Gifted (older, registered) MacBook

[byrdie]

My daughter received an older macbook from a friend. Its running slowly and has the friend's (x) wife's stuff on it. If she resets the computer using the software.... will she be able to use it? its a model a1181. See attached label from box (She has the original box, charger, disks etc). She just needs it for office type software and internet. Nothing heavy duty. Suggestions? SHe is just out of college... has no job yet, and needs this for job acquisition stuff.
THANKS!!!!

 

[DaKKs]

Boot from the OSX install disc, erase the hard drive and reinstall OS X. Will work fine.

Reckon it shipped with leopard, so it might be appropriate to upgrade to Lion. Some extra ram, might be in order as well to be honest. 1GB doesn't go far nowadays.

My sister still has an identical machine in daily service. With a cheap 120GB SSD, 4GB ram and Lion its still a very competent machine for basic tasks.

 

[byrdie]

not working

When I do Command + R and restart computer with install disk in, the options I get are
Install BUndled Software only
Install Mac OSX and Bundled Software
Folder: Instruction
Folder: Optional Installs
Optional Installs.mpg
Xcode Tools
Dashcode.pkg
Packages - bunch of stuff
WebObjects.mpkg
XcodeTools.mpkg

When I select Install Mac OSX & Bundled.... I am then prompted for the previous owners password.... which we do not have.

Thoughts? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks again!

 

[byrdie]

Picture is worth a thousand words:

Picture is worth a thousand words:

Again, Thanks.

 

[Altemose]

Picture is worth a thousand words:

Again, Thanks.

Insert Disk 1 and hold C when booting up. It will boot off the DVD and let you into the OS X Installer. Follow the wizard until it asks you for a destination. Double click "Macintosh HD" and choose "Erase and Install". Continue on and let it load.

 

[byrdie]

Ahhh.... THe magic C

I have some memory sitting around from other (non-apple) older computers. I have several 1gb sticks that say PC2-5300s-555-12-F1.1GB .2Rx8 667. See image.

Do you think this will work?

Thanks for all your time!

 

[Altemose]

I have some memory sitting around from other (non-apple) older computers. I have several 1gb sticks that say PC2-5300s-555-12-F1.1GB .2Rx8 667. See image.

Do you think this will work?

Thanks for all your time!

Yes. That RAM will work. This late 2007 MacBook can accept up to 4 GB of RAM with 2*2 GB sticks.

 

[byrdie]

So many THANKS!!!

We are both so excited to have this old thing up and running! Thanks for all the help!

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I'm a PC person... VERY little MAC experience. Do we need to put virus scan software on this.... or is that included in the OS? Might be a stupid question.....if so.... chalk it up to age.

 

[Altemose]

We are both so excited to have this old thing up and running! Thanks for all the help!

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I'm a PC person... VERY little MAC experience. Do we need to put virus scan software on this.... or is that included in the OS? Might be a stupid question.....if so.... chalk it up to age.

Some people use virus software but most do not without any issues. Apple has a good track record with patching vulnerabilities. Did you wipe the hard drive and reinstall the operating system?

 

[DaKKs]

I'm a PC person... VERY little MAC experience. Do we need to put virus scan software on this.... or is that included in the OS? Might be a stupid question.....if so.... chalk it up to age.

Its not necessary per se, but if you stumble across a suspicious package you want to check out, its always good to have ClamXav around. Its free in the app store.

 

[byrdie]

Thanks everyone!

My daughter is back in business with her macbook, and couldn't be happier (unless she had a job and / or a NEW mackbook pro, that is).