App store won't work, can't update old OS

[tikidoc]

My father has a late 2010 MacBook Air running Mac OS 10.6.7. I don't think he has ever updated the OS, and as a result, he is having problems with older apps not being able to be updated either, so I'm trying to help him update his computer. I tried to download Sierra today (which should run on his computer, according to Apple) but I can't get it to download. The App store opens fine, I can get to the Sierra page, but when I click on the "Get" button, nothing happens. I have restarted the App store and restarted the computer. I can sign into his App store account but when I try to download any apps, I run into the same problem. I'm not sure if he has a current credit card in his account, so I have tried my account too, and when I go to the "purchased" page and try to download anything, all the "download" and "install" buttons are gray and don't work. Help!

 

[keysofanxiety]

I'd update to 10.6.8 through Apple Menu> Software Update and try again.

If that doesn't work, download Sierra on one of your Macs, then transfer it to their computer. Sierra by default will download to the Applications folder and should be called something similar to Install macOS Sierra.

 

[tikidoc]

I'd update to 10.6.8 through Apple Menu> Software Update and try again.

If that doesn't work, download Sierra on one of your Macs, then transfer it to their computer. Sierra by default will download to the Applications folder and should be called something similar to Install macOS Sierra.

So I can just move something from the Apps folder to a thumb drive?

 

[Fishrrman]

Try to get to 10.6.8 first.

Then... you might consider upgrading him to "Mountain Lion", OS 10.8.
Or even to "El Capitan", OS 10.11.

I wouldn't put Sierra on it.

If you can't get Mountain Lion or El Cap from Apple... well... there are "other ways" (can't say too much about them here).

What I -can- say is that when Apple won't give you an easy path to older software, sometimes you just have to do, what you have to do.

I have NEVER had a problem with Apple software obtained from (cough) "alternative sites". I've actually had more problems trying to get and install software from Apple directly!

 

[tikidoc]

Try to get to 10.6.8 first.

Then... you might consider upgrading him to "Mountain Lion", OS 10.8.
Or even to "El Capitan", OS 10.11.

I wouldn't put Sierra on it.

If you can't get Mountain Lion or El Cap from Apple... well... there are "other ways" (can't say too much about them here).

What I -can- say is that when Apple won't give you an easy path to older software, sometimes you just have to do, what you have to do.

I have NEVER had a problem with Apple software obtained from (cough) "alternative sites". I've actually had more problems trying to get and install software from Apple directly!

I can't download ANYTHING from the app store. And not sure about the outside sites - I'm a little concerned about all the system changes it appears I have to do to install. I don't want to brick my dad's computer.
[doublepost=1486743812][/doublepost]When I go through software updates, it says I have updates, I tell it to download, and after about 2 seconds it says they are complete (9 updates) and to restart, which I have done. Obviously not downloading an OS, but it does not seem to recognize that the OS is out of date.

 

[Bart Kela]

I can't download ANYTHING from the app store. And not sure about the outside sites - I'm a little concerned about all the system changes it appears I have to do to install. I don't want to brick my dad's computer.

No matter what, you'd be a fool not to make a backup before you upgrade even if the App Store was working. You should also identify a way to install OS X 10.6 should something go awry.

Anyhow, I suggest that after you've made the complete backup of his computer, you go use the "alternative sources" (which we can't elaborate on here) to find a copy of OS X 10.9 Mavericks, install that, make another full backup, then follow the same process on OS X 10.11 El Capitan.

I'd let him run El Capitan for a while. At some point, you will need to decide whether or not he should upgrade to macOS 10.12 Sierra (again after a full backup) but that is a call you and your dad will have to make based on how well his computer is running El Capitan.

Good luck.

 

[tikidoc]

No matter what, you'd be a fool not to make a backup before you upgrade even if the App Store was working. You should also identify a way to install OS X 10.6 should something go awry.

Anyhow, I suggest that after you've made the complete backup of his computer, you go use the "alternative sources" (which we can't elaborate on here) to find a copy of OS X 10.9 Mavericks, install that, make another full backup, then follow the same process on OS X 10.11 El Capitan.

I'd let him run El Capitan for a while. At some point, you will need to decide whether or not he should upgrade to macOS 10.12 Sierra (again after a full backup) but that is a call you and your dad will have to make based on how well his computer is running El Capitan.

Good luck.

Thanks, yes, I backed it up already. Thanks.

 

[keysofanxiety]

So I can just move something from the Apps folder to a thumb drive?

Yep, that's right.