key held down... saw the computer HD and the Recovery HD... THEN, put SL DVD in the drive. It took a look at it and then gave me the ominous sounding three-beeps, wait, three-beeps routine.

Called Apple Support, they didn't seem to know about it other than to say what I want to do can't be done and that they would call back to tell me why...

Seems like the new (Lion on board) MBPs are now different than the pre-Lion MBPs.

If anyone can help me with the install of SL or shed more light, I'll be in your debt.

Thanks!

Art Vandelay · Jul 27, 2011, 04:11 PM

It's more likely that you have a 10.6.3 retail disc and the 2011 MBPs need at least 10.6.7.

studiostuff · Jul 27, 2011, 04:15 PM

That's exactly what I have. So, I might have success with a 10.6.7 version...? Worth a try.

I've got the SL updater, I just need to find a way to update the SL version I have.

Thanks!

Waragainstsleep · Jul 27, 2011, 05:25 PM

You need to install SL on an older machine then update it, then you can boot the new MBP from that disc. Or try for a 10.6.7 disc from Apple. Some say they give them away if you own the machine they came with, but last time I asked they cost a bomb.

studiostuff · Jul 27, 2011, 05:56 PM

I can't find a local 10.6.7 DVD installer...

When I bought the MBP, I insisted they give me SL and got a 10.6.3 DVD copy and downloaded the 10.6.8 updater, thinking that would surely get me going. WRONG!

All I can find locally is 10.6.3 at US$30.00. GREAT! I already made it THAT far...

I'm thinking I need to find a pal locally that will let me install what I have on a partition and then make a bootable copy. That's a bunch more work than I wanted to do to dual-boot...! But we'll see what happens.

I'm definitely trying to find a 10.6.7 install DVD. But I'm not optimistic about my chances... It's not a big deal either way.

Thank you for your reply...!!

amazing · Jul 27, 2011, 06:07 PM

do you have a friend who's running 10.6.7? If so, put that Mac in firewire target disk mode and see if that external Mac in FTD will start up your MBP...

studiostuff · Jul 27, 2011, 06:14 PM

Yes! I'm definitely on the hunt...

I thought I was set to go until yesterday and today. And didn't think of a more recent version of SL until prompted here by one of the forum members (Thanks!)

We'll see if I can find a pal running 10.6.7 and then go crazy. Surely there is a way to make this happen. I'm just new to this sort of fiddely (sp?) approach to getting what I want...

Thanks for your ideas and help!!

Waragainstsleep · Jul 27, 2011, 06:55 PM

I don't think they made a retail version later than 10.6.3 which means you need the disc that came with the Thunderbolt MBP before Lion came out. Thats a fairly restrictive criteria.
If you can borrow an older machine, you can boot yours into firewire mode, install your copy of 10.6.3 through the borrowed Mac, then update it through the borrowed Mac to 10.6.8 and then you can reboot and it should work fine on yours. Perhaps the Apple store would let you borrow something. Actually you would need to hope for a white MacBook since the oldest Mac now available shipped with 10.6.4 (Mac Pro).

I'd kill for a 10.6.7 retail disc actually, It'd be really handy but like I say I don't think there is one.

Waragainstsleep · Jul 27, 2011, 06:59 PM

FYI you might need any friend to be running 10.6.8 since the MBP would have shipped with a special version of 10.6.7 which had all the Sandy Bridge drivers. They probably didn't make it into all versions until 10.6.8.

studiostuff · Jul 27, 2011, 07:15 PM

If what you say is true, and I'm sure it is... That raises the bar quite a bit for my hope of making this happen. How odd it that?

I guess Apple wants to just move forward with Lion and drag the rest of us along... I guess that's OK. Just a little more expense and delay than I'd hoped... Oh, wait. It's an Apple. What was I thinking? :-)

Waragainstsleep · Jul 28, 2011, 03:19 AM

You must know someone with a 2010 or earlier Mac with firewire who'd let you use it for an hour. You can even download the 10.6.8 combo update in advance to save a little time.

JeffLew · Jul 29, 2011, 03:29 PM

I bought a set of v.10.6.7 installation and application DVDs some time ago, in anticipation of being able to buy a new MBP after they were shipping with Lion pre-installed. Search eBay, or private-message me and I'll see if I can dig up the details.

The problem I'm concerned with (other than the fact it's probably a violation of the software license to have obtained the disks as I have) is that it's Apple's official policy to discourage/prohibit installation of operating systems earlier than what shipped with the computer, and a recent article here on MacNN matter-of-factly stated that the MBP will not boot anything other than Lion if it came with Lion on it. The model number, packaging, and a couple of keytops have been changed from the Snow Leopard version.

So my question is, to anyone who has tested it, can this particular version of the MBP (Early 2011 with Lion pre-installed) run an appropriate version of Snow Leopard?

studiostuff · Jul 29, 2011, 03:34 PM

I'll let you know on Monday.

I've got a SL 10.6.3 install DVD and the updater to take it up to 10.6.8 and plan to install SL 10.6.8 on an external drive on Monday. I'll try to install SL on a partition on my Lion on board MBP.

studiostuff · Aug 1, 2011, 05:43 PM

OK! Was able to install SL 10.6.8 on an external drive and then dual-boot my MBP. Pretty cool because I have a bunch of apps that I don't use that often that I'd hate to have to update for Lion. And they all work great in SL 10.6.8... It's a happy day.

The only thing I can't figure out is how to get SL 10.6.8 installed on my MBP. That would be the best. I tried to make a disk image of the external after I got SL 10.6.8 installed, but as you all probably know... I couldn't get that image to restore into a bootable partition on the MBP.

The trouble is... I only have versions of SL up to 10.6.4 and then have to run the updater and can't get that all worked out to install a 10.6.8 version on the MBP. I'm a little new the this neck of the woods...

Anyway, I'm pleased that I have a dual-boot system now, even though it's not quite as portable yet as I'd hope.

Thanks for all the help and advice here...!!

JeffLew · Aug 1, 2011, 10:59 PM

Wonderful! Now all I need to know is if it's possible to use the 10.6.7 restore disks that shipped with the pre-Lion MBPs. Someone on another forum site asserts that a fully updated 10.6.8+ will run on any of the Macs with Lion pre-installed (except the updated Minis and Airs, of course); however, he was quite certain that ANY pre-10.6.8 restore disks that shipped with these models would NOT work on these computers.

Might all be moot for me, as it's starting to look like I may not be able to afford anything beyond a refurb or used machine.