Q: MacBook 2.1 - lots of problems.

You'd need to purchase a retail OS X 10.6.3 DVD if the computer originally shipped

with an older or lesser version Snow Leopard. If the computer shipped with 10.6.3

and it would have had an OS X install-restore software kit included when new, you

would have to contact Apple support or applecare, and ask about buying replacement

install-restore discs specific to that model year. Have the product serial number ready

since the product and software kit have to match. Another computer's install media

from different model will not work. You'd ideally need to have the install-restore DVD

in order to re-set the password, perform disk maintenance, and re-install OS X, + etc.

Find the serial number of your Apple hardware product - Apple Support

Without more information on the specific computer you have, it would be hard to guess

which OS X that specific one should have included with it when new; and you'd need

to have the original DVD media (or exact replacement) to re-install the OS X.

Identify by serial number - lookup service

https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

After installing the correct OS X version from install-restore DVD, the newer update to

Snow Leopard would be from Software Updates within the installed system itself. You

cannot access the App Store until the computer is running updated 10.6.8 internally.

See info and to buy the retail 10.6.x Snow Leopard installer DVD from Apple Store:

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

Not sure if this helps; there were no replies at time mine was begun.

Good luck & happy computing!

Given the computer is older than the retail OS X 10.6.x Snow Leopard system disc,

you should be able to buy that, use it as a bootable system (start with C key held)

and be able to check, repair, re-set password, install a fully new OS X version, or

other utility functions including reformat erase and setup a new hard drive, etc.

However the original system discs which were included with the MacBook2.1 (two

macbooks used the 2.1 identifier) were much older systems. The model in question

is the second build in the MacBook series, the first was MacBook1.1.

The original system would have been Tiger 10.4. and the original install disc set

would have included certain (vintage) applications for use under Tiger OS X 10.4.

Those old applications would not be suited for use in Snow Leopard 10.6.8.

The iLIfe and iWork suites of software, in addition to the OS X, when piecing together

the software installers for a whole system (after the original was left behind) is how

to get the later upgraded system for use with OS X 10.6.x as these are on DVD media.

And those kits, other discs than OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, probably aren't available

from Apple Store online anymore; I see iLife '11 (iphoto, garageband, imovie, iweb)

and iWorks (pages, keynote, numbers) are not offered by Apple; if needed, those old

versions that are suited for the computer you have, under Snow Leopard 10.6.8, may

be found by looking into Amazon or ebay resellers; and should be retail disc sets that

were not included with other specific computer models which had grey label discs.

After using the Snow Leopard 10.6.3 install DVD and have a running system, update

to the full last step of OS X 10.6.8 itself -- not including later application upgrades:

Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update v.1.1  -- download update step from 10.6.x to 10.6.8

Grey-color label 'install restore media' DVD discs from another computer build model

or type of Apple computer generally cannot be used in models outside of their own.

So retail discs are usually preferred for iLife and iWork suites, and for systems not

included with the computer itself when new.

After upgrading the computer to a full OS X 10.6.8, then the App Store online is then

accessible. This assumes the OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard is owned by the same

person who is looking to upgrade the system to a later OS X from the App Store;

because an Apple ID will be associated with the installation from then on, once the

App Store is used to upgrade to a later disc-free OS X version. Be sure to keep the

OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard retail installer if/when it is bought, even if the computer may

be upgraded to OS X 10.7.5 Lion (a purchase, not free) since you could use the DVD

media to revert the computer to the better Snow Leopard, as it was preferred by many.

If the reason for upgrading an old MacBook2.1 is due to purchasing a later iDevice or

some other product such as an iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch, etc; be sure to read

fully the details on what OS X versions are supporting those products because an old

MacBook may be unable to run a new enough OS X to support most recent iDevices.

These are cautionary and may be considered an alert to these possibilities.

When you contact Apple about the original OS X system for the MacBook2.1

they may tell you if that vintage OS X restore install system kit is available or not

and if not, offer to sell the Snow Leopard 10.6.3 retail DVD. Get that. It won't have

those other applications, but the system it does provide is better for the computer

than Tiger since the 10.4.11 system is limited, vintage and may not be available.

When upgrading to a later newer OS X, sometimes hardware update is required

for better performance; so note the installed RAM memory total, as more is better.

A separate idea, if the hard drive should be worn or failing, is to upgrade it to a

faster spin rate 7200-RPM version, as the old MacBook shipped with slower 5400

RPM drive, and this relates to efficiencies in temp file swaps, virtual memory and

a quicker acting computer; the memory itself is an easy upgrade but limited in total.

The hard disk drive is a bit more difficult. See the iFixit mac repair guides for ideas.

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing!

Hi. To charge a password you do not know, you need to go to single users when starting up. Here is a link to help.http://www.tannerwilliamson.com/password-recovery-reset-an-osx-10-6-snow-leopard -users-password-without-