Jun 10, 2013 Yes, thanks to the guys from MLPostFactor, it’s now possible to install OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion (even 10.8.4) on these older Intel-Macs: Early 2006 (and newer) versions of the iMac and Mac mini Late 2006 (and newer) versions of the Macbook, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro and Xserve Early 2008 (and newer) versions or the Macbook Air. OS X Mountain Lion was released on July 25, 2012 for purchase and download through Apple’s Mac App Store, as part of a switch to releasing OS X versions online and every year, rather than every two years or so. Now, drag the System File thats on the drive into the Trash and copy the downloaded System folder onto the root of the drive. Now, by using disk utility 'restore' feature, clone 'InstallESDHacked.DMG' into a flash drive, and use it to install mountain lion on the unsupported Mac.
I know this is not a common scenario, but for the few people that upgraded a Mac originally equipped with a Core Duo processor to a Core 2 Duo processor, here is the procedure. I have an iMac version 4,1 that I upgraded years ago, and it worked. The person who found the solution had an upgraded Mac Mini. You will need a second computer that is Lion capable for this tip to work.As always, Make sure you have a backup of the original install! This worked for me, but always be prepared for the worst.
Download Mountain Lion Free Mac
I made, and used, a Lion Mac OS X Install ESD on a thumb drive. Instructions to make one can be found all over the Mac centric web sites. Then follow this procedure:
- Put the unsupported Mac in Target Disk mode and plug it into a Lion supported Mac.
- Run the Lion installer and make sure to choose your unsupported Mac's hard drive. Let the install finish.
- Boot back into the supported Mac's OS, and put the unsupported Mac back to target disk mode.
- Delete the PlatformSupport.plist at /System/Library/CoreServices on the unsupported Mac's hard drive.
- Reboot the Unsupported Mac and it should boot into Lion normally.
[crarko adds: