Can I load 10.5.8 on this computer?

You'll need to ask the seller for it. If you review the URL link I posted above for A1278 systems, the first one intro'ed was in June '09. So the seller is not telling you the correct model line or gave you the wrong year. Once you get the last four digits put the number in to this lookup: Serial number to system lookup You may need to use the last three digits for the older systems. Open the model and look at the bottom of the page where is tells you the Pre-Installed MacOS it will tell you the newest OS-X the system can support.

Jan 24, 2015 by Dan

Thanks I will do that

Jan 24, 2015 by jeff medina

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Can you give us the last four digits of your serial number as there are just too many versions of this model: All of the A1278 models — Dan
I don't have that info.Unibody late 2008. I'm about to buy it if I can use 10.5.8

Thanks. — jeff medina
You'll need to ask the seller for it. If you review the URL link I posted above for A1278 systems, the first one intro'ed was in June '09. So the seller is not telling you the correct model line or gave you the wrong year. Once you get the last four digits put the number in to this lookup: Serial number to system lookup You may need to use the last three digits for the older systems. Open the model and look at the bottom of the page where is tells you the Pre-Installed MacOS it will tell you the newest OS-X the system can support. — Dan

Alfy @alfyer5dotgmail Rep: 2.3k 9 8 2 · Answer 1 · 2015-01-25T01:13:50-07:00

Alfy @alfyer5dotgmail

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Posted: Jan 25, 2015

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Yes you should be able to. This machine came with 10.5 so that should be ok. Assuming it's the model you posted 2.0/2.4 ghz macbook (right before they renamed it MacBook Pro)

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adlerpe @adlerpe Rep: 4.8k 14 18 6 · Answer 2 · 2015-01-25T02:47:02-07:00

As YoloRepair says, you should be able to install 10.5.8 on a [invalid guide link]; the model originally came with 10.5.5 or 10.5.6 preinstalled, so you'll have to install at least that high a revision of 10.5. As I recall, there were 10.5.6/Leopard retail install disks commercially available; you'll need to be sure to start with that, not the 10.5.0 or 10.5.4 retail releases that were also available.

Unfortunately, Apple also used the A1278 model ID for the 2009-2012 (really 2015; they've kept making the 2012 generation for the last 2.5 years) [invalid guide link], an entirely different computer with a similar case. As far as I can tell, there are no parts that work with both the Macbook Aluminum and the 13" Macbook Pro. The dead giveaway that indicates a 2008 Macbook Aluminum is that the Macbook has no FireWire, Thunderbolt, or SD slots - only 2 USB 2.0 ports, a mini-DisplayPort and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The Macbook Pros will all have FireWire and SD slots; the 2011-2012 MBPs will have Thunderbolt as well.

There are five generations of A1278 13" Unibody Macbook Pros; only the first mid-2009 generation will boot from 10.5 (10.5.7 minimum). All later generations require variants of 10.6 and 10.7, depending on what operating system was current when the machines were released.