Can I upgrade from OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard to Lion or Mountain Lion?

[HHSymons]

My MacBook is a white Unibody A1181 running OS 10.6.8 Snow Leopard and I would like to upgrade to a later OS. Is is possible to upgrade to Mountain Lion 10.8?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Welcome to Mac-Forums, your Macbook is 2006 or so and can only be upgraded to OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, which you are already running.

That machine is nearly 15 years old, you should think about upgrading to a newer machine that is at least 2013 or newer.

 

[krs]

Although 10.6.8 is the last release Apple officially supports on this Mac asAshwin stated, there seem to be quite a few people (via google) who clain they installed all the way to El Capitan and have that running properly.
Here is just one link, google will bring up many more
MacBook 5,2 (A1181) and Mavericks | MacRumors Forums

However, Snow Leopard was a great OS, unless there is software you need to run that requires a later macOS, I would just stay there.
My perception of Lion is that it's not worth updating to it.
Mountain Lion is again OK

And if you do try to update beyond 10.6.8, make sure you have a current bootable back-up as a fall back position.

 

[MBAmtloin]

yes you can upgrade to Mt Lion, (if that has an intel chip) i think that is not free though, i paid $19.99 for a version 3 years ago from apple.
there might have copies available for download online i was noticing last year.
i might purchase a powerbook G4 soon just simply because.
the older macs and apple products are built to last and can run older versions of software i have.
i would not video edit the new starwars movie on them, but people did.

 

[pigoo3]

My MacBook is a white Unibody A1181 running OS 10.6.8 Snow Leopard and I would like to upgrade to a later OS. Is is possible to upgrade to Mountain Lion 10.8?

We could use additional info regarding your MacBook. The "A1181" model designation was actually used for various MacBooks from 2006 thru 2009. Thus the newer your MacBook is in that date range...the greater the chances are the OS can be upgraded past 10.6.8.

Additional information that might help can be found under the Apple drop down menu...then select "About this Mac"...then make sure the "Overview" tab is selected.

- Nick

 

[krs]

We could use additional info regarding your MacBook. The "A1181" model designation was actually used for various MacBooks from 2006 thru 2009.

I find it extremely annoying that Apple uses the same model ID for so many different MacBooks that have widely different upgrade paths.
Model ID numbers are "cheap" - each different model should have really had a different product number.
The 2009 version of the A1181 can actually be upgraded to El Capitan, 10.11

 

[pigoo3]

Apple does use an "EMC" number in addition to the model number. This EMC number is usually unique to the launch date of a series of Mac models.

For example all "Early 2011" iMac's would have the same EMC number...the iMac series before & after this date would have different EMC numbers. Problem is these EMC numbers are sometimes difficult to find...and I think this is why (many times)...many Mac-Users will use the terms:

- "Early 2011"
- "Mid-2014"
- "Late 2016"
- "Retina 2012"
- "2008 MacBook Unibody"

...etc. sort of designations to help differentiate different model series more easily.

- Nick

 

[krs]

Apple does use an "EMC" number in addition to the model number. This EMC number is usually unique to the launch date of a series of Mac models.

I never heard of an EMC number for a Mac, or are you thinking of the MC number, like MC240LL/A for the 2009 MacBook?

 

[ferrarr]

I never heard of an EMC number for a Mac, or are you thinking of the MC number, like MC240LL/A for the 2009 MacBook?

It's there (EMC), you just need to look for it. If you look at everymac.com, for any model Mac, towards the bottom of the page it lists the model number and the EMC number is there as well.

 

[krs]

It's there (EMC), you just need to look for it. If you look at everymac.com, for any model Mac, towards the bottom of the page it lists the model number and the EMC number is there as well.

Thanks - I see that now.

But what is the purpose of that EMC number?
It's not on the product itself, also doesn't come up when I look at "About this Mac" (unless it's hidden somewhere), I laso just checked one of my orders from the Apple store, it shows as the product number the MC240LL/A type number which is also on the product itself.
I assume the MC240LL/A type number is unique to a specific model of Mac because the Axxxx number sure isn't.

 

[HHSymons]

Welcome to Mac-Forums, your Macbook is 2006 or so and can only be upgraded to OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, which you are already running.

That machine is nearly 15 years old, you should think about upgrading to a newer machine that is at least 2013 or newer.

You are right. This machine is a MacBook 4,1 and has Core 2 Duo 2.4. Its manufacture period is listed as Feb 26, 2008 through October 14, 2008. Undoubtedly this is a very early model. Thanks for your recommendation. We are simply using this baby for some computer-based games. It does very well. The reason we wanted to upgrade the OS is that some of the games we downloaded won't run on this OS, they need a least Mountain Lion.

 

[pigoo3]

You are right. This machine is a MacBook 4,1 and has Core 2 Duo 2.4. Its manufacture period is listed as Feb 26, 2008 through October 14, 2008.

Thanks for the additional model details.

The original thread question was..."Can I upgrade from OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard to Lion or Mountain Lion?"...the answer is yes. Your MacBook can be upgraded (maximum) one OS version to macOS 10.7 (Lion). Unfortunatley if you need at least Mountain Lion (OS 10.8)...this MacBook is not capable of running Mountain Lion.

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

But what is the purpose of that EMC number?

As mentioned in my earlier post...I believe that the EMC number identifies all similar product line models released at the same time/same date.

Thus:

- All Early 2011 13" MacBook Pro's (same EMC #).
- All Early 2011 15" MacBook Pro's (same EMC #).
- All Early 2011 17" MacBook Pro's (same EMC #).
- All mid 2011 21" iMac's (same EMC #).
- All mid 2011 27" iMac's (same EMC #).
- All Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro's (same EMC #).
- All Late 2011 15" MacBook Pro's (same EMC #).
- All Late 2011 17" MacBook Pro's (same EMC #).

I used 2011 models as an example...since there's a lot of model diversity in this year. Other release dates should show a similar EMC number patttern.

Also...if iFixit: The Free Repair Manual is visited. iFixit: The Free Repair Manual uses EMC numbers with some repair guides to differentiate between models when model confusion is more likely to happen (especially with iMac models).

- Nick