Macbook Troubles

[Zack_Hill]

Hello,

 

Recently I acquired a late 2009 model Macbook. The previous owner had the HDD removed and destroyed so I have installed a new one. I am attempting to download Mac OS via the internet recovery method. Unfortunately, holding Command + R while turning on the MacBook does not do anything, and the MacBook just proceeds to the white screen with the blinking question mark. I have also tried other commands such as Shift + Option + Command + R and Option + Command + R. These methods did not work either. I have never dealt with an Apple computer before so any information provided is much appreciated!

 

Thanks! 

[soundblastdj]

If you can access another mac, you can create a bootable USB stick to reinstall.  As far as I know, even if you could boot to the internet recovery, you couldn't install OS X over the internet.  With that said, there is a limit to the newest version you can install on a 2009 MacBook.

[Zack_Hill]

1 hour ago, soundblastdj said:

If you can access another mac, you can create a bootable USB stick to reinstall.  As far as I know, even if you could boot to the internet recovery, you couldn't install OS X over the internet.  With that said, there is a limit to the newest version you can install on a 2009 MacBook.

I have some friends that have macs so I'll see about that method. Would you happen to know why I can't get into the "bios" of the mac using those commands? 

[soundblastdj]

You should be able to see a boot menu by pressing only the "option" key on startup.  As for the internet recovery mode, I've never successfully made it work and without an OS X installation, you can't boot to normal recovery mode.  There is no accessible BIOS on a Mac, recovery mode simply gives you access to Disk Utility (for formatting disks), Terminal, and a few other handy tools.  

[Zack_Hill]

It's annoying that I have to have another mac to make the darn recovery... Having a windows machine is so nice. Thanks for the help. I'm gonna see about getting High Sierra USB. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

41 minutes ago, Zack_Hill said:

It's annoying that I have to have another mac to make the darn recovery... Having a windows machine is so nice. Thanks for the help. I'm gonna see about getting High Sierra USB. 

The new ones will do internet recovery with no hdd, this one is too old for that.

 

A mac doesn't really have a normal bios to change settings in.

 

Also depending on the model, it might not run 10.13