After reading all the responses, I think I'm going to scrap the downgrade option and just go with the SSD option, as much as I hate it. Going through iCloud for stuff is not a great option given my rural Internet speeds, and he may not have the storage there anyway.
I'll also tell him once more to stop upgrading his machine if he doesn't want to eat additional unnecessary repair bills. Thanks, all. > On Jul 1, 2021, at 4:36 PM, Carl Hoefs <[email protected]> wrote: > > From https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250112022: > <https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250112022:> > > > The only way to downgrade a Photos Library from Photos 4.0 Mojave to Photos > 2.0 Sierra would be to use iCloud Photos Library. > > -Carl > > >> On Jul 1, 2021, at 4:34 PM, Carl Hoefs <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> Oops, I just checked, and High Sierra did run Photos, but an early version >> of the database. It did get updated often going to Catalina, though. >> >> -Carl >> >>> On Jul 1, 2021, at 4:31 PM, Carl Hoefs <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> High Sierra ran iPhoto; Catalina runs Photos. The two photo database >>> formats are totally incompatible, which is why it upgrades the database. >>> And I know that somewhere along the way (from HS to Catalina) it did a >>> forced upgrade of the mailboxes. >>> >>> So my guess is that your undertaking would be an exercise in futility... >>> >>> (And ditto your frustration with the iMac's gossamer-thin screen connection >>> wires: What were they thinking?) >>> >>> -Carl >>> >>>> On Jul 1, 2021, at 3:51 PM, Macs R We <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I have a client running Catalina on an old 2013 iMac with a spinner. >>>> There's no reason he needs to be running Catalina (he still uses Lotus >>>> 123, for heaven's sake), he is apparently just a low-information victim of >>>> Apple's antisocial robo-nag campaign to "Upgrade! Upgrade!! Upgrade!!!" >>>> >>>> His machine is now crawling. >>>> >>>> My preference would be to clone his machine to an external, wiping it, >>>> install fresh High Sierra, and then migrate his files back in. But I'm >>>> unsure whether there have been format changes between HS and Catalina in >>>> personal databases such as Photos, Address Book, mailboxes, and the like >>>> that would queer this… or whether File Migration might just arbitrarily >>>> nix the importation out of principle. Not to mention knowing that the >>>> System Settings category (WiFi networks, Apple IDs, Sharing, >>>> Accessibility, etc.) would probably be un-migratable in toto, but that's >>>> less important as it can be addressed manually. >>>> >>>> Can anyone say if this reverse-migration is doomed before it's tried? >>>> >>>> The alternative would be to swap out his HDD with an SSD and clone it >>>> over, which would be a more costly job in terms of hardware fiddlery time >>>> (I hate working on iMacs, having to disconnect all the fragile display >>>> screen connectors to do the simplest things), pus the cost of a new TB >>>> drive. >>>> >>>> (Damn Apple's irresponsible pressure on typical consumers to upgrade their >>>> OSes.) >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Macs R We -- Personal Macintosh Service and Support >>>> in the Wickenburg and far Northwest Valley Areas. >>>> http://macsrwe.com <http://macsrwe.com/> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> MacOSX-talk mailing list >>>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> https://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk >>>> <https://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> MacOSX-talk mailing list >>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> https://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk >>> <https://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> MacOSX-talk mailing list >> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> https://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk >
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