Can't install Snow Leopard on new drive

[CTNorthShore]

Got a frustrating problem that maybe I can get some suggestions on.

This is a MacBook Pro from 2009. It would not boot and I positively diagnosed a bad hard drive. I put a new hard drive in there and then used the Mac OS X Snow Leopard disc that came with the laptop. It would not boot... it spins a bit but then eventually goes to a black screen with a blinking cursor in the top left. I tried with an external DVD in case the DVD reader in the laptop was flaky... same result. I tried some other discs that I had around and had no joy in getting it to boot - it goes black or spits it out. The closest I came was when I put in a 10.6.7 factory disc for a 13-inch MacBook Pro (grey) and actually got to the install screen only for it to tell me that this version of Mac could not be installed on this computer.

I called AppleCare and they told me that the reason my Snow Leopard disc did not work is that according to them this laptop actually came with 10.5... not 10.6 (which I say is a load). So he said that is what I need and that I would have to buy it 3rd party since they don't sell them anymore. I checked and they are asking $100 on Amazon!

I'm floored that I cannot find software for this! Obviously it is too early a mac for the Internet recovery. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can install Mac OS back on this system?

 

[pm-r]

If the Snow Leopard disc is grey, it's for a specific MBPro, and it sounds like not for a 2009 model!

That MBPro probably came with 10.5.6 and it again would need the specific install disk for that model. But I'm really surprised that the Apple tech didn't suggest purchasing the proper compatible SL 10.6.x install disk that they can sell you for $20.00 via their Customer Support.

 

[CTNorthShore]

Thanks.

Yeah, he specifically said they do not sell them anymore and I'd have to go third party.

The Snow Leopard disc I have is not grey...it's white with a picture of a snow leopard on it. Perhaps this is not the install disc that came with the laptop. I don't know... it was someone else's before.

 

[pm-r]

They may not sell the 10.5.x install disks any more but they sure as H8LL sell SL 10.6.8:
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (Canada) in Canada and it looks like they just upped the price a bit, or if you're in the US:
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.)

If the SL disk is as you described, it sure sounds like a "Retail" version that should work, especially on a MBPro that originally came with 10.5.x. Unless it was one of the "thrown in the box update" disks. Hmmm…??? ;D