bas252
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How to install Mac OSX on new SSD?

Hi guys,

 

My girlfriends Macbook Pro has recently crashed and I'm trying to help her fix it. What I know is that the HDD is completely dead. I bought her a new SSD drive. Now I want to install her a version of recent Mac OS X, but her Mac was never upgraded (I believe she has Snow Leopard). So booting in Recovery Mode is not possible. She also doesn't have the Original installation Dvd's anymore.

 

If I would buy a legal copy of Mac OS X Mountain Lion, would I be able to somehow install it on her Macbook?

 

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 9, 2016 3:58 AM

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bas252

Q: How to install Mac OSX on new SSD?

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  • by aardthfy,

    aardthfy aardthfy Aug 9, 2016 4:04 AM in response to bas252
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Aug 9, 2016 4:04 AM in response to bas252

    Hello,

     

    With the install DVD you will be able to format and install OS X, one thought though... if you try to boot the mac to internet recovery, (Holding OPTION + CMD + R) what happens?

     

    Cheers,

  • by bas252,

    bas252 bas252 Aug 9, 2016 4:16 AM in response to aardthfy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 9, 2016 4:16 AM in response to aardthfy

    Hi there.

     

    As I stated, she is not able to boot the Mac into recovery mode, since Snow Leopard doesn't have this particular option. So pressing option + Cmd + R doesn't do anything when I boot it.

     

    Cheers!

  • by aardthfy,

    aardthfy aardthfy Aug 9, 2016 4:48 AM in response to bas252
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Aug 9, 2016 4:48 AM in response to bas252

    Hello,

     

    Then you have to have an Snow Leopard install disk.

     

    Cheers,

  • by bas252,

    bas252 bas252 Aug 9, 2016 4:59 AM in response to aardthfy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 9, 2016 4:59 AM in response to aardthfy


    So buying a digital version of Mountain Lion would not help?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Aug 9, 2016 5:06 AM in response to bas252
    Level 9 (50,439 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 9, 2016 5:06 AM in response to bas252

    No, you need a disc, and the only useful version available on disk is Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion is not,

     

    You can order it from this link

     

    http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 9, 2016 6:54 AM in response to bas252
    Level 6 (19,432 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 9, 2016 6:54 AM in response to bas252

    bas252 wrote:
    So buying a digital version of Mountain Lion would not help?

    Maybe.

     

    A) your friends Mac MUST be able to run Mountain Lion

    <OS X Mountain Lion system requirements - Apple Support>

     

    B) you would need to use another Mac to download Mountain Lion, as you need to have the Applications -> App Store to do the download.

     

    The sequence of events is you go to the on-line Apple web site and buy a redemption code for Mountain Lion.  You need to do this using your Friends Apple ID, as everything will be signed with that Apple ID going forward, and you do not want someone else having signed it, as it will just cause problems in the future.  Also the redemption code will be mailed to your Friends Apple ID associated email address.

     

    C) Using another Mac, start Applications -> App Store, and change the login account to your Friends Apple ID (this is very important).  Now you can redeem the Mountain Lion redemption code and download Mountain Lion which will be signed using your Friends Apple ID.

     

    D) Create a bootable installer on an external USB device.  If using a Flash Drive, it should be at least 8GB in size.  It can also be a regular USB external disk.  Use DiskMaker X to create the bootable USB device

    <http://diskmakerx.com/>

     

    E) you can use the USB device to boot your Friend's Mac and install Mountain Lion.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 9, 2016 7:50 AM in response to bas252
    Level 9 (71,344 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 9, 2016 7:50 AM in response to bas252

    If you want a recent version, consider El Capitan. If the computer can run Moutain Lion, it can run El Capitan.

     

    Check that your computer is compatible with Mountain Lion/Mavericks/Yosemite/El Capitan.

     

    To check the model number hold down the option/alt key, go to the Apple menu and select System Information.

     

          MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) model number 3,1 or higher

     

    Your Mac needs:

     

          OS X v10.6.8 or OS X Lion already installed (You can get around this by using Bob's suggestion for a bootable USB drive)

     

          2 GB or more of memory (More is better - 4 GB minimum seems to be the consensus)

     

          8 GB or more of available space

                     

    Check to make sure your applications are compatible. PowerPC applications are no longer supported after 10.6.      

     

    Application Compatibility

     

    Applications Compatibility (2)


     

    El Capitan 10.11 Compatibility information


     

    Also check to make sure there is a compatible driver for your printer.

     

    Do a backup before installing, preferable 2 backups on 2 different drives.