How to update a MacBook 5,1 ?

Question

How to update a MacBook 5,1 ?

Hello all!

I have an old MacBook 5,1 with installed 10.5.8 - Intel Core 2 Duo - Memory 4GB - Processor Speed 2.4 GHz. Sources in the web are saying, this computer is ready for El Capitain. But all updates I downloaded with App Store on my (modern) computer are not accepted of this old MacBook. I have a slight doubt: downloading an installer with my computer is different than downloaded with the old MacBook.

Only problem: this old MacBook has no App Store. So it is impossible to download the upgrade. Do I have to buy a Lion for 20 Dollars first, to upgrade later to El Capitain?

Posted on Dec 29, 2017 12:48 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Dec 29, 2017 12:58 AM in response to Marek Stepanek

The highest you can go is Lion.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion

A similar question some time ago drew some interesting replies. Here is a link.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6584536

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Jan 7, 2018 7:16 PM in response to Marek Stepanek

My user tip explains how to do it:

http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271

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Answer 3

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Dec 29, 2017 1:55 AM in response to Marek Stepanek

You may be able to buy Lion from Apple on line. Or, with care, Amazon or eBay.

I cannot see how the mention of El Capitan qualifies for the machine you have but I believe that upgrade is not available anymore in the App store, you would need to go to Sierra. I doubt you have the RAM for that.

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Answer 4

Dec 29, 2017 1:42 AM in response to seventy one

Thank you seventy one!

Your links are very helpful. The page everymac.com is really fantastic!

I forgot to say, that the old MacBook is a Core duo. On everymac.com is said about the latest possible MacOS for this MacBook:

Pre-Installed MacOS:

X 10.5.5 (9F2114)

Maximum MacOS:

X 10.11.x*

This is El Capitain, isn't it?

Best greetings

marek

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Answer 5

Dec 29, 2017 2:20 AM in response to seventy one

Thanx again!

As I said in my original post, I downloaded many Installers over my own App Store on my own Laptop (MacBook Pro - 17-inch, Early 2011 - 2,2 GHz Intel Core i7):

Install macOS Sierra.app

Install OS X El Capitan.app

Install OS X Yosemite.app

But no installer is qualified for this MacBook. So my question is:

1. how to download these installers with the old MacBook without the installed App Store?

2. Because I assume, the downloads are different on each platform you are downloading from ???

Best greetings - I am away now until this evening (Europe:)

marek

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Answer 6

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Dec 29, 2017 12:59 AM in response to seventy one

Sorry about the messing about; I had to replace one of the links.

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Answer 7

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Dec 29, 2017 2:55 AM in response to Marek Stepanek

The matter of whether or not you can download a particular operating system depends solely on you using an Apple machine that has the capacity built in (plus the RAM) to accept that system.

Older machines lack the facilities to link with the newer operating systems because, being vintage, they are no longer supported and lack the internal system capacity to accept these newer systems.

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