How to format or reinstall OS?

[KingJames123]

Hello everyone I am new to Mac world. So i just bought a laptop from a pawn shop and it has a password so i cant get in the laptop. Can somebody please guide me how i can reinstall the OS? i know how to do it on Windows but i am new to MAC so i have no idea? Do i need to make a bootable USB?
Model: A1342
What is the latest OS i can install on this laptop?
Thanks

 

[yjchua95]

Hello everyone I am new to Mac world. So i just bought a laptop from a pawn shop and it has a password so i cant get in the laptop. Can somebody please guide me how i can reinstall the OS? i know how to do it on Windows but i am new to MAC so i have no idea? Do i need to make a bootable USB?
Model: A1342
What is the latest OS i can install on this laptop?
Thanks

A1342 is either a late-09 or mid-2010 white MacBook.

The latest you can install on the late-09 and mid-10 is Yosemite. None of these are MacBook Pros; they're just the regular white polycarbonate MacBook.

You'll need a second Mac to download a Yosemite installer from the App Store and also to use DiskMaker X to create a bootable USB.

Once it's created, stick the USB into the target Mac, and hold down the Option key during the boot chime. Select the USB drive to boot from, open up Disk Utility from the installer and reformat the internal drive with Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then install OS X.

 

[KingJames123]

A1342 is either a late-09 or mid-2010 white MacBook.

The latest you can install on the late-09 and mid-10 is Yosemite. None of these are MacBook Pros; they're just the regular white polycarbonate MacBook.

You'll need a second Mac to download a Yosemite installer from the App Store and also to use DiskMaker X to create a bootable USB.

Once it's created, stick the USB into the target Mac, and hold down the Option key during the boot chime. Select the USB drive to boot from, open up Disk Utility from the installer and reformat the internal drive with Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then install OS X.

is there any way i can do all this on a windows laptop? or i have to make a bootable USB on a mac?

 

[yjchua95]

is there any way i can do all this on a windows laptop? or i have to make a bootable USB on a mac?

Only a Mac can do it. There is absolutely no way to do it on Windows.

 

[///Mojo]

Have you tried this?

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201376