Revert to Mac OS 10.6.8 from 10.13.6 (MacBook Pro): options

Question

Revert to Mac OS 10.6.8 from 10.13.6 (MacBook Pro): options

I have an old White MacBook 7,1 mid-2010(10.6.8 OS) running CAD & an Ebay acquired MacBook Pro 2010. I need the the Pro's OS to be the same because this CAD software will not work well beyond OS 10.6.8. I have verified that THIS Pro will work on that Older OS. I will use the MacBook Pro for CAD almost solely. I own the original DVD set and passwords for the CAD, so once I have the 10.6.8 OS on it I can directly install the CAD via DVD.

Is this an option: remove the upgraded 320 GB drive from the white MacBook and install directly into the Pro. If so, this alleviates lots of disk erasure, waiting, and concerns about tweaking after the OS is installed. What do you think? If the hard drive manufacturer says the hardware will transfer over, it sure seems like a first option, right? OR, will there be concerns for the OS / this drive working correctly with the Pro hardware somehow?

2nd, let's say this is a no go. . . Next option seems to just erase the entire hard drive on the pro using my DVD install disk for Snow Leapard; install Snow Leapard, update to 10.6.8 and place the CAD software. . .

However, are there lots of other things I need to be concerned with?

Please keep in mind this will be almost totally a dedicated CAD system with only occasional internet browser use. I have other Macs on my home network I can use to manipulate / move files, send email, and lots of other things. If this runs the CAD and operates as a basic device, that is 95% of my needs for the Pro.

Also, I do have external drives I can use as backup drives to copy the old white MacBook disk to. Should I make a full backup? by what method? I won't need the CAD or OS software as my plan is to use original DVD's for that . . . I will only need to back up some CAD data files and a few other misc files to get the bare bones off the white MacBook. . .

thanks for your suggestions!

MacBook Pro 13″

Posted on Sep 5, 2025 5:51 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

154,874 points

Sep 5, 2025 7:27 PM in response to Brian Schreiber

Option 1: I did that a long time ago, approximately during the era of those Macs. It worked, so it's worth a try.

Apple only recently removed the following instructions:

 MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)/(13-inch, Mid 2010) Hard Drive Replacement Instructions (archived)

I did not retain the corresponding instructions for the MBP.

Option 2, should the above prove unsuccessful, ought to work too. You have nothing to lose by trying.

However...

Please keep in mind this will be almost totally a dedicated CAD system with only occasional internet browser use.

Even "occasional" may be too much to ask for. Most browsers including the last Firefox ESR release that will install on Snow Leopard will have difficulty with many websites. You are likely to have difficulty even finding that older Firefox release... and since Safari isn't likely to work at all, you will probably need to resort to using curl to download it.

Most email services won't work. Most anything Internet-related won't work.

However, are there lots of other things I need to be concerned with?

That depends on your concerns. Assume you will be left with nothing but a couple nice looking Apple boxes with screens that light up. It goes without saying, do nothing without a Time Machine backup, and not just one. Two or more, preferably, for each Mac with contents you care about. That means four backup drives, minimum. Keep them separate from one another.

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Answer 2

Sep 5, 2025 10:15 PM in response to Brian Schreiber

Brian Schreiber wrote:

Should I make a full backup? by what method? I won't need the CAD or OS software as my plan is to use original DVD's for that . . . I will only need to back up some CAD data files and a few other misc files to get the bare bones off the white MacBook. . .

I have used Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.6 to make a bootable clone of Snow Leopard 10.6.8 Retail and Server versions.

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Answer 3

Sep 6, 2025 9:45 AM in response to Matti Haveri

thanks Matti,

but I have actually a fully legal and original Snow Leopard disk, 10.6.3. Then, I have been just going onto Apple site and downloading the disk image for 10.6.8 final upgrade.

Nice to know that CCC 3.4.6 will actually replicate so well.

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Answer 4

Sep 6, 2025 9:57 AM in response to John Galt

That HD replacement file is much better than my "plan"-- wing it! Thanks. I will try this first. Also, good to hear you believe option 2 is reasonable too. . . I feel much more confident thanks to your help Dr Galt! thanks.

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Answer 5

Sep 6, 2025 9:58 AM in response to John Galt

Just this morning I installed the ESR browser for Firefox and it works pretty well. I have found though that lots of websites are "ruled out" due to advancement in internet, etc. I can live with it since I use my MB Air for heavy lifts and then transfer down from there. . .

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