Upgrading an old MacBook Pro

I too have an '09 MBP that couldn't run anything after El Capitan either. it was basically useless. and I was just about ready to recycle it. but a few days before the trip to the recycler's, I read that you can install Linux mint and run it instead of macOS. so I now have linux installed and I runs better than it ever did on El Capitan.

Updating it with new hardware will not let it run a more recent version of the Macintosh operating system. If it can’t go any further than El Capitan now, the same would be true after spending money on RAM and/or a SSD.

ela987 wrote:

I have a 2009 MacBook Pro with OS X 10.11.6. It actually still works. However, due to the age of the last OS update that it could do, I hesitate to use it for security reasons. The update was the last I’m able to update do.

Perhaps an odd question, but, I’m wondering if it could be updated with new hardware? Seems a shame to just toss it. I don’t need it to do anything fancy.

TIA

If you can not update software, you certainly are not going to update hardware on a MBP that is 16 years old.

It is long in the tooth—and served you well. That is a respectable run.

I would not waste time or money on an obsolete MBP: see vintage and obsolete

No, it cannot be hardware upgraded to conform to contemporary standards and it can no longer gain secure access to the internet.

Best to wipe it and recycle it. It's ready to retire and you should let it.

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

If it works, why would you discard it?

I hesitate to use it for security reasons.

What reasons, specifically?