My dad bought me a MacBook Pro from a pawn shop. Everything is under the old owners name and i cant install anything without it. I dont know who the person is so is there any way to wipe my Mac clean?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Do you have any installer discs for the computer? Do you know exactly what model it is?
If it has Snow Leopard installed, then you will need an installer DVD for Snow Leopard. Either the installer disc that came with the computer when it was new or a retail Snow Leopard DVD. However, the latter will not boot all models of MBP, only those models released prior to the Mid-2010 model whose model identifier is:
| Model Identifier | MacBookPro7,1 |
|---|
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
Do you have any installer discs for the computer? Do you know exactly what model it is?
If it has Snow Leopard installed, then you will need an installer DVD for Snow Leopard. Either the installer disc that came with the computer when it was new or a retail Snow Leopard DVD. However, the latter will not boot all models of MBP, only those models released prior to the Mid-2010 model whose model identifier is:
| Model Identifier | MacBookPro7,1 |
|---|
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
It says the Model Identifier is MacBookPro 5,5. How can I tell if I have Snow Leopard or not? Also, I didn't get a DVD with this computer.
With a replacement set of original Apple MacBook Pro install-restore DVDs such as were
included with computer when new, the system could be totally erased, then new installed.
If your computer is a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) the identifier spec include:
Introduced June 2009
Discontinued April 2010
Model Identifier MacBookPro5,5
Model Number A1278
EMC 2326
Order Number MB990LL/A (2.26 GHz), MB991LL/A (2.53 GHz)
And it would have shipped (when new) an operating system such as:
Original OS Mac OS X 10.5.7 (9J3032) -- or Leopard 10.5
Maximum OS Latest release of OS X supported
AirDrop Supported
Hardware Test AHT 3A173
Bundled Software iLife ’09 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand)
That set may still be available from Apple support or their systems specialist at main
phone number, and you'd need to supply that computer's serial number to help match
up the system software packet with the device you have. If they do not have replacement
of the original system software DVDs, you'd have to order a retail Snow Leopard 10.6
install DVD instead, just be sure IF the computer originally shipped with Snow Leopard,
the disc they were to provide (for a fee) has a newer 10.6 version than one it had, new.
•IF the computer is running, you can click on the Apple icon in the Finder main menu bar
and see About This Mac, launch that, and read under the Mac OS X what it says. IF
you click on those items, the information should rotate from OS X version, build model
and Serial Number.
In order to correctly erase and re-install an operating system (and test, repair hard drive)
the system disc is an essential tool. There are utilities and the like, on that disc which
can be helpful, since they will provide an offline means of installing a basic new system.
And then an update to the 10.6 OS X Snow Leopard (10.6.8) would be a download step
acquired by using Software Update within the running Snow Leopard 10.6 once installed.
If the computer originally shipped with an older version, say 10.5.8, in order to get the
Snow Leopard 10.6 would require a purchase of that later system on DVD in install it.
By serial number, the authorized Apple service provider or retail store Genius, may be
able to help you; and with the same information, you could call Apple at the main online
Store (web site) number and they should be able to direct you to a system expert who
could try & match the correct DVD system to your product.
A proper install restore DVD set should have been included with any used computer...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
edited
Thank you for your help.
To see what is installed select About This Mac from the Apple menu. You should see the information in the open panel. To do what you want requires a Snow Leopard DVD:
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store:Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Yosemite if you wish.
Clean Install of Snow Leopard
1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.
2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue
button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
(Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
Assistant. After you finish Setup Assistant will complete the installation after which
you will be running a fresh install of OS X. You can now begin the update process
by opening Software Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your
installation current.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
"It says the Model Identifier is MacBookPro 5,5. How can I tell if I have Snow Leopard or not? Also, I didn't get a DVD with this computer"
your model 5.5 was originally delivered with Mac OS X 10.5.7
You yourself have said - in your profile - that you now have 10.6.8, which is the latest version of Snow Leopard.
It is easy to format the harddisk from any DvD #2 of 10.5 or 10.6 by using the DiskUtility on that disk. The problem is that you then have to reinstall the 10.5.7 of the original disk that came with that computer. You can call Apple (with the serial number ready) and ask if they can send you a duplicate of the original dvd's (2).
Is there any way to wipe my MacBook Pro?
