Restore OS X Leopard without original install disc?

[SkaSocks]

Hey all,

I have a 2008 13" Black Macbook that I'm hoping to finally part ways with. Only problem is, I want to perform a wipe it clean and reinstall OS X Leopard and I can't find my original install disc.
I've had a look online and can't seem to see anywhere to buy it. I could swear I saw it on the Apple store recently, and for cheap too, but now it seems to be gone.
My question is, what is the best way of going about this? Can I buy an OS X Snow Leopard disc and perform a clean install from that, or does it have to be the original OS that shipped with the machine? And then...what? How do I restore it to factory settings?

Any help would be awesome. Thank you in advance.

Matt

 

[Intell]

You can only reinstall Leopard on the machine with its restore discs. The retail version is too old. I suggest getting Snow Leopard for $20 from Apple and installing that.

 

[Bear]

Buy the Snow Leopard disk.

Boot off the Snow Leopard disk.
Use Disk Utility to erase the drive in the Mac.
Install Snow Leopard.

 

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says....if you contact Apple they should be able to sell you restore discs for your specific model for a nominal fee ($20 IIRC). This *may* be the better method if you're planning on selling the computer as not only can you then pass the discs on with the sale but the new owner can decide how and if they wish to upgrade. In addition, the Snow Leopard disc will only contain the operating system where the computer-specific discs will have the iLife apps (and whatever else) shipping with the computer...you're new buyer *may* want that as well....oh yeah!

 

[Fishrrman]

Here's one more suggestion to consider buying the Snow Leopard DVD, and installing that instead...

 

[benwiggy]

Ideally, when you sell a Mac (pre-Lion OS 10.7), you should include Apple installer disks for the OS with it: the original disks that came with the machine, if you still have them, and also any disk for subsequent upgrades.

If you do buy either replacement Leopard disks for that machine, if available, or a retail Snow Leopard disk, then you need to include that with the sale. Buying a Mac without installer disks is contrary to the licence, as the seller with the disks is technically still the licencee, who has made an unlawful copy on someone else's Mac.

It's probably easier to get Snow Leopard, and makes for a more attractive purchase.

 

[Drew017]

Hey all,

I have a 2008 13" Black Macbook that I'm hoping to finally part ways with. Only problem is, I want to perform a wipe it clean and reinstall OS X Leopard and I can't find my original install disc.
I've had a look online and can't seem to see anywhere to buy it. I could swear I saw it on the Apple store recently, and for cheap too, but now it seems to be gone.
My question is, what is the best way of going about this? Can I buy an OS X Snow Leopard disc and perform a clean install from that, or does it have to be the original OS that shipped with the machine? And then...what? How do I restore it to factory settings?

Any help would be awesome. Thank you in advance.

Matt

It would be more worth it to just buy Snow Leopard and do a clean install (probably just wipe the disk using Disk Utility and then do an install)

 

[jacbec]

What if I need Leopard to run a critical program that only works with Leopard? It's called "NUD to iCal."

 

[Gregg2]

What if I need Leopard to run a critical program that only works with Leopard? It's called "NUD to iCal."

See post #4

 

[Fishrrman]

Agree with others who suggest installing Snow Leopard from the Apple DVD...

 

[betaclone]

My optical drive doesn't work

I'm selling my old MacBook Pro to an online refurbisher. It's running 10.6 and I don't care about installing a newer version. I just want to wipe the drive before I send it to be scrapped for parts. Even if I had an install disk I couldn't use it because of te non-functional optical drive. Any options?

 

[endlightend]

I'm selling my old MacBook Pro to an online refurbisher. It's running 10.6 and I don't care about installing a newer version. I just want to wipe the drive before I send it to be scrapped for parts. Even if I had an install disk I couldn't use it because of te non-functional optical drive. Any options?

External optical drive through the USB, unless you made a prior backup and have access to the installer.dmg

 

[SlCKB0Y]

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