Why won't "Command + R" boot me into recovery mode when I restart my computer?

Question

Level 1

11 points

Why won't "Command + R" boot me into recovery mode when I restart my computer?

I have a late model 2008 Aluminum Macbook that I have erased the hard drive on and I am working on re-installing updated OS X. However, whenever my computer is off and I boot or restart and hold down "command + R" it does not boot into recovery mode. It simply goes to the normal login screen from a normal startup. I have gone back and erased the hard drive again and reinstalled the original OSX for a second time and still getting the same results.

I can do basic software updates to get to version 10.5.6 but still have the same issues once all the updating is completed.

I am currently running OS X 10.5.5 with a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Can someone please help? I seem to be stuck with the original OS X when I first purchased the computer without the ability to update to newer OS X!

Thanks!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Posted on Mar 18, 2016 12:25 PM

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Answer 1

Pmintz25

Level 4

2,068 points

Mar 18, 2016 12:39 PM in response to TMAC2407

Csound1 is correct. The only way to get past 10.5 Leopard is to purchase a physical install DVD of 10.6 Snow Leopard.

If you are reinstalling 10.5, Command-R will not work. To boot to the Install DVD, press and hold the C key while booting.

Snow Leopard is available for purchase HERE

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Answer 2

TMAC2407 Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 18, 2016 12:36 PM in response to Csound1

Thanks for a quick reply! Where do I go about getting a disc to do this? Sounds like I may have jumped the gun on erasing the hard drive before knowing the best way to do things. before erasing I was running it on a newer OS X but still old. Believe it was 10.6. If I have a back up from when I was running that newer OS X is there a way to pull it off that drive and install? If so, how? Thanks!

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Answer 3

Pmintz25

Level 4

2,068 points

Mar 18, 2016 12:41 PM in response to TMAC2407

If you had 10.6 installed already, find the 10.6 install DVD and reinstall it on your computer.

If you are using Time Machine, you can restore the entire system back to whatever was installed. There is no way to restore from the wiped hard drive unless you have a Time Machine backup.

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