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It’s unfortunate that Apple hasn’t made special dmg downloads to allow you to download Mavericks. My understanding of the App Store link to buy Mavericks is tha

It’s unfortunate that Apple hasn’t made special dmg downloads to allow you to download Mavericks. My understanding of the App Store link to buy Mavericks is that it only loads of your computer is “old enough” or running 10.7 or 10.8 already. It was the first “free” update, if I recall correctly, and like the updates that followed (10.10, 10.11, 10.12) there were restrictions so only specific computers could download it running specific versions of macOS. That’s why they needed special download links, I think? I’ve had the most success installing older copies of macOS by using the Recovery Mode to install the copy of the OS that originally shipped, then updating from there to whatever specific version I needed. Remember: you can’t install a version of macOS that is older than the hardware - meaning every Mac sold has a version that it shipped with and that’s the minimum version required. From there you can choose which updates to install… it’s a long, slow process. Also note, just as hardware has a minimum OS version it generally has a max version too: I once tried to install a newer copy of macOS on unsupported hardware and was frustrated that the Next button was greyed out or the installer wouldn’t boot. So I used a different Mac to install it, then copied the hard drive. Still didn’t boot. Very frustrating. Turns out I needed a patch to get it to work: http://dosdude1.com/software.html http://dosdude1.com/software.html For Big Sur there a set of patches too, but I imagine as time goes by it’s harder and harder to patch in support or ignorance of missing hardware features.

Wowfunhappy 5y ago
> My understanding of the App Store link to buy Mavericks is that it only loads of your computer is “old enough” or running 10.7 or 10.8 already. What link? I've checked in VM's and on a real Mac running Snow Leopard. As far as I can tell, Mavericks simply isn't in the store, unless you're using an Apple ID that downloaded it when it was current. If you know something I don't, please tell me! I've poured through Apple's update catalog files and everything! You can get the combo update, but not the full installer. I get an email or PM asking for help finding Mavericks once every couple of weeks or so. I have a link I give out, but since it's technically Apple's copyrighted software... well, I really wish Apple was distributing it themselves. (This is also why I give the link out privately.)
- lstamour 5y ago
  Does https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id675248567 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id675248567 work on an older macOS version? If not I might have to agree with you, I previously used the link in my Purchases page simply as the fastest way to find it.
  - Wowfunhappy 5y ago
    It does not I'm afraid!
brundolf 5y ago
> it’s a long, slow process Genuine question: why do it at all? For obscure legacy apps that no longer work on modern versions? For nostalgia? Is there any reason outside of these?
- lstamour 5y ago
  The only reason I can think of besides app testing would be if you had a Mac released in late 2013 or early 2014 and you wanted to run macOS 10.9 directly. You can sometimes use Internet Recovery to re-download a copy of 10.9 as it shipped on the computer, but maybe your Internet is poor, or you want to install the OS from a different model of computer, then put it back in the computer that originally shipped with 10.9? So there are reasons, but the list is pretty small. You can see which OS was originally installed when the Mac model was first released at https://everymac.com/systems/by_capability/minimum-macos-supported.html https://everymac.com/systems/by_capability/minimum-macos-sup... And I should have clarified that there's a difference between doing an Internet Recovery and a Recovery Boot. Your Recovery Boot is often the latest version of macOS (though I might be wrong about that, all I remember is the UI changes with new version upgrades) while Internet Recovery is the original version of macOS that shipped with your Mac. (It always looks a bit ugly...)
  - brundolf 5y ago
    I should clarify: I can see why this is a good strategy for installing a past version of macOS. What's unclear to me is the motivation for doing so
- selfhoster11 5y ago
  Legacy software support sounds like a perfectly viable use case.
- sho0-z0l 5y ago
  Because: 32 bit, accessing features which have been removed and decrease value of products (search for target display mode via cable in iMacs pre 2014/2015 I think)... Also there is privacy concerns because of the new telemetry (I don't know exactly but I read they are sending your app binaries to some signing servers). Also there is products that still work great for specific tasks and why on earth would I pay a s... load of money to get a shiny new product when an old one from the dumpster will do? I will never understand this attitude of many folks towards the waste of the resources of our mother earth. (Yes I know you look really cool with the new watch, pad, phone and pods and maybe you need it but I sincerely hope not).

Wowfunhappy 5y ago

> My understanding of the App Store link to buy Mavericks is that it only loads of your computer is “old enough” or running 10.7 or 10.8 already. What link? I've checked in VM's and on a real Mac running Snow Leopard. As far as I can tell, Mavericks simply isn't in the store, unless you're using an Apple ID that downloaded it when it was current. If you know something I don't, please tell me! I've poured through Apple's update catalog files and everything! You can get the combo update, but not the full installer. I get an email or PM asking for help finding Mavericks once every couple of weeks or so. I have a link I give out, but since it's technically Apple's copyrighted software... well, I really wish Apple was distributing it themselves. (This is also why I give the link out privately.)

lstamour 5y ago
Does https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id675248567 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id675248567 work on an older macOS version? If not I might have to agree with you, I previously used the link in my Purchases page simply as the fastest way to find it.
- Wowfunhappy 5y ago
  It does not I'm afraid!

brundolf 5y ago

> it’s a long, slow process Genuine question: why do it at all? For obscure legacy apps that no longer work on modern versions? For nostalgia? Is there any reason outside of these?

lstamour 5y ago
The only reason I can think of besides app testing would be if you had a Mac released in late 2013 or early 2014 and you wanted to run macOS 10.9 directly. You can sometimes use Internet Recovery to re-download a copy of 10.9 as it shipped on the computer, but maybe your Internet is poor, or you want to install the OS from a different model of computer, then put it back in the computer that originally shipped with 10.9? So there are reasons, but the list is pretty small. You can see which OS was originally installed when the Mac model was first released at https://everymac.com/systems/by_capability/minimum-macos-supported.html https://everymac.com/systems/by_capability/minimum-macos-sup... And I should have clarified that there's a difference between doing an Internet Recovery and a Recovery Boot. Your Recovery Boot is often the latest version of macOS (though I might be wrong about that, all I remember is the UI changes with new version upgrades) while Internet Recovery is the original version of macOS that shipped with your Mac. (It always looks a bit ugly...)
- brundolf 5y ago
  I should clarify: I can see why this is a good strategy for installing a past version of macOS. What's unclear to me is the motivation for doing so
selfhoster11 5y ago
Legacy software support sounds like a perfectly viable use case.
sho0-z0l 5y ago
Because: 32 bit, accessing features which have been removed and decrease value of products (search for target display mode via cable in iMacs pre 2014/2015 I think)... Also there is privacy concerns because of the new telemetry (I don't know exactly but I read they are sending your app binaries to some signing servers). Also there is products that still work great for specific tasks and why on earth would I pay a s... load of money to get a shiny new product when an old one from the dumpster will do? I will never understand this attitude of many folks towards the waste of the resources of our mother earth. (Yes I know you look really cool with the new watch, pad, phone and pods and maybe you need it but I sincerely hope not).