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Change ownership on 2009 Mac Pro running 10.9, need to upgrade to 10.11, forced to 10.5 first?

Yes this computer is old as dirt, and the Mac OS is almost as old,

but I need the hive mind's help nonetheless.


Need to change ownership on an early 2009 Mac Pro received from a family friend.

Doesn't appear like they did a full wipe of their system for a new user.


Currently running 10.9 Mavericks.

Need to update to 10.11 El Captain (the maximum OS this mac can handled).


My understanding is if I do a change of ownership, the OS will revert back to whatever shipped with the machine, in this case 10.5 Leopard from 2009?

Friend does not have the original 10.5 Leopard install discs.


In order then to get it to 10.11 El Captain, would I have to pay for 10.6 Snow Leopard on disc, 10.7 Lion on disc, and 10.8 Mt Lion download, before I get to the free upgrade downloads of Mavericks, Yosemite, and then finally El Captain?



Any insight into this mess would be greatly appreciated.

Mac Pro

Posted on Dec 18, 2018 9:14 PM

Reply
Question marked as Apple recommended

You need to download El Capitan from the Mac App Store with your own Apple ID, and then upgrade.


In the event that the computer's internal drive dies or gets replaced, you'll need to use a physical disk for the installation afterwards.


You'd also need the physical disk if you use the recovery system to erase the internal drive prior to installing El Capitan, and the OS it's for isn't associated with your Apple ID.


(166921)

Posted on Dec 18, 2018 9:23 PM

1 reply
Question marked as Helpful

Dec 18, 2018 9:22 PM in response to HanShootsFirst

Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - https://support.apple.com/HT206886 - "OS X El Capitan remains available for Mac computers that can't upgrade to macOS High Sierra, or that need to upgrade to El Capitan first." The El Capitan link will not work on a computer running 10.8.5 or newer and capable of High Sierra.


Link to El Capitan in the Mac App Store --> https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?mt=12.


I was kind of in a similar situation with a 2008 MacBook. I was able to download the installer file for the new OS and then install that to an external drive. I then made a backup copy of the installer file in Applications before quitting so I had an installer and a bootable drive. I booted from the eternal and then used the installer to install the higher OSX to the internal drive. Not sure if this is hte best way but it's how I did it.

2 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Dec 18, 2018 9:22 PM in response to HanShootsFirst

Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - https://support.apple.com/HT206886 - "OS X El Capitan remains available for Mac computers that can't upgrade to macOS High Sierra, or that need to upgrade to El Capitan first." The El Capitan link will not work on a computer running 10.8.5 or newer and capable of High Sierra.


Link to El Capitan in the Mac App Store --> https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?mt=12.


I was kind of in a similar situation with a 2008 MacBook. I was able to download the installer file for the new OS and then install that to an external drive. I then made a backup copy of the installer file in Applications before quitting so I had an installer and a bootable drive. I booted from the eternal and then used the installer to install the higher OSX to the internal drive. Not sure if this is hte best way but it's how I did it.

Question marked as Apple recommended

Dec 18, 2018 9:23 PM in response to HanShootsFirst

You need to download El Capitan from the Mac App Store with your own Apple ID, and then upgrade.


In the event that the computer's internal drive dies or gets replaced, you'll need to use a physical disk for the installation afterwards.


You'd also need the physical disk if you use the recovery system to erase the internal drive prior to installing El Capitan, and the OS it's for isn't associated with your Apple ID.


(166921)

Change ownership on 2009 Mac Pro running 10.9, need to upgrade to 10.11, forced to 10.5 first?

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