replaced harddisk, OSX wont install!

[minimax]

I just bought a new 111 GB HD for my mini, but when I want to install OS X the installer says I can't install on the harddrive! It shows the HD icon with a '!' inside a red octagon in the lower right corner of the icon.
Am I forgetting something? I tried to format in both Mac OS (Journaled) and Mac OS (HFS+) but that didnt help.

Advise is badly needed!

thanks in advance,
kris

[mad jew]

What happened when you tried to format it with Disk Utility? Did you get any errors? How does it claim to be formatted at the moment? :)

[Passante]

Its best to format with journaling on.

Are you using the discs that shipped with the mini? do you have any third party ram, if so pull it. I would also go back into the mini and check for loose connectors.

Can you boot off of the installer disk, quit the installer and see the drive?

[minimax]

@Mad Jew

when I used disk utility everything was fine, it's just when I return from the disk utility to the OSX installer that I get the '!' icon that says I can't install on that volume.

@Passante I'm using the official Mac Mini install disc yes

I doubt it's the RAM, this has nothing to do with it and the RAM worked fine before.

Should a clean new HD just work when I put it in the mac or should I do something with it beforehand?

I hope there is nothing wrong with the HD :( :( :( :(

btw can I call Apple about this??

[mad jew]

Sorry, but just to clarify, you formatted it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (named it and erased it) and it gave you this exclamation mark?

It could potentially be a RAM problem, but I really doubt it.

Do you think there may be a loose connection inside the mini?

[minimax]

Sorry, but just to clarify, you formatted it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (named it and erased it) and it gave you this exclamation mark?

It could potentially be a RAM problem, but I really doubt it.


Yes (although I'm not sure what you mean with erase)
i formatted it both as Journaled and then again as HFS+.
Everything seems to be fine in the Disk Utility, it is just when I exit the Disk Utility and return to the OSX installer, where you have to click the volume that you want to install on that it says I can't install on the volume(s)...

I really made sure the HD was connected in a good fashion (you need to if you want to screw it on the frame of the mini). I have enough experience inside the mini to be fairly certain I did not forget something. If I can partition the HD, acces both the HD and use the combodrive, it really seems unlikely to be a hardware issue.

[mad jew]

Can't remember, but maybe you have to shut it off and start again? I don't think you do, but it might be worth a try.

What I mean by erase, is format. For me, Disk Utility says Erase when I want to format something so that I have to select the format type from a drop down menu and then click Erase. :)

[minimax]

I guess i could try again. This just freaks the hell out of me :(

Can I call Apple about this?

[Arcus]

Is it possible that the Mac Mini install disks expect a certain hardware configuration? I know a few PeeCee manufacturers that do this so that thier resore disks cant be used to put Windows on an unauthorized computer.

Do you have a regular OSX install disk set around to use instead of the restore set?

[minimax]

:o shutting it off and restarting did the trick :rolleyes:

*whipes egg from face*

[Passante]

:o shutting it off and restarting did the trick :rolleyes:

*whipes egg from face*

Congratulations on becoming a certified Mac IT specialist!

[dejo]

Congratulations on becoming a certified Mac IT specialist!

Hmm, I thought rebooting made you a certified Windows IT specialist. ;)

[Maxiseller]

Hmm, I thought rebooting made you a certified Windows IT specialist. ;)

Lol, Love this place!

Where else can we bitch about the monster that IS the windows platform so vigourously!

[andy89]

Work

[Maxiseller]

'ent that the truth