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How can I install a different OS on my 2007 MacBook

Hi all,

I wanted to install another os onto my 2007 MacBook (EMC 2139). I wanted to install something like linux or windows. Do you know what would work?

Thanks


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jul 26, 2024 4:48 AM

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4 replies

Jul 27, 2024 8:06 PM in response to ayaan261

Linux Mint should be a good option. I know a co-worker used to install Linux Mint onto some of my organization's old white 2007-2010 MacBooks to give to some less fortunate people. This co-worker doesn't do a lot with Linux so it does go to show Linux Mint is not difficult to use on these older Macs.


IIRC, you may need to pull the Camera firmware file from your OS X 10.6 installation if you want to use the built-in iSight Camera in Linux. There are instructions online on where to find this file and how to use it on Linux. It has been some years since I installed Linux onto one of these early 2007-2009 MacBooks so I don't recall specifics, nor do I have a link to those instructions.


Just make sure to avoid installing Linux on the original 2006 MacBook with 32bit Core Duo CPU since that specific model has some firmware issues which could cause Linux to brick that specific model Mac. I've never had any issues using Linux on the 64bit Core 2 Duo CPU Macs (model years 2007+).


Make sure to have your OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard upgrade DVD available just in case you need it to reinstall macOS later on.


Linux can work on systems with as little as 2GB of RAM if you only use one or two open browser windows, but 3GB or better yet 4GB is best. With the MacBooks, the GPU takes up some of the system memory.

Jul 29, 2024 10:22 AM in response to ayaan261

ayaan261 wrote:

Do you any Windows version that will work?


Microsoft Windows generally means Boot Camp (or virtualization), and last I checked different Boot Camp versions restricted the particular ranges of Windows versions that can be used.


I’ve been resuscitating old Macs with FreeBSD, which shares many command line tools and features with macOS, albeit with a very different GUI and very different GUI apps.


For repurposing for storage services, TrueNAS might work.

How can I install a different OS on my 2007 MacBook

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