Total mess with my macbook

M

mac.elliott

Registered
Hi. to start thankks for all your help.

I have tried to re-install leopard into my macbook but it is just all a mess. i inserted leopard cd (original copy) into macbook to do a clean install to my new(to me) used macbook. the computer message after choosing language says "cannot install mac osx on this computer".

1. used disk utility to reapair disk...did no work
2. erased hd..still did not work.
3. made partition to install from external hd...now just made a total mess with computer.
4.i try to start computer from dvd drive with original leopard cd...still does not work. says cannot install mac osx to this computer...

i have macbook intel core duo 1 gig ram and enough memory.

please help i dont know what to do!!!!!

love my mac. buy i messed it up....
 
Is your Mac OS X Install/Restore CD/DVD the original CD/DVD that shipped with the computer? Since you're a second-hand user, you may need to contact the original owner of the computer to verify this.

Barring that, is the CD/DVD a retail version of Mac OS X (black in color)?
 
i dont have original cds. very very hard to contact owner. i tried he moved to a different country.

yes its the retail version of Mac OS X yes black. i had used this with my mac mini and worked fine. i sold the mac mini tu buy laptop.

sooo. sad. please help.
 
Which MacMini? According to my "Mac Tracker" the Late 2005 had a PowerPC . . . and your disk may not recognize that. Granted, "black" may be universal.

This may or may not help you:

I have had the SAME problem upgrading my MacBook to Leopard. Issue was its data came from my Widdle Ancient Pismo--a PowerPC.

I was able to load a proper 10.4 for Intel . . . then update to 10.4.11 . . . cool . . . and this was done for me by my dealer. Had a nice working MacBook with 10.4.11.

Reading this forum and looking ahead, I decided to "try" Leopard. I have a big external hard drive [Ex-HD--Ed.] so I "mirrored" everything so if I did not "like" OS 10.5 I could simply "go back."

Computer came with a universal 10.5.

Plopped it in.

Same message you got.

:(

So, after talking to the Mac Dealer, I did this--I wiped the internal MacBook HD [Int-HD--Ed.]. I then loaded 10.5 with no problem.

When it started up, it asked me if I wished to transfer my account from another Mac.

I connected my Ex-HD. Now this is important: a lot of people will tell you about "Firewire Target Disk Mode" and stuff. That works, but I have an Ex-HD connected by USB. So I connected to the USB.

Clicked "Yes."

Poured some coffee.

Plopped in my Best of Red Sox [CENSORED--Ed.]ing Yankees DVD.

Voila!

There was all of "me"--my original data and account, on a MacBook with 10.5--now happily downloading all of the updates while Dave Roberts poised on first base.

I do not know why this is: if I "boot" with the Ex-HD connected it WILL be recognized as a "bootable" disk WHEN I hit the "option" key. However, in 10.5, when I clicketh "Start-Up Disk" it will NOT show the Ex-HD system. This is despite the fact that the MacBook in 10.5.5 happily recognizes the Ex-HD.

When I boot on the Ex-HD into my old 10.4.11 connected to my MacBook, it WILL show my 10.5.5 system as a choice as a Start-Up Disk. I have no idea why that is--a guru may tell you. I think it is due to the fact that "me" was on a PowerPC originally--older Pismo. I do not know.

So . . . then . . . if you have two computers or an Ex-HD, I would recommend backing up your target HD--you can use SuperDuper! as a neat program since you do not have Time Machine on 10.4. While a "shareware," the free demo will allow you to do a back-up . . . you just cannot schedule them as you would if you buy the license.

Then wipe and install 10.5 on your MacBook HD with your Ex-HD--whatever it is--connected.

Then transfer your information. Even though it may not want to load/update your previous system, it will recognize the data.

Pour your coffee/beer.

Plop in your favorite porn.

Should take about an hour or so depending on what you load in 10.5--all of the languages, printer drivers, et cetera. The actual transfer of account did not take very long at all.

--J.D.
 
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tried erasing hd. did not back it up anywhere..bad for me. i ended up with a mirror of dvd install on my white macbook. and tried booting from that and ended up with the same message. so i dont know what to do now. the original leopard retail version is not being able to install on the macbook. i dont want to buy another retail copy.

could it be that i already used it on the mac mini i sold??
 
The problem may be that your Mac Mini was a PowerPC rather than an Intel. I suspect you do not have an actual "Retail/Universal" disk. See . . . on my Widdle Mac I had purchased used/abused a universal 10.3 from a Mac Store. I later got the BLACK UPDATE disk for 10.4.

It is black.

But it is an Update.

What does that mean? It means that nearly a year ago when I decided to f[CENSORED--Ed.] my System for stupid reasons--there is a thread on it HERE :)--I tried to "clean install" with the disk.

It gave me the "No Chance Fat Pig!" error message.

I had to clean install with the 10.3 . . . THEN the 10.4.

So . . . unless a guru has a better idea . . . you either have:

  • 1. Disk that only recognizes a PowerPC--if your MacMini was old
    2. Update Disk

The good news is there are a lot of used OS disks that accumulate with reputable dealers--someone sells a computer . . . has a universal disk . . . the computer is used for parts . . . that sort of thing. I know of at least two people.

You may also be able to "beg and plead" with Apple [Cue Contemptuous Laughter--Ed.] if you have a legitimately purchased retail disk from an earlier System . . . which is what I believe you have. They may make you a deal.

--J.D.
 
thanks for the explanation.

yes my mac mini was the first one that came out(old)

not sure if its an update.how can u tell..... if it is then.....

i need a universal leopard os dvd. tell me were i can get a used one. if not i need to buy a new copy.

bare with me i am trying hard!!LOL

thanks alot
 
Then--according to MacTracker--you had a PowerPC which may be the problem why it will not load on your MacBook.

Where to get a used one--use Google-Fu to check places local to you--that way if you have any problems . . . you can go back and yell at them.

You can also try contacting Apple to see if they will do a deal for you for, like, 10.5. You can always ask.

Otherwise, you can try a retail MacStore--that does sell discounted OS--you may be able to get 10.4 cheap and a basic update to 10.5. Again, that is so that if you have a problem, you can send it back.

--J.D.
 
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