The bootable Mac OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD-ROM is important if your Mac ever refuses to boot like normal. If you don’t have a bootable DVD-ROM — preferably a Mac OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD-ROM — call Apple or your Apple dealer to arrange for a replacement.

To boot your Mac from a DVD-ROM installation disc, follow these steps:

Upgrade to macOS Catalina. When you upgrade to macOS Catalina, you get more of everything you love about Mac. Experience dedicated apps for music, TV, and podcasts. Smart new features in the apps you use every day. And Sidecar, which lets you use iPad as a second Mac display. Best of all, upgrading is free and easy.

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD into the DVD drive.

   If your Mac uses a tray to hold the DVD, make sure that it retracts and that the disc is in.

   If you have a tray-loading DVD-ROM drive and it’s closed, you can get it to open by restarting (or starting up) your Mac while pressing the mouse button. Continue pressing until the drive tray pops out; then release.

2. Shut down or restart your Mac.

   If you shut it down, wait a few seconds and then start it up the usual way.

3. Press and hold down the C key immediately, and keep it pressed until your Mac either boots from the DVD or doesn’t.

   If it does boot from the DVD-ROM, you see a Welcome screen.

   If it doesn’t boot, you see a prohibitory sign, spinning-wheel-of-death, or kernel panic alert. . . anything but the first screen of the Mac OS X Installer, the login window, or the Finder. Any of those is your cue to try Step 4.

4. If your Mac doesn’t boot after Step 3, hold down the Option key while booting to display the built-in Startup Manager.

   Use the built-in Startup Manager when you boot from a DVD.

   It displays icons for any bootable discs that it sees and allows you to select one (including the installation DVD).

5. Click the DVD-ROM icon to select it, and then press Return or Enter to boot from it.

   This technique is quite useful if your usual boot disk is damaged or having an identity crisis during startup.

If you can’t boot from DVD then either you just installed something new that’s aggravating your Mac, or your Mac needs to go in for repairs (usually to an Apple dealer).

To get your Mac up and running again, you can try any of the following:

• Call the tech-support hotline: Before you drag it down to the shop, try calling 1-800-SOS-APPL, the Apple Tech Support hotline. The service representatives there may be able to suggest something else that you can try. If your Mac is still under warranty, it’s even free.

• Ask a local user group for help: Another thing you might consider is contacting your local Macintosh user group. You can find a group of Mac users near you by visiting Apple’s User Group Web pages.

• Try Dr. Mac Consulting: You can check out consulting services or call 408-627-7577. A team of expert troubleshooters does nothing but provide technical help and training to Mac users, via telephone, e-mail, and/or Internet-enabled remote-control software.

• Check whether you have RAM issues: If you have problems immediately after installing random-access memory (RAM) — or any new hardware, for that matter — double-check that the RAM chips are properly seated in their sockets. (Warning: Don’t forget to shut down your Mac first.) With the power off and your Mac unplugged, remove and reinsert the RAM chips to make sure they’re seated properly. If you still have problems, remove the RAM chips temporarily and see whether the problem still exists.

  Follow the installation instructions that came with the RAM chips — or the ones in the booklet that came with your Mac. But even if they don’t say to get rid of the static spark, you should (by using an antistatic strap available from most RAM sellers or by touching an appropriate surface, such as the power-supply case inside your Mac) before you handle RAM chips.

When you upgrade to macOS Catalina, you get more of everything you love about Mac. Experience dedicated apps for music, TV, and podcasts. Smart new features in the apps you use every day. And Sidecar, which lets you use iPad as a second Mac display. Best of all, upgrading is free and easy.

Chances are, your Mac can run macOS Catalina.

Mac computers with Metal-capable graphics processors (GPUs) can upgrade to macOS Catalina.

Make sure you’re ready to upgrade.

Before you upgrade, we recommend that you back up your Mac. Then, if your Mac is running OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later, you can upgrade directly to macOS Catalina.

Upgrading is free. And easier than you think.

Upgrading from macOS Mojave?

Go to Software Update in System Preferences to find the macOS Catalina upgrade. Click Upgrade Now and follow the onscreen instructions to begin your upgrade. If you don’t have broadband access, you can upgrade your Mac at any Apple Store.

Upgrading from an older version of macOS?

If you’re running High Sierra (10.13), Sierra (10.12), or El Capitan (10.11), upgrade to macOS Catalina from the App Store. If you’re running Lion (10.7) or Mountain Lion (10.8), you will need to upgrade to El Capitan (10.11) first. If you don’t have broadband access, you can upgrade your Mac at any Apple Store.

• OS X 10.9 or later
• 4GB of memory
• 12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

• Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
• Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Catalina:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)

• iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

Siri

Requires a broadband internet connection and microphone (built-in or external).

Hey Siri

Supported by the following Mac models:

• MacBook Pro (2018 or newer)
• MacBook Air (2018 or newer)
• iMac Pro

Dictation, Voice Control, and Voice Memos

Requires a microphone (built-in or external).

Spotlight Suggestions

Requires a broadband internet connection.

Gestures

Requires a Multi-Touch trackpad, Force Touch trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse.

Force Touch gestures require a Force Touch trackpad.

VoiceOver gestures require a Multi-Touch trackpad, Force Touch trackpad, or Magic Trackpad.

Photo Booth

Requires a FaceTime or iSight camera (built-in or external), or USB video class (UVC) camera.

FaceTime

Audio calls require a microphone (built-in or external) and broadband internet connection.

Video calls require a built-in FaceTime camera, an iSight camera (built-in or external), or a USB video class (UVC) camera; and broadband internet connection.

Apple TV

High Dynamic Range (HDR) video playback is supported by the following Mac models:

• MacBook Pro (2018 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac Pro (2019) with Pro Display XDR

Dolby Atmos soundtrack playback is supported by the following Mac models:

• MacBook Air (2018 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (2018 or newer)

Sidecar

Supported by the following Mac models:

• MacBook (2016 or newer)
• MacBook Air (2018 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (2016 or newer)
• Mac mini (2018 or newer)
• iMac (late 2015 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
• Mac Pro (2019)

Supported by all iPad models with Apple Pencil support:

• 12.9-inch iPad Pro
• 11-inch iPad Pro
• 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro
• iPad (6th generation or later)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)

Continuity Camera

Unibox for mac audio tool. Requires an iPhone or iPad with a Lightning connector and iOS 12 or later.

Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup

Requires an iPhone with iOS 13 or an iPad with iPadOS.

Handoff

Requires an iPhone or iPad with a Lightning connector and iOS 8 or later.

Instant Hotspot

Requires an iPhone or iPad with cellular connectivity, a Lightning connector, and iOS 8.1 or later. Requires Personal Hotspot service through your carrier.

Universal Clipboard

Requires an iPhone or iPad with a Lightning connector and iOS 10 or later.

Auto Unlock

Supported by Mac models introduced in mid 2013 or later.

Requires an Apple Watch with watchOS 3 or later or an iPhone 5 or later.

Approve with Apple Watch

Supported by Mac models introduced in mid 2013 or later.

Requires an Apple Watch with watchOS 6 or later or an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 13.

Apple Pay on the Web

Requires MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 10 or later, or an Apple Watch with watchOS 3 or later.

Phone Calling

Requires an iPhone with iOS 8 or later and an activated carrier plan.

SMS

Requires an iPhone with iOS 8.1 or later and an activated carrier plan.

Home

Requires an iPhone with iOS 12 or later and a configured Home app.

AirDrop

AirDrop to iOS and iPadOS devices requires an iPhone or iPad with a Lightning connector and iOS 7 or later.

AirPlay

AirPlay Mirroring requires an Apple TV (2nd generation or later).

AirPlay for web video requires an Apple TV (2nd generation or later).

Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires a Mac (2012 or later) and an Apple TV (3rd generation rev A, model A1469 or later) with Apple TV software 7.0 or later.

Time Machine

Requires an external storage device (sold separately).

Power Nap

Supported by the following Mac models:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro with Retina display (Mid 2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

Boot Camp

Allows Boot Camp installations of Windows 10 on supported Mac models.

Exchange Support

Requires Microsoft Office 365, Exchange 2016, Exchange 2013, or Exchange Server 2010. Installing the latest Service Packs is recommended.

Windows Migration

Supports OS X 10.7 or later and Windows 7 or later.

App Store

Available only to persons age 13 or older in the U.S. and many other countries and regions.

• Apple Books
• Apple News
• App Store
• Automator
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Chess
• Contacts
• Dashboard
• Dictionary
• DVD Player
• FaceTime
• Find My
• Font Book
• Home
• Image Capture
• Launchpad
• Mail
• Maps

• Messages
• Mission Control
• Music
• Notes
• Photo Booth
• Photos
• Podcasts
• Preview
• QuickTime Player
• Reminders
• Safari
• Siri
• Stickies
• Stocks
• System Preferences
• TextEdit
• Time Machine
• TV
• Voice Memos

• Activity Monitor
• AirPort Utility
• Audio MIDI Setup
• Bluetooth File Exchange
• Boot Camp Assistant
• ColorSync Utility
• Console
• Digital Color Meter
• Disk Utility

• Grapher
• Keychain Access
• Migration Assistant
• Screenshot
• Screen Time
• Script Editor
• Sidecar
• System Information
• Terminal
• VoiceOver Utility

• Arabic
• Catalan
• Croatian
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)
• Czech
• Danish
• Dutch
• English (Australia)
• English (UK)
• English (U.S.)
• Finnish
• French
• French (Canada)
• German
• Greek
• Hebrew
• Hindi
• Hungarian

• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Malay
• Norwegian
• Polish
• Brazilian Portuguese
• Portuguese
• Romanian
• Russian
• Slovak
• Spanish
• Spanish (Latin America)
• Swedish
• Thai
• Turkish
• Ukrainian
• Vietnamese