I just installed a new hard drive and I don't have a installation CD/DVD to install OSX. How can I go about install a fresh copy?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)
help how to install mac on macbook a1181
Best I can tell, you can't. It is too old. You need a Late 2009 or newer and yours appears to be at best a Mid 2009 MacBook.
You may be able to install El Capitan. How to download OS X El Capitan - Apple Support
Check to make sure your applications are compatible.
Applications Compatibility (2)
El Capitan 10.11 Compatibility information
Also check to make sure there is a compatible driver for your printer.
Do a backup before installing, preferable 2 backups on 2 different drives.
Hold down cmd-opt-r on restart. It will boot into Internet Recovery where you will be able to install the OS that shipped on it (Lion?). From there you can install Mavericks.
I have a mid-2009 MacBook Pro, which from my research online, seems to indicate that with a fresh drive (and the recovery partitions wiped out), the recovery option isn't available?
I've tried the Cmd+R option, but it eventually leads me back to the blinking folder with the question mark in the center.
If it is that old, then you need the original install disks that came with it.
If you have lost them, call AppleCare and they will send you the original disks for a small fee.
You can choose to purchase and install OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
Purchase here.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Good Luck!
Are you able to beg or borrow access to another Mac that has access to the internet & is new enough to use the App store?
You can sign in to your App store account & download the appropriate installer (Mavericks or whatever you have in your account). Then you can make a USB bootable copy of the installer (there are many other guides around)…
http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/08/make-a-bootable-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-installer-from -a-usb-flash-drive/
If you can access a Mac but don't want to do the huge download you can use the recovery assistant to create a bootable recovery partition on a USB stick.
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433
When you boot your Mac it will download the OS for installation.
Does the original HD still work? It may be quicker to get a cheap 2.5inch case & boot from that just to get an OS downloaded & installed. It will mean you are not wasting cash & time on 10.6 that is only needed for one App store download.
I'd consider a trip to an Apple store if you have one local, they may drop an installer or recovery partition onto a memory stick for you.
WIll apple care give me a Leopard disk?
iMac G5
If that's what your Mac shipped with.
What if??
the MAC os is Lion 10.6 that followed with the iMac and the app. store doesn't work, such that I cant get to the Mountain Lion, which I purchase in the app.-store?
10.6 is Snow Leopard (and Lion is 10.7.x).
If you have 10.6, (install from the install DVD if necessary first) and then update to 10.6.8 (free update). That version includes the app store and you can then download Mountain Lion (10.8) which you purchased in the Apple store (the download will be from the app store).
help how to install mac on macbook a1181
How can I install OSX into a new hard drive without a CD?
