Gfoxcroft wrote:
Thanks, but the problem is that I don't think this tells me how to get the OS up to 10.14 which is the last one this machine is able to use. Just using Softwware Update leave the machine a couple of versions short.
What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac ...
2009 MBP hardware is limited to:
OS X 10.11 El Capitan - Technical Specifications:
https://support.apple.com/kb/SP728
How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886
download direct:
http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg
MacBook (Early 2015)
MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
Xserve (Early 2009)
2009 is so old I am not sure how much effort I would put into it.
The letter of the law is re-install the OSX that shipped with the Mac— if that was DVD install the only way to get a copy of that OSX would be searching ebay or some such. This maybe unrealistic
However...You could make a bootable installer of macOS 10.11.6 using a different Mac...
How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support