Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

how do i install os on macbook 2008-2009

L

Lion114

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 8, 2017
28
2
hey

i have a 2009 Macbook color black

i guess the hard disk died on him so i replaced the hard drive with new HDD from my macbook pro 2012 .

I'm booting up the computer and nothing shows up,i guess there is no iOS on it.

how can i install OS on this macbook on this new hard drive?

i tried to use my boot up usb el capitan from my mbk 2015 but i guess he didn't work its all different there.
 
Try holding CMD+R while restarting. Than you can select different options.
If u have a time machine backup, choose that.

I would highly recommend to put in a SSD instead of HDD to speed up this old guy
 
You need to the system discs that came with the computer and from there you can boot up from those system discs by pressing the C button as it boots up
 
You could:
- buy a "Snow Leopard" install DVD
- buy a USB flash drive from eBay with Snow Leopard pre-installed.

You said that you've installed a REPLACEMENT HDD with a copy of the OS on it, and the computer still won't boot?

It -might- just be that the OS on the drive isn't the right one.
Or... it might be an indication of some other problem...
 
What happens when you boot into recovery mode?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

Can you run the Disk Utility program from recovery mode? Check your new HDD. If it fails the test, your MBP may not be recognizing it properly (or it could actually be defective).

In any case, if you're near an Apple Store, you may be able to have them diagnose your problem for free, which would probably involve reinstalling the OS.
 
I don't see a black 2009 Macbook at Everymac.com.

The 2008 Black MB came with Leopard so a purchase of Snow Leopard was required to upgrade the system via the normal route. It will run up to Mac OS X 10.7.5 (Lion) so if you can get your hands on a Lion USB installer you can skip the Snow Leopard step.
 
maerz001 said:
Try holding CMD+R while restarting. Than you can select different options.
If u have a time machine backup, choose that.

I would highly recommend to put in a SSD instead of HDD to speed up this old guy
Click to expand...
I don't have any backup as I said its a hdd from a different account which I'm sure his clean.
yeah I know ssd is must the things is its an old computer I didn't touch him for like 5-4 years I just want to see if he actually works
 
The last black macbook until the 2015 space grey, was the Early 2008 MacBook
If that is what you have, then you will be limited to OS X 10.7.5
The last post said to find a 10.6 DVD. That should work.
The 2008 MacBook is too old to boot with El Capitan.
 
DeltaMac said:
The last black macbook until the 2015 space grey, was the Early 2008 MacBook
If that is what you have, then you will be limited to OS X 10.7.5
The last post said to find a 10.6 DVD. That should work.
The 2008 MacBook is too old to boot with El Capitan.
Click to expand...
i see. can i just make a bootable USB for older OS? or i have to get a disk
there is option to check which one i have before i do all this installation ?
 
I have a 2009 unibody Macbook and I make a bootable usb all the time whenever I need to format.
 
Lion114 said:
how do I do it?
how do I get this old OS
I have 2008 will YOSMITIE WORK ON IT?
Click to expand...

You see, I already had my Macbook up and running before I reinstalled it with a new OS via usb. I was able to download the new OS from the app store and create a bootable usb.

You are in a different situation. You don't have a working OS to be able to download a new OS from the app store.

If you don't have access to the app store you have 2 options as far as I can see.

1. Go on ebay and buy the osx lion usb stick. This version of osx was sold by Apple on usb (no dvd) and I think is the last OS they sold on usb. It doesn't matter though, whatever the last OS they released via usb, buy it, and then you can access the app store and get the os you want.

2. Get a torrent of osx, turn it into a bootable usb. Install it, get the app store osx, turn that into a bootable usb, format and install.

The only problem you might have is, from what I remember, once a new osx has been released, Apple remove the previous osx if you have not previously downloaded that specific osx.

See how you go but.

EDIT. I just looked on ebay and people sell usb bootable osx drives for most versions of osx. So take your pick.

Edit 2. Have a look to see if your machine supports Yosemite

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X_Yosemite
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back