How come MacBook (early 2008) cannot install Mountain Lion?

Make sure it meets the requirements.

http://www.apple.com/osx/

because an early 2008 MacBook isnt supported: http://www.apple.com/osx/specs/

Unofrtunately needs a late 2008 Macbook.

http://www.apple.com/uk/osx/how-to-upgrade/

Unfortunatly OSX Mountain Lion only suports

MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) Sorry

http://www.apple.com/support/osx/getstarted/

It seems your MacBook is not on the list, so you will not be able to install ML to this device.

lmfunk wrote:

well, yeah thats obvious. but why? how is the black macbook i described internally different from the aluminum 2008 version?

Why?

Apple want you to buy a new computer of course.

the aluminum one is a late 2008, yours in an early 2008.

Its not just about buying a new computer. Its about taking advantage of all the latest hardware acceleration and graphics. For each OS X interation, they want to use the OS X to the fullest and its something that I like that they do. Rather than dumb done the operating system or bloat it with unnecessary drivers and stuff, they elimnate models.

Its unfortunate the some models are casualties, but you have a fully functioning computer with OS X Lion or Snow Leopard, you do not have to update to the latest OS X. Some of the new features are great, and you can accomplish most of them with third party apps. There is more things behind the scenes of the build that require a lot of hardware specifications that some models do not meet.

I haven't been able to find if my Macbook is early or late 2008. I have 10.6.8 and would like to go to Lion or MtLion

It's a black MacBook

MacBook4,1

Intel Core 2 Duo

2.4 GHz

Bus Speed 800 Mhz

Serial Number W88250G30P2

Can anyone give me a definitive answer or point me to where I might find it?

George

Message was edited by: george.j.wright

George, your Mac is an early 2008 model. Sorry.

Verify it here.

Because it has a 32bit EFI and cannot boot into 64 bit, a requirement for ML.

I had a EARLY 2008 Macbook Pro. Sadly, It does not meet the Requirements. So, I am giving my 2008 Macbook pro to my son (who's 2008 MBP died and untimely death) and I am typing this on my new Macbook Pro retina. I decided it was time to upgrade.

Thanks Alfred

I checked my serial number W88250G30P2 on that page and it all checks out and it does call it "early 2008".....

except for the entry Maximum OS: 10.7.2 Lion

Now isn't that confusing?

I notice some correspondents on this list have attempted to install and failed.

I have little experinece with App Store ... I wonder if you have an idea on this:

Supose I go ahead and download 10.7 from App Store will I have to pay for it if it fails to install?

Or is there some check possible before purchasing?

I seems worth a try but I don't want to buy of unusable.

Thanks

George

I just looked it up, it states max os is 10.7.4, which is the current version.

If you can find LION, you can upgrade to that only, and not Mountain Lion