Restore a macbook pro 5,5

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Level 1

4 points

Restore a macbook pro 5,5

I was recently given an older macbook pro for my son to use in school. It was given to me by my sister who was the only owner and bought the computer directly from Apple. I would like to restore it to the factory image it came with and remove everything she had on the computer. There is no disc for this computer. It did come with a disc, but my sister lost it. After restoring it and clearing everything off of it, I would like to upgrade the OS to allow use of icloud, keychain, etc. So, what are my options on how to restore it. Here are the specs, maybe it can help you tell me what to do:

Mac OS X 10.5.8

Build 9L31a

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,5

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.26 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 1 GB

Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MBP55.00AC.B03

SMC Version (system): 1.47f2

Serial Number (system): W892677566D

Hardware UUID: 58E42D50-5E3B-5D63-9556-E44C4996DE69

Sudden Motion Sensor:

State: Enabled

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 14, 2015 2:45 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 14, 2015 3:21 AM in response to Tlynch77

You should purchase 10.6 Snow Leopard and update it to 10.6.8 to get the App Store app. It's the last OS X version to ship on a DVD.

You could erase the HD and then install Snow Leopard as the new administrator and set up a User account without admin privileges for your son to use.

The machine can upgrade even higher through the App Store app.

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Answer 2

Tlynch77 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 14, 2015 3:49 PM in response to Lexiepex

lex - you obviously didn't read my original post. I do not have the original install disc, which your link clearly states to use as a means of restoring. Also, it doesn't matter what she "should have done", she didn't do that. And, even if she wanted to or knew to, according to your instructions, she couldn't because she didn't have the original disc.

To the other 2 replies: admittedly, I'm not a mac/apple person, having had most of my experience with windows products. With windows, when you upgrade the OS, all files remain. The only thing changed is the source OS. Is this the same with Mac? I will purchase the disc (although a download would be much easier) and use it to upgrade, but I want to make sure everything is restored to the factory state. In my opinion, the computer has a bunch of "junk" on it, which was more than likely installed by the prior owner. Given that I have very little working knowledge with Mac, I am not sure what exactly was installed from the factory and is necessary for proper operation and what can be removed.

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,257 points

Feb 15, 2015 8:25 AM in response to Tlynch77

There is no download for Snow Leopard.

After you purchase the DVD, if you want to make a clean install, boot from the DVD on a restart (command - C), use Disk Utility to Verify/Repair the disk and run Repair Permissions. Then erase the hard drive using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format using the Options button to select GUID. Reinstall the OS. Restart normally and test. Use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant to import what you want.

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

685,257 points

Feb 14, 2015 8:16 AM in response to Tlynch77

Snow Leopard Purchase

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Answer 5

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 14, 2015 3:27 AM in response to Tlynch77

Read this also:

http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-prepare-your-mac-for-sale/

which your sister should have done before giving it away.

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Answer 6

Tlynch77 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 19, 2015 6:59 AM in response to Eric Root

Sorry for my absence, had some unexpected things come up. I ordered the disk yesterday. When it arrives, I will try your method and hopefully it works.

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