If your computer is still running Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.8, you could use the System
Install-Restore DVD #1 to boot the computer and use the Installer's version of Disk
Utility from the Installer menu options; you do not run the Installer itself to use this...
•Mac OS X: About the Archive and Install feature - Apple Support
•Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install - Apple Support
If you installed Lion OS X 10.7.5, you may also have a Recovery mode or partition
created on your computer hard disk drive that could allow you to boot using keys
to use the Recovery features suggested in the above reply. The Recovery feature
made its appearance with Lion version OS X. With Mountain Lion OS X 10.8.5, the
Recovery feature is installed with the OS & was integrated. 10.6.8 doesn't have it.
If you no longer have the Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.3 Retail DVD, to use for utilitarian
or install-restore-repair, you could order one from the online Apple Store for about $20.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
And you need not re-install anything to just use Utilities & other items in the DVD.
The booted installer unmounts the internal hard disk drive, so it is free from the
purpose of running the computer, and so you could attempt repair, or erase &
install a new system (such as if you are gifting or selling the computer). To go
further, some users will totally erase (secure erase, overwrites HDD with zeros)
then reformat the drive, and then perform an all-new installation from scratch.
But to repair and perform hard drive maintenance, set up a new hard drive when
upgrading or prepare a replacement new drive for use in the Mac, the tools on
the install-restore DVD are essential. Some users set up a new replacement drive
ahead of installation if their computer is working, by use of external drive enclosure
of the type to utilize the same kind of hard drive or SSD size, prior to installing it.
There are a few other options, depending on what you hope to accomplish.
So if you have any additional information or other questions, feel free to ask
or if they are different than this topic, start a new thread for a new topic.
Thought I had a link to a helpful page of instructions that could help if you were
to clean install or erase/install, such as one may do if preparing a Mac for resale
but can't find my bookmark just now. The same info can be used to restore a Mac.
Hopefully the old MacBook is willing to be restored... without much convincing.
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
