Cannot reinstall osx on Mac Mini!?!?

[viciousone8688]

I bought a refurb Mac Mini from apple in january. I'm trying to put a clean install on it because I would like to sell it. Whenever I try the install give me the error "This software cannot be installed on the computer." I am using the OSX install CD's that came with my Mac Mini

[grapes911]

Did it come with two install disks? Maybe one Panther and one Tiger? If so, the Tiger version may be an upgrade. You'll have to install Panther first, then install Tiger over it.

[viciousone8688]

It came with two cds titled: OSX install disc 1 and OSX install disc 2. I using disc 1.

[aquajet]

Are you able to boot off of the install CD? If so, make sure you select the "Erase and Install" option.

IIRC, you'll see an "options" button on the disk selection screen. Click that and choose to erase your disk before installation.

[grapes911]

I'm guessing you are trying an erase and install? If not, try it.

[viciousone8688]

Yes

[aquajet]

so you are able to boot off of the CD?? at what point does it give you the error?

[viciousone8688]

It appears right after the language selection. Before the very first step of the installation

[aquajet]

It appears right after the language selection. Before the very first step of the installation

You might want to contact AppleCare. I had the same issue with the refurbished iMac I purchased for my mother. Turned out the incorrect restore disks were included with the iMac. "iMac" was still printed on the disks, but apparently they were for a different revision.

[dr_lha]

Did it come with two install disks? Maybe one Panther and one Tiger? If so, the Tiger version may be an upgrade. You'll have to install Panther first, then install Tiger over it.
Actually this is not true. A Tiger upgrade CD can be used to reinstall on a machine that has Tiger already on it. I know this because I did it a few weeks ago.

Only if you wiped the HD would you have to install Panther first.

[grapes911]

Actually this is not true. A Tiger upgrade CD can be used to reinstall on a machine that has Tiger already on it. I know this because I did it a few weeks ago.

My refurbished iBook (which I no longer own) came with Jaguar and a Panther Upgrade. If you had 10.3.0 installed, you could reinstall Panther. Once I upgraded Panther to anything newer than 10.3.0, I could no longer install Panther. I was very stupid. I had to reinstall 10.2 and then 10.3 on top of it.

[frankblundt]

you can't install an earlier OS on the machine than what it came with originally. It may be they have mistakenly given you too early a version of the Install disks.

My Mini came with 10.3.7 - if i had install disks for 10.3.4 (for example), i couldn't install from them, or if they were iMac install disks.

What does it say on the disk in the fine print for OS Version? Does it say Mac Mini on them?

[viciousone8688]

It says they're osx 10.4.2

[viciousone8688]

It tried erasing the HD and then running the install but that did no good. Plus now I cant boot into OSX and the CD is stuck in the drive. Stupid on my part, I know

[frankblundt]

I'd check with Apple - either they're too early a version of the OS for that machine, or they're for a different machine, or they're upgrade discs.
Either way, they're the ones to sort it out.

Might be something else, but i can't think of anything offhand.

If you have an Apple keyboard you can hold down the eject button right after pushing the power on and it should eject the cd. Or F12.

[Sedulous]

It tried erasing the HD and then running the install but that did no good. Plus now I cant boot into OSX and the CD is stuck in the drive. Stupid on my part, I know

Or hold down the mouse while restarting.

[aquajet]

Or hold down the mouse while restarting.

Or "eject cd" in open firmware

[viciousone8688]

How do you get to the open firmware. Cmd-Opt-F-O?

[aquajet]

How do you get to the open firmware. Cmd-Opt-F-O?

yes, press and hold that combination after a restart.