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joja

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2014
4
0
Hi everybody,

So my dilemma is that I got a used MacBook Pro with Windows 7 on it. I though it was installed trough Boot Camp, but when I hold "Option" key on boot I only see Windows partition. I am assuming there is no Mac OS on it. To make my life harder this laptop has Admin password and I dont have it.

I would like to install Mac OS, completly remove Windows 7, but don't know how to go about it. If I need to go and buy Mac OS, I am ok with it.

Please help
 

laurihoefs

macrumors 6502a
Mar 1, 2013
792
23
Which model is your MacBook Pro?

If it's a 2010 or newer model with all firmware upgrades installed, you should be able to restore OS X with Internet Recovery by just holding Cmd + R keys when starting the computer.

If it's an older model, then you need to get OS X on disks or a USB stick. Snow Leopard (10.6) is the last version of Mac OS X available on a disk, Lion (10.7) was available on a USB drive. Mountain Lion (10.8) and Mavericks (10.9) are only available as downloads through Mac App Store.

Check the model of your MacBook Pro, and we'll see how to get OS X on it.
 

Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Apr 11, 2014
5,622
2,337
USA
You don't need to buy Mac OS. It is a free download from the app store. What you do need is a bootable drive with Mac OS.

What is a bootable drive?

Essentially it is a USB thumb drive, or any external drive, with Mac OS on it. Right now Mac OS 10.9.3 is the current version.

So you need a USB thumb drive with Mac OS 10.9.3 on it.

You also need the firmware password in all likelyhood.
 

joja

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2014
4
0
Its Mid 2010 built. I tried to press and hold Command-R but right after boot sound, but it goes directly to Windows boot.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,413
43,304
If cmd-r is not working, your machine does not have a recovery partition on it. In other words you don't have a copy of OSX to install.

I'd look for Snow Leopard on ebay or even Apple (I think they still sell that version).
 

laurihoefs

macrumors 6502a
Mar 1, 2013
792
23
Its Mid 2010 built. I tried to press and hold Command-R but right after boot sound, but it goes directly to Windows boot.

One more thing you can try, is Command + Option + R.

Command + R should start Internet Recovery on a supported computer, if no recovery partition is present. If for some reason this does not happen automatically, Command + Option + R forces Internet Recovery. If this does not work, you'll have to get a copy of OS X on disks or a USB stick.
 

laurihoefs

macrumors 6502a
Mar 1, 2013
792
23
This requires the newest firmware updates:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4904

Yes, like stated earlier, and which supposedly are not installed, if the MBP has been running Windows for a while. But IMHO it's still worth a try, as there's always a chance the firmware has been updated.

If the firmware is old, getting Snow Leopard disks would be the way to go. Does Apple still sell SNow Leopard? AFAIK they still did a while ago, if you gave the customer service a call.
 
Last edited:

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,492
6,981
If the firmware is old, getting Snow Leopard disks would be the way to go. Does Apple still sell SNow Leopard? AFAIK they still did a while ago, if you gave the customer service a call.

Apple does still sell Snow Leopard but the retail version will not boot this computer. It's necessary to call Applecare (not the Apple Store) to buy the proper discs for this one.
 

joja

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2014
4
0
Hi. So only way to get Snow Leopard is to order it from online Apple Store, which I did 2 days ago, and it arrived today. I will try to install it tonight. I am not sure how to boot from the disk, but ill let you know how it goes.

Option + R should show me different option to boot from
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,492
6,981
Hi. So only way to get Snow Leopard is to order it from online Apple Store, which I did 2 days ago, and it arrived today. I will try to install it tonight. I am not sure how to boot from the disk, but ill let you know how it goes.

Option + R should show me different option to boot from

As I said in my post, the retail disc from the Apple Store will not work with this computer. You need to call Applecare to get the proper one.
Normally you would put the DVD in the computer and hold the C key as it starts, but again, with the Apple Store disc, the computer won't start up properly.
 

joja

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2014
4
0
Stuck again. Now that i have OS Disk. I hold Option key on start up, and i get two options:

1. Windows boot
2. Mac OS Install Disk

When I select Install OS Disk, I get to a white screen with Apple logo and it just stays there.

Dont know how to move forward

----------

Just read your post, damn it, well what is difference between OS i purchased and the one from Apple Care?
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,492
6,981
Just read your post, damn it, well what is difference between OS i purchased and the one from Apple Care?

The version of 10.6.3 that came with the 2010 MacBook Pro was a special version made for that computer, because the computer came out after the regular 10.6.3 was released and the regular version doesn't have the right drivers for it.
 
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