can't boot new i7 MBP

D

deesto

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Just got a new 15" MBP with dual i7 core CPU. It initially started up fine, but being a (fill-in-the-blank), I wanted to transfer my data from my unibody MB to the new unit. So I fired up SuperDuper!, copied the old partition to an external firewire disk, attached the disk to the new unit, and (this is where I went wrong) used a CloneZilla LiveCD to remove the existing partitions (EFI and data) and replace them with the external copies.

Now, I can boot various non-Mac CDs, such as the CloneZilla and GParted Live CDs, as well as Fedora live CD. But when I try to boot from my SL Install DVD, or from the hard drive, the same thing happens: nothing. I can select the partition or the disc with the 'option' key at boot, the screen goes gray, the white Apple logo appears, and nothing more. I've tried "Safe Mode" + Verbose and saw it loading an image and a bunch of progress dots, but then the dots stop moving and nothing else appears on screen.

I'd just like to get back to being able to booting or even installing fresh from the DVD again, but I can't figure out how to get to either point.
 
Your problem is obvious. You removed your operating system and replaced it with an older version. Everyone knows that your cannot boot a Mac using an OS that is older than your system. You now must use your System Restore disc to return your system to its as-shipped state. Please don't pull that trick again.
 
Hi MrMe,
MisterMe said:
Your problem is obvious.
Click to expand...
Then, thank you for restating the obvious.
You removed your operating system and replaced it with an older version. Everyone knows that your cannot boot a Mac using an OS that is older than your system.
Click to expand...
It should be fairly clear at this point that this is not quite true -- at least the part about _everyone_ knowing it. And it seems to make little sense to assume such, as one can boot this device using other operating systems' media with little trouble.
You now must use your System Restore disc to return your system to its as-shipped state.
Click to expand...
I've already established that and am using the shipped OS X Install disc to reinstall as I type now.
Please don't pull that trick again.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say I was trying to "pull a trick" (on whom would I be pulling it? myself?). But thanks anyway for the advice.
 
When I bought my new MBP, the first time I started it, it offered a way to transfer my data from the old MBP. Ok, the "new" MBP is year old, but I guess Apple still has the feature.
 
artov said:
When I bought my new MBP, the first time I started it, it offered a way to transfer my data from the old MBP. Ok, the "new" MBP is year old, but I guess Apple still has the feature.
Click to expand...
It's called Migration Assistant. Yes, it ships with every new Mac.
 
MisterMe said:
It's called Migration Assistant. Yes, it ships with every new Mac.
Click to expand...
Yes, and in order to use Migration Assistant, you must either use Time Machine (or somehow back up your disk to an external drive), or you must be able to establish a synchronous connection between the old machine and the new machine.
 
What happens if you boot from a Fedora CD, Clonezilla CD, or other, then completely delete all partitions from the internal drive -- then try booting from the Mac OS X Restore CD/DVD?

It sounds like the Mac OS X Restore DVD is detecting some other kind of partition scheme (ext3/4, etc.), or perhaps some kind of bootloader (BootX, Yaboot, etc.) that it just doesn't like very much. If you can restore the hard drive to an unpartitioned and unformatted state, you may have better luck booting from the Restore CD/DVD.

And, as stated earlier, your MacBook Pro doesn't like booting from a version of Mac OS X that is earlier than what originally shipped with the computer (even if it shipped with 10.6.2, it may not like booting from a RETAIL copy of 10.6.2 because the version that came with the computer may have extra kernel extensions or modifications not included in the retail version of 10.6.2). Ensure that you're using the Restore CD/DVD that came with the MacBook Pro, and not a Restore CD/DVD that came with another Mac (even of similar make and model).
 
Hi ElDiabloConCaca,

Yes, I had tried deleting all partitions using GParted, but it didn't help. The only thing I could do was boot with the install DVD that came with the machine, and then I was able to create a new boot record and partition, and install again from scratch.

It's still interesting to me that the machine would boot only with that version of the install disc and not one from an earlier Snow Leopard version (including a Box Set version). Is the version somehow encoded into the hardware? This seems as if it could really cause problems for users down the road (but could be beneficial for Apple).
 
Your new Mac is simply newer than the box set. Even the same version of OS X for a brand new Mac will be a different software build, to provide hardware drivers that aren't needed on older Macs.
This is normal with new hardware. That's also why you get a restore set with the new Mac, providing you with the means to do a full erase and reinstall if you need to. It all comes in the box.
Is it somehow coded to the hardware?
Yes. The set of DVDs that came in the box will only install on that model of Mac, but not on another model Mac. A Box set released after your iMac was released, should be updated to provide booting and installation on your iMac.
Newer OSX version, should be OK.
Older version prior to your system's release - Probably won't boot or install.
 
Interesting information. Thanks very much. Is there any information available regarding the details of this hardware version encoding?
 
The restore set would know which model is used to boot, probably by retrieving the model identifier from the logic board. If that model is not a part of the database on the disk, then it won't install.
The important item to remember with this, is that a restore set that shipped with a Mac will not install on another model Mac. If you lose that set, or part of the set, you can usually get a replacement set from Apple that will boot your Mac.
A commercial OS X install set will also work, but it needs to be newer than your Mac.
 
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