How do I reinstall Mac OS X on a 2008 MacBook?

Question

Level 1

10 points

How do I reinstall Mac OS X on a 2008 MacBook?

I have an aluminum 13 inch MacBook from 2008 that used to run macOS 10.6.8. The operating system was deleted after the settings app somehow got deleted and I was trying to retrieve it. It doesn’t use command and r. Here are some of the things I tried but it failed:

Single user mode reset.(said command doesn’t exist)

reset nvram and pram.(nothing happened)

Mac OS X install disc.(said it wasn’t compatible)

I used the dmg file & terminal command "sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume" and it said command not found. I want to fix this so I can use garage band 6, my favorite version. I tried most of the ways to fix it but it still failed.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Apr 18, 2024 1:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 19, 2024 3:09 PM in response to demotriea

please refer to this page > How to Perform a Clean Install of Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.

if you are using all the correct steps, including first erasing the Mac through the install DVD utilities, then frankly, I'm stumped. but I do believe that you need to do the erase through the DVD utilities even if the Mac was erased before you started down this path.

Reply

Answer 2

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 21, 2024 9:05 AM in response to demotriea

Right now I made an el capitan bootable drive and right now it is installing. After years of working and several discussions, I have been able to fix this computer. Thank you Jeffreythefrog for the helpful advice on the computers. I was able to make the bootable drive by using an older 21 inch iMac and using a dmg to make the bootable device.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 19, 2024 4:13 AM in response to demotriea

here is the instructions > Create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support.

Reply

Answer 4

WheelieNick

Level 8

36,783 points

Apr 18, 2024 2:43 PM in response to demotriea

This Mac is not compatible with Sonoma so that is maybe why the command didn't work

What is happening if you press CMD+R? This is an Intel Mac so it should be compatible with macOS recovery via cmd+R

Reply

Answer 5

Apr 18, 2024 4:30 PM in response to demotriea

demotriea wrote:

I have an aluminum 13 inch MacBook from 2008 that used to run macOS 10.6.8.

sorry but that MacBook cannot run sonoma. the last compatible macOS (OS X) for it is El Capitan.

if you did see somewhere that is is compatible with Sonoma, that source is mistaken. and even if it was an official apple support page, all I can say is that not even apple is infallible.

so basically, you want to create a bootable installer for El Capitan at the newest.

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 19, 2024 7:39 AM in response to demotriea

I think you will need the original snow leopard install DVD that came with the Mac to do that.

Reply

Answer 7

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 19, 2024 2:53 PM in response to jeffreythefrog

im using the sd card for the El Capitan which still doesn't work and I boot the disc by powering on the Mac and holding the option key and after the cursor shows up I insert the disc and I boot into it and I choose the language and agree to the terms and conditions, then it says that I can't install the OS. I don't have a backup so the other option is useless in my situation.

Reply

Answer 8

Apr 19, 2024 2:24 PM in response to demotriea

demotriea wrote:

I have it but it said disc not compatible on one of them and on the other one it will stop reading entirely and won't boot into it.

are you powering up the Mac while the disc is already inserted into the drive, and then pressing and holding your "option" key while booting up?

Im using an SD card for this.

not sure what that has to do with using the snow leopard install DVD.

Reply

Answer 9

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 19, 2024 3:34 PM in response to jeffreythefrog

I followed the steps and it didn't work. I think that ill just install El Capitan (which I still need help with because it doesn't work) and ill just get GarageBand 6 because the OS is compatible with 32 bit items.

Reply

Answer 10

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 18, 2024 3:06 PM in response to WheelieNick

it said cmd+r doesn't work the os is too old for that and on apple support it showed it was compatible on Sonoma.

im really desperate to fix this lol

Reply

Answer 11

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 19, 2024 12:50 PM in response to jeffreythefrog

I tried it on terminal with El Capitan and it still said command not found

Reply

Answer 12

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 18, 2024 5:31 PM in response to jeffreythefrog

im trying to get mac os snow leopard with my dmg and my old discussion said it says it’s sonoma but it’s actually snow leopard?? that’s what he said but i’m tryna get a solution

Reply

Answer 13

demotriea Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 18, 2024 5:32 PM in response to WheelieNick

i have a m2 mac that i’m using for making the installer but idk how because i have the dmg in my files but idk how to make it bootable and for my to install it

Reply