2009 MacBook: macOS Recovery (internet) will not download Lion

I have a 2009 Macbook that I am trying to recover for a friend. It was sold to them by a reseller that claimed it was a refurb but when they recieved the computer it still had the previous users information on it. So they attempted to reformat the computer and that is when the issues started...

I have tried to use the internet OS recovery tool multiple times, using command-R, using command-alt-R and command-alt-shift-R. The internet OS recovery tool will connect using command-R or command-alt-R but the result is the same... it offers me Disk Utility and Install OSX (only offers Lion).

I select Lion and it looks like it's going to install, I accept the user license and it immediatly shows a progress bar that is nearly complete but shows the time remaining at millions of days. Then it says "can't download the necessary additional components".

That is where I am stuck. Tried this and tried reformatting the drive multiple times!

How do I get an OS on this?

Posted on Jan 28, 2020 11:40 AM

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16 replies

TheLittles

Level 10

202,841 points

Jan 28, 2020 8:08 PM in response to blkraemer

Regarding Your First Reply, Here is the Information:

blkraemer Said:

"I have a 2009 Macbook that I am trying to recover for a friend"

Determine the Model of Your Mac. You can do so by entering your Serial Number at this link: Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support

"Rather than purchase Lion... I have a disk of Snow Leopard. Can I use that on this mac?"

Yes. Snow Leopard is 10.6 and it Can be Used on this Mac. Note that Lion is 10.7. But, I recommend you go with the Newest Compatible Operating System that is compatible Mac. You can find their compatibility on this link: Identify your MacBook Model

Mac Models and their Newest Compatible Operating System

-- MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009) OS X El Capitan 10.11.6

-- MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009) OS X El Capitan 10.11.6

-- MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) OS X High Sierra 10.13.6

"As for the reseller/original owner... the whole thing is shady and they took my friend for a ride... I'm trying to salvage his $200 investment. Reseller isn't returning calls. No optical media came with this machine."

If Compatible with El Capitan, install it using a USB Bootable Installer for El Capitan

"If the hard drive is reformatted... how could the machine still be associated with that former Apple Account? There is no App Store on this machine."

Apple Account:Device Associating Goes by the Model Number. So, being formatted plays no role in Apple Account:Device Associating, If it currently is associated to another account, then it is. Though it may not be.

"Based on the download issues I am seeing... my guess is Apple pulled the plug on Lion downloads?"

Correct: Lion is obsolete, and support has ended. It is time to upgrade to the Newest Compatible Operating System

"I'm trying very circuitous method of putting Yosemite on a bootable installer drive via an older macmini i have. All my other macs are on Catalina and I can't get High Sierra (the OS i really want to put on this 2009 machine) to download as an installer in /Applications because it disappears once it downloads (because Catalina is apparently smarter than me)."

Your Mac is Incompatible with Catalina. If Compatible with El Capitan, install it using a USB Bootable Installer for El Capitan

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2009 MacBook: macOS Recovery (internet) will not download Lion