Snow Leopard guest on new iMac with Mountain Lion host

[hervelm]

I got a 2013 iMac with Mountain Lion (10.8.5 now) so, totally incompatible with Snow Leopard. I need SL anyway.
Give up all you old applications and buy new ones is not acceptable. First, this is not my way of thinking and, second, some cannot be replaced.

Many posts say that you can use Snow Leopard with VirtualBox but I could not find anywhere the "how to" (in this particular configuration).
For instance, I followed these 2 protocols, almost similar:
http://www.maketecheasier.com/install-m ... box-on-win dows/
http://www.macbreaker.com/2012/02/snow- ... albox.html
but they use Windows as host system and something is not working (for me) with Mountain Lion.

I made many attempts, with VirtualBox (4.1.28, 4.2.18 and 4.3.2; which is better in this case?). I used pretty much everything: Snow Leopard DVD, SL Server DVD, .dmg of both (it seems most people recommand the server). I've also got Combo 10.6.8 updates for both (but I'm not sure if it can be used before installing). With another MacBook, I managed to install a SLS on external hard drive and update to 10.6.8. Was unable to use it anyway.

Inevitably, I ended up with the message:
"FATAL: No bootable medium found! System halted."
I have no idea of what support (DVD or dmg) to use. The selecting process (in Settings / Storage) is very, very obscure. Do you have to use SATA controler, create an IDE, set on Primary or Secondary Master ?
I could never manage to select the DVD ! and with dmg, always failed.

Is it possible at all ??? Anybody successful ?
Help
Thanx

[ChipMcK]

Legally, the only versions of Snow Leopard and Leopard that may run on/under VirtualBox are the Server versions.

Try a google search "snow leopard VirtualBox", seeking instructions to make installers, etc. believe the Server version is being installed

Best

[hervelm]

Thank you.
I made about a million google searches. Relevant results: 0
I have a genuine Snow Leopard Server DVD but I cannot manage tu use it. Ne explanation anywhere. VirtualBox is total gibberish.

[Jummy]

Hi

Have you tried to enable EFI in the VM settings. You get the mentioned error message if the EFI option is disabled.

Regards

[hervelm]

I enabled EFI (contrary to what is published every where). Indeed, something new happens.
It seems installation is starting but is aborted because of "critical error" (?) !

[mthril]

hervelm,

I am in the same boat as you.

BTW, I am not an expert in virtualization by any means.

I am using VirtualBox 4.3.2. I am on a Mac OS X 10.6.8 host (a 2010 Macbook Pro), and everything I try to do to install the Snow Leopard Guest fails. I have tried checking/unchecking EFI, using a Snow Leopard .dmg, .iso. I have also tried using iBoot (Legacy and also 3.3), which doesn't seem to detect anything when I push F5, rendering this technique useless.

I have tried Googling everywhere, and can find virtually no information at all. You would think that someone has accomplished this already, and has published their success. However, all I can find are Hackintosh tutorials (which I do not have, and even my attempts to use this method did not work).

So please, if anyone can walk us through it (I am not an expert in virtualisation), or point us in the right direction, that would be highly appreciated.

[hervelm]

Hi mthril

Your message may contain some mix-up somewhere; you have a 10.6.8 host and you want to put Snow Leopard guest...

Anyway, I'm sorry but I had to gave up on VirtualBox. I just could not find the right way.
I switched to a paying but very effective software (starts wit "VM", finishes with "ware Fusion 6"). On my 2013 iMac updated to Maverick, I have now a Snow Leopard and a Windows and it went extremely smooth.
Good luck

[socratis]

I have a MBPro running 10.6.8 (17", early 2011). I know that it's "illegal" to install a 10.6 client, but given Apple's latest stand on allowing the client versions to be installed, I tried it, so that I have a "test" system before I do anything crazy on my actual system.

I tried with a bunch of methods as well. Everything failed. I even tried some hacintosh solutions. Nothing.

At some point although, the stars aligned in the proper way and it worked! With the original DVD that came with my computer. That's the only way to do it. Don't ask how and why, I don't have a clue. Most probably because VBox was adding more and more support for OSX systems (THANK YOU).

I can send you the details of my .vbox, or even the whole vbox if you want...

[pvr4me]

Some months later, I know, but in case this helps someone else...

I was able to successfully install using the Snow Leopard 10.6.6 original DVD (that came with this machine). It crashed numerous times as I was trying to allocate more RAM and CPU cores. The install succeeded for me using the default (1 processor, 2 GB RAM) but selecting the PIIX3 chipset. The install takes ...forever... but did finish successfully.

Craig