how to find Mac OS

[corporal_Canada]

ok i am in possession of a macbook pro (2015??) it has the intel processor in it as shown in the photo, naturally with all ebay purchases it comes with an empty hard drive. so i need mac os... the box of mac os x tiger came with a purchase i made long time ago ..(emac i think) but the macbook pro doesnt boot from the disc , manjaro linux and windows 10 both run on the macbook pro but i am uncomfortable with 95C operating temperatures. so where can i download the mac os iso ? or where do i buy it ?(bootable disc please)

 

[Lifeisabeach]

If that's a 2015, then the oldest version of OS X that it will run is 10.10 Yosemite. So Tiger is completely out of the question. You can't get Yosemite on a disc. The "correct" way for you to get started is via Recovery. Here are a couple guides to walk you through what to do. Basically you have to reboot the Mac while holding down a key combination. There are a couple different methods... I'm not sure which is applicable in your case. Internet Recovery is a bit different from macOS Recovery. The simpler "Recovery" works from a hidden partition that gets updated as newer versions of macOS get installed. If that partition no longer exists, then Internet Recovery will be needed. That gets you back to what that Mac would have shipped with.

How to Reinstall MacOS with Internet Recovery

Reinstalling MacOS with Internet Recovery offers a way to reinstall the system software version of MacOS that came with the Mac. For example, if a Mac shipped with MacOS Mojave but is currently run…

osxdaily.com

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

You can use macOS Recovery, your computer's built-in recovery system, to reinstall the Mac operating system. Reinstalling macOS doesn't remove your personal data.

support.apple.com

 

[corporal_Canada]

when i installed linux or windows i deleted ALL partitions but ill try the tutorial

 

[Lifeisabeach]

when i installed linux or windows i deleted ALL partitions but ill try the tutorial

The Recovery partition is hidden and may well still be there, but possibly not. If not, then Internet Recovery is the alternative. This is embedded in the firmware, but the installer itself will get downloaded since that won't exist on the Mac in the firmware. It will require an internet connection of course, which you can set up while in that mode if on Wi-Fi.

 

[corporal_Canada]

i think im stuck, i got to a point to which im supposed to select a hard disk to install macOS catalina but its telling me the hard drive is locked (windows 10 ???)

 

[Raz0rEdge]

If you're in any sort of recovery console, then you should first erase the HD with Disk Utility (removing whatever was on there before) and then do the install on the clean drive.

 

[corporal_Canada]

If you're in any sort of recovery console, then you should first erase the HD with Disk Utility (removing whatever was on there before) and then do the install on the clean drive.

tried doing things in disk utility but i have 0 options

 

[Raz0rEdge]

tried doing things in disk utility but i have 0 options

Take pictures and show it to us, it'll make it easier for those of us familiar with Macs to provide better guidance.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

In addition to photos, can you verify which exact MacBook you have?

 

[corporal_Canada]

In addition to photos, can you verify which exact MacBook you have?

theres no model # written anywhere... i can gladly give you the serial #

 

[Raz0rEdge]

On the back, you'll see a line that say "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China Model XXXX" and the next line has the serial number, we don't need your serial number, just the model number to get an idea.

If you're in the recovery console, click on the Apple icon on the top-left and choose About this Mac and you can tell us what you see.

 

[corporal_Canada]

On the back, you'll see a line that say "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China Model XXXX" and the next line has the serial number, we don't need your serial number, just the model number to get an idea.

If you're in the recovery console, click on the Apple icon on the top-left and choose About this Mac and you can tell us what you see.

i kinda gave up so im reinstalling trusty linux but ill go back to recovery mode... under the macbook it sais A1278

 

[corporal_Canada]

 

[Lifeisabeach]

You "may" have to temporarily install to an external drive; boot from that; wipe the internal; then install macOS to it. Here are a couple discussions though to review:

"Disk Locked" macOS reinstall!

I have just wiped my iMac, and something must have gone wrong in the process as i cant change the boot drive by holding down option key and when i go to install reinstall macOS through macOS utilit...

apple.stackexchange.com

Can't reinstall OS X - "This disk is lock… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

EDIT: you also most certainly do not have a 2015 MacBook. That model identifier was used from 2008-2012. Which is... really odd. The list of models is in the link below, but you can plug in your serial number into the search box in place of the model identifier to narrow it down.

Lookup Mac Specs By Serial Number, Order, Model & EMC Number, Model ID @ EveryMac.com

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup - lookup Apple Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad specs by serial number, order number, model number, model ID, EMC number and more.

everymac.com

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...under the macbook it sais A1278

According to MacTracker that's a mid-2012 model, otherwise known as a "MacBookPro9,2". MacTracker says that it can run up to macOS 10.15.7 (Catalina).

You can download a complete installer for Catalina, for free, from one of these links:

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?mt=12

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12

You will have to create an installer USB flash drive to install Catalina:

https://osxdaily.com/2020/07/14/how-make-bootable-macos-catalina-install-drive/

 

[corporal_Canada]

According to MacTracker that's a mid-2012 model, otherwise known as a "MacBookPro9,2". MacTracker says that it can run up to macOS 10.15.7 (Catalina).

You can download a complete installer for Catalina, for free, from one of these links:

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?mt=12

‎macOS Catalina

You will have to create an installer USB flash drive to install Catalina:

How to Create a Bootable MacOS Catalina Installer Drive

this is what im talking about.. thank you

 

[Lifeisabeach]

this is what im talking about.. thank you

You do need a working installation of macOS to do any of that. If you have access to another Mac, that would work by using the tip to make a bootable USB installer.

 

[corporal_Canada]

You do need a working installation of macOS to do any of that. If you have access to another Mac, that would work by using the tip to make a bootable USB installer.

which i dont

 

[corporal_Canada]

managed to erase the disk and am now installing catalina

 

[corporal_Canada]

it works, thank you all