*Unable to re-install OS no matter what I do on older MacBook Pro*!

[debunker]

Hi folks, and thanks in advance for anything that could possibly help me!!


I have an older MacBook Pro I bought for my mom, as she just got to a
point with her PC's getting infected more than than the hair I could pull
out of my skull trying to fix them almost every time I went for a visit......

I'm fairly sure she got the Mac infected sending things through emails
transferring from PC's to Mac, etc. She has since passed, and although
whatever she may have done, it didn't seem to affect anything that she
did on the Mac- email, photos, games, etc.

So, for her, things were fine!!

I would now like to wipe the drive and re-install/upgrade the OS, but,
everything I try I'm locked out, I try to boot up the older Snow Leopard
disks I got with it- the drive just keeps spitting the disks right back out.

Tried to download an updated OS, but every time I try to open and use,
it says the copy downloaded is "bad".

I've tried ALL the key-combos too, upon re-starting while pressing the
appropriate keys down, no-go also!

I cant even perform a straight erase of the hard drive- won't let me do
that either............

*Would anyone have any suggestions on this roadblock by chance?!*

The only thing I have not tried is to do anything with a USB drive.............

COULD I do anything with a USB drive to get things cleaned up/a fresh install?!!
OR, Could/Should I try to install say Linux Mint Cinnamon??!

***WHATEVER gets me back to a decently current OS that will allow me
to re-use this computer, sell it, OR just save it as a spare I may use in
case of a temp computer emergency???!!

Sincerely, and thanks again for listening.............................

Bob.

 

[Svetlin]

Set the clock back to an older date, the certificates may have expired.
Go to internet recovery and try that method, format the drive in a file system suited for Snow Leopard.

 

[Fishrrman]

It sure helps when you tell us:
WHICH MacBook Pro you have
WHAT YEAR it was made
WHAT VERSION of the OS you're trying to install.

I'm going to GUESS that if it came with a Snow Leopard install DVD, it could be a 2007, or around there?
That's getting to be almost "too old to do much with" these days. At least with the Mac OS. Apps like Safari will refuse to connect to some sites (3rd-party browsers might work).

The idea of putting Linux onto it actually sounds like a good alternative.

 

[MobiusTech]

Sounds like you need to drive down to the Genius Bar.

 

[debunker]

THANKS Svetlin, Fishrrman, and MobiusTech (so far)......!

Svetlin: I'm fairly sure I tried the OS Recovery, 2x, didn't work,
BUT- I will set the clock back, and then try OS Recovery again!!


Fishrrman: Yes, it came with Snow Lepoard on it, and the disks came w/it!
*I will check into the year, etc., but I would say you are probabaly
very close to the year?!! (This Mac has silver keys, not black, and
the bottom has a detachable battery). I was just trying to do a fresh
install of what came with it/on it- Snow Lepoard.


MobiusTech: I'm trying any options that don't cost any $$$, first!!

 

[debunker]

Hi again folks......

*Tried setting the clock back, and confirming it went back to 2010,
no-go on OS Recovery, no-go on trying to just erase the drive again also!

**MY mistake, the Mac is reporting it has 10.9.5 (Mavericks), I guess my
Mom may have done an upgrade along the way...... The computer did come
with the Snow Lepoard disks though- at least I can see that clearly.

***Specs below:

MacBookPro 3,1 17.0 screen
2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700
6GB 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM
Nvidia GeForce 8600M CT 256MB
160 GB drive
Video Memory: 256 MB
USB 2.0 Ports: 3
Native Resolution: 1680x1050
LED-Backlit: No
Apple Part No: MA897LL/A

 

[Fishrrman]

I believe this is what you have:

MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 17" (SR) Specs (Mid/Late 2007, 2.4GHz*, MA897LL/A, MacBookPro3,1, A1229, 2137): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 17" (SR). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

That shipped with OS 10.4.9, and everymac says it can be upgraded to 10.11.6 (El Capitan).

It IS booting up right now?
You're able to log in?
Would that be to your mother's account, or a new one you've created?

If you don't mind "wiping" it clean (be sure to save anything of value first), you could install El Capitan onto it.

You'd want to do this by:
- creating a bootable USB flash drive installer
- booting from the flashdrive
- erasing the internal drive
- installing a clean copy of El Cap.

You'd need a copy of El Cap, and a flashdrive 8gb or larger (I think 8gb should do).

I would use either "Diskmaker X" or "Install Disk Creator" (both free) to make the flash drive.

 

[JustAnExpat]

Your computer does not have "internet recovery" to my knowledge. A retail copy of Snow Leopard should work good enough to be able to update the system. I would be stunned if the machine originally came with Snow Leopard/ 10.6.0 (since it originally came with 10.4.9), and if you have the original OEM disks for Snow Leopard it won't work, since it's machine specific.

I recommend making a bootable USB installer for El. Cap, and wiping the drive. See https://www.lifewire.com/create-bootable-os-x-el-capitan-installer-2259939 for the instructions.

 

[debunker]

Fishrrman:

Yes, it boots up just fine, log-ins, no issues at all!
Also yes, it was my Mom's acct... still is, I didn't
change anything there!

I will try the bootable flash drive shortly also.......
Thanks again for ALL the info as well!!!!

JustAnExpat + Fishrrman:

I did try to make the bootable USB installer that you
mentioned Expat, as it seemed really quick and easy.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly within the
Terminal screen, until it got to where it tried to make
the stick "bootable", thats when it threw an error with
a drive "mounting" issue!!

Fishrrman:

I will try Diskmaker X or Install Disk Creator...............

 

[Ruggy]

The disks you are trying to install from: are they full installation disks or upgrade disks?
The full installation disks had a picture of a leopard on them and were white, the upgrade were just plain grey, so if they are plain grey then you won't be able to install from them.

 

[Ruggy]

Just lost half that message when I posted it how odd:

Furthermore, you need the full installation disks of the original OS that came with the machine. You can't start with a later one when you are starting with a clean drive.
There is no recovery partition on a drive that came with disks. The recovery software was on the full- not upgrade- disks as was the hardware diagnostics
Once you've installed the original OS, then you can upgrade and download further upgrades up to the last one compatible.
Also, you won't be able to install from a USB key because the bios didn't support doing that back then.
Hope that helps.

 

[debunker]

Ruggy:

Thanks for the input as well, I do have the full-install Snow Lepoard
disks with the pic of the Big Cat on it! But, as you mentioned, and others
suggested, it doesn't work...... I do appreciate the other info as well,
*especially* about the USB key idea NOT being able to work/be performed!

Ruggy, and all the kind folks who responded to my call for help:

I found a seller on EBay that has El Capitan pre-installed on brand
new hard drives for sale, correctly-sized for the early MacBooks such
as mine- for a really good price!!

So, I bit the bullet, spent under 25$, and will try this route.... In the meantime
I shall continue to test and try things- as I've got nothing to lose!!!!

And hey, I may possibly learn something out of it?!?!

Again, thanks to EVERYONE for taking time to help me out!!!!!!!!

*I've worked on PC's for a long time, BUT, I've been working on cars
for decades if anyone ever needs any advice on vehicle problems, issues
OR concerns- let me know- and we can chat off the list............

Sincerely,

Bob.