Q: Worth buying used 2009 13" MacBook Pro?

Well, if it came with leopard (or anything Snow Leopard or earlier), then you would need the original install disk (or at least a retail 10.6.3 Snow Leopard disk) if you want a clean install. A clean install means that you will erase your hard drive first and any machine that came with install disks needs those to do that unless your machine was updated to include internet recovery. If you want to use that (check the link for machines that were firmware upgradeable), you could use the Disk Utility function within internet recovery to wipe your drive, but, because yours came with install disks, it cannot be guaranteed a) that it'll work and b) you cannot wind up with your original OS since that is not available for download. You may wind up with Lion (10.7) and you can then upgrade. As far as upgrading, yes you can as long as you have previously downloaded ("purchased") the OS versions. They should be listed in your Purchases section in the app store - take a look. As long as they are there, you can re-download them. You can re-install the latest OS over the top of what you have, but that does not get rid of anything such as Adobe (as that is third party app) - you'd need to check with them on how to uninstall.

Forgot the link:

About EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Mac computers - Apple Support

Thank you.

I still have the original install discs.

And each time Apple offered a new upgrade to OS X I did download the upgrade - except I did not do Lion or Mountain Lion but did download Mavericks and then Yosemite - I’ll check to make sure my records on iTunes show this upgrade sequence. If so, I assume I can avoid internet recovery - that sounds too complicated for me

Not sure if I should do the reinstall of the operating system.

Perhaps I should wait to see how the 2 x 2GB OWS RAM works?

Why do people reinstall the operating system?

Is it a housekeeping function?

Thank you.

Evelyn

Hi babowa,

In the App Store, I found Mavericks “purchased” in 2013 and “Yosemite” in 2014. The 2009 macbook pro came with Leopard.

I remember downloading Snow Leopard but it does not show that I purchased snow leopard in the in the App Store.

I assume that’s not an issue.

Thanks.

Evelyn

Why do people reinstall the operating system?

You may need to do it if you are experiencing a problem; otherwise, there is no need to - you asked, so I gave you the steps; if it's working ok, no need to do it.

thanks, again.

hope you have a good night.:)