I have a mac book pro that i bought in late 2009. My current software is snow leopard version 10.5.8. I would like to get the new lion operating system but I cant without first getting the latest version of snow leopard. it doesnt show on software updat

Call Apple and you can purchase the install DVD for Snow Leopard from them.

Allan

snow leopard version 10.5.8.

Typo?

Leopard - 10.5.x

Snow Leopard - 10.6.x

10.5.8 is Leopard, not Snow Leopard. You need the Snow Leopard DVD;

You can get it only by phone now from Apple.

In the US, call 1-800-MY-APPLE and ask for a sales assistant. Last quoted price was $19.99 for the single-user and $29.99 for the family licence.

For other countries, check here; http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

Don't forget to ask for Sales; the tech support guys can't help.

If you want Lion, rather than Mountain Lion, the same Sales team can give you a download code to use at the Mac AppStore.

To get the App Store, you need to update your new Snow Leopard from 10.6.3 (which is the version on the installer) to 10.6.8 with the combo update; http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

Be warned that the upgrades will render a lot of older software unusable, and will need new drivers for printers and scanners in all likelihood.