I have a 2009 MacBook Pro that was running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. I had already upgraded it to 8GB and a 256GB SSD, but the software problems (SSL, web browsers)

I have a 2009 MacBook Pro that was running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. I had already upgraded it to 8GB and a 256GB SSD, but the software problems (SSL, web browsers) were becoming intolerable. I had tried to upgrade it in the past without success. Then I read where you can install El Capitan on these systems and it will do a microcode upgrade. There's a free download on Apple's site (sorry, don't have the URL handy). I downloaded it, ran it, but it still wouldn't install right. But the u-code upgrade did allow me to install Mavericks on it whereas before that wouldn't work. So it's a reasonable system for someone to use again and I have it listed on eBay. Probably won't get much for it, and it's a lot of trouble to take pictures, fiddle with eBay listings, etc., but at least it will get used and not just thrown in the trash. I hate throwing away a system that's usable. I'd give it to someone I knew who could use it but everyone I asked already has a computer.