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i want to reformat my macbook os x 5 without the install disk

I just got a macbook OS X 5 from a friend and it still has all his stuff on it. I wanna start from scratch, factory settings kinda deal, but i don't have the install disk. is it possible to do that? I would like to upgrade to snow leopard or mountain lion if I can but not sure if this macbook is up to snuff. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

MacBook, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Mar 20, 2013 5:46 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Mar 20, 2013 7:17 PM

Hi, you're out of luck for 10.5 without an Instaal Disc.


Far cheaper to get 10.6.x


Leopard requirements/10.5.x...


* Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor


minimum system requirements


* 512MB of memory (I say 1.5GB for PPC at least, 2-3GB minimum for IntelMacs)

* DVD drive for installation

* 9GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

Classic/OS9 Apps no longer supported.

Trouble is Apple no longer sells it, check eBay & such for the Retail version, not the Gray Discs...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mac+os+x+leopard+retail+10.5

You have to call Apple & likely ask for a Product Specialist to get it, if they still have it! Helps to tell them you have an iPad/iPhone & you can't run 10.6.


There are workarounds if the 867MHz CPU is the only hangup...


http://sourceforge.net/projects/leopardassist/


http://lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/unsupported.html


List of Applications Not Compatible with Leopard...

http://guides.macrumors.com/List:Applications_Not_Compatible_with_Leopard


First you need to research all the problems people are having with the higher OSX versions, & make sure you have a bootable clone of what you have just in case.


then you must get 10.6 if they still have it, install it & update to 10.6.8 so you have the App Store to buy & download the huge 10.8 Installer.


Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...


General requirements

* Mac computer with an Intel processor

* 1GB of memory (I say 4GB at least, more if you can afford it)

* 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

* DVD drive for installation

* Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

* Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.


Which apps work with Mac OS X 10.6?...


http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/

It's been pulled from the online store & Apple Stores, so you have to call Apple to buy it, last I heard.

Buy Snow Leopard > http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

Call Apple Sales...in the US: 1-800-MY-APPLE. Or Support... 1-800-275-2273


Other countries...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57


It looks like they might still have it...


http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA

If it's a core Duo & not a Core2Duo, then it'll only run in 32 bit mode.

4 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Mar 20, 2013 7:17 PM in response to cosette718

Hi, you're out of luck for 10.5 without an Instaal Disc.


Far cheaper to get 10.6.x


Leopard requirements/10.5.x...


* Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor


minimum system requirements


* 512MB of memory (I say 1.5GB for PPC at least, 2-3GB minimum for IntelMacs)

* DVD drive for installation

* 9GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

Classic/OS9 Apps no longer supported.

Trouble is Apple no longer sells it, check eBay & such for the Retail version, not the Gray Discs...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mac+os+x+leopard+retail+10.5

You have to call Apple & likely ask for a Product Specialist to get it, if they still have it! Helps to tell them you have an iPad/iPhone & you can't run 10.6.


There are workarounds if the 867MHz CPU is the only hangup...


http://sourceforge.net/projects/leopardassist/


http://lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/unsupported.html


List of Applications Not Compatible with Leopard...

http://guides.macrumors.com/List:Applications_Not_Compatible_with_Leopard


First you need to research all the problems people are having with the higher OSX versions, & make sure you have a bootable clone of what you have just in case.


then you must get 10.6 if they still have it, install it & update to 10.6.8 so you have the App Store to buy & download the huge 10.8 Installer.


Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...


General requirements

* Mac computer with an Intel processor

* 1GB of memory (I say 4GB at least, more if you can afford it)

* 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

* DVD drive for installation

* Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

* Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.


Which apps work with Mac OS X 10.6?...


http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/

It's been pulled from the online store & Apple Stores, so you have to call Apple to buy it, last I heard.

Buy Snow Leopard > http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

Call Apple Sales...in the US: 1-800-MY-APPLE. Or Support... 1-800-275-2273


Other countries...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57


It looks like they might still have it...


http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA

If it's a core Duo & not a Core2Duo, then it'll only run in 32 bit mode.

Mar 21, 2013 7:35 AM in response to BDAqua

Just cuz I don't really get all this computer stuff I need to make sure I understand what your saying.


1. Leopard install disk is gonna be impossible to find.

2. Because of that I should install snow leopard, but I need the retail disk not the gray one.


My question is, if I install snow leopard will it wipe the hard drive clean of all the stuff of the original user and basically give me a "new" computer. That's my main focus here. I want to get rid of all the files my friend has on this computer and start clean without having to go in and remove everything by hand. I can do that with any other idevice like my 4s or my iPad touch by restoring factory setting, but can I do that with this MacBook by doing what you said? Thanks in advance for clarifying.

Mar 21, 2013 9:43 AM in response to cosette718

Yes... But Leopard Discs are expensive, not impossible to find, the eBay link should give you an idea.


How to format your disks...


http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html


(To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)


Thanks to Pondini, Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks...


http://Pondini.org/OSX/DU.html

i want to reformat my macbook os x 5 without the install disk

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