While the system will only bypass loading third-party 32-bit kernel extensions when in 64-bit mode, if the kernel extension is a core requirement for OS X, then the inability to load it will lead to severely degraded performance, or a nonfunctional OS. If the system requires kernel extensions (drivers) that are only available in 32-bit code, then it will only be able to load them when booted to the 32-bit kernel and therefore will not boot in 64-bit. Current versions of OS X include both a 64-bit and 32-bit kernel, allowing the system to launch and load either, depending on its requirements and which kernel is currently being used. The second issue is a dependency on 32-bit kernel extensions. In this section check the status of the 64-bit Kernel and Extensions listing, and if it says "No," then despite attempting to force the system into 64-bit mode, the system is not capable of doing so.
#2008 macbook 32 or 64 bit software#
Once logged in, open the System Profiler (or System Information) tool and select the Software section. To test this on any system, reboot with the 6 and 4 keys held down, which will force the system (if possible) to boot into 64-bit mode. If not, then it is not capable of running in this mode (click for larger view). After attempting to force the system to 64-bit mode, check this location in the System Information tool to see if the system did, in fact, boot to 64-bit mode.
#2008 macbook 32 or 64 bit mac#
As a result of this limitation, if a Mac system is only able to boot a 32-bit kernel, then it will not be able to load the 64-bit kernel in Mountain Lion. In some of Apple's earlier Intel-based Macs such as the first Mac Pro, even though they included 64-bit chips that can process 64-bit code, the systems' EFI firmware is 32-bit and therefore will only interface with a 32-bit kernel.
The first issue has to do with hardware requirements for booting to 64-bit mode. The problems with the older systems that are not included in this list are twofold, and revolve around the fact that OS X 10.8 will be a 64-bit-only operating system that will not boot in 32-bit mode. In the About this Mac summary window that appears, you should see your Mac's model name along with the time frame of its release, which you can compare with the above list. You can see if your Mac qualifies by choosing About this Mac from the Apple menu, and then clicking the More Info button to launch the System Information utility. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) This system will not be able to run Mountain Lion (click for a larger view). On the Mountain Lion Web site, Apple specifies that the systems that will be able to run Mountain Lion are the following: In the System Information tool you can check the exact model of your system, and also see the graphics processor it is using. While this limitation was at first suggested as a possible temporary limitation during the initial phases of testing, Apple has maintained it through the development process and recently made it official on its Mountain Lion system requirements listings. Through the testing of the four preview releases of Mountain Lion, developers have noted that even though the operating system is 64-bit, Apple has excluded some early 64-bit-capable Mac systems from being included. Apple recently issued the golden master release of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to developers and testers, indicating that if no outstanding bugs are found in the current build then it will very likely be the final release of the operating system that will soon be issued to the public.