I got a MacBook Pro Mid 2009 thats technically “unsupported” By Apple, its specs are 8GB DDR3 RAM With a 2.8Ghz Core2Duo which cant run anything over El Capitan. Its funny cos I have a white MacBook late 2009 with LOWER specs, 4GB RAM and 2.26Ghz Core2Duo thats yet “Supported” By apple and can run the latest macOS 10.12.1 ! Why do Apple “unsupport” more powerful systems just for the year they were introduced? I can run the latest Windows 10 with no problem at all on my MBP Mid 2009 with all the drivers provided from Apple themselves!! Infact I even installed Ubuntu 16 LTS with everything working PERFECTLY! Its like Apple is telling us to run “latest” OS’s on our “unsopported” macs that aren’t macOS or just go and buy a “New” one (which you cant plug your iPhone too without a dongle).
Thanks Garry.
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Nassar
I don't know the specifics of why that model won't run Sierra, but it most likely has to do with the graphics chips in the machine, no the processor or RAM. Apple has to draw the line somewhere when it comes to supporting old hardware. If they had added code into Sierra to support the graphics chips in your Mid 2009 MacBook Pro, then someone else would complain that their one-version-earlier MacBook Pro won't run Sierra.
There's no way I can think of to get it to work. So if you want to continue enjoying that old MacBook, just continue to use El Capitan. It is not like Apple is shutting down your Mac -- they still even have El Capitan and earlier versions of OS X on their servers and in the App Store (provided you already "own" it). So they are offering some level of support.
As a software developer I can understand how it is difficult to support older hardware, some of which have to drop support for features (graphics, AirDrop/wireless chips, etc).
I actually just checked out both models and they both have the same specs, graphics, wireless chips and bluetooth version!
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Wi-Fi: Built-in AirPort Extreme card (802.11a/b/g/n)
BlueTooth: Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
What else could it be? I really think apple just like to stick to "Mid" or "Late" year rather than actual specs. And this proves it. And they both support Airdrop too btw.
What scares me the most is how fast Mac Software support stops. Some browsers now are only supporting 10.10 Yosemite or over. FireFox is at 10.9 Mavericks or over. So I got a MBP with a 500GB SSD 8GB ram thats in perfect condition and within 3 years or so my safari would be outdated and I will probably use an old version of FF and thats for browsers only let alone the other Software. Scary.
I had an idea, what if I install macOS Sierra on harddrive or SSD THEN install it on my "unsopported" MBP will that work? I assume I wont get an error message as its ALREADY installed on the HD? so the mac will have to deal with it (which it will cos the specs are capable) right?
Probably won't work -- that's my guess anyway.