OS X can not be installed on this computer

If you getting that prompt right at the welcome screen.
You are using the wrong discs.

If you getting that prompt on the Select your designation screen.
It should tell you why in the yellow triangle error.
And for that, the common ones are...

If you using the 10.5 upgrade disc.
If your computer was purchase around late 2007,you have the 10.4 install discs with a 10.5 upgrade disc.
The 10.5 upgrade disc can only update the os to 10.5 or re-install.Can't do a clean erase and install.

You have a intel computer and you mention you formated the internal HD multiple times...Zero out the drives wont do anything for you.
Maybe you change the partition map scheme
Its suppose to be GUID not apple partition map.I would check that inside disk utility

Elantra said:

Hi guys,
If I try to install Mac OS X on my macbook it the installation says: "Mac OS X can not be installed on this computer"
I have the original disk for this macbook.
Before someone hit a command in the terminal like: sudo chmod /0700 or something to fix something which in the end did not work.
After this I:
-Formatted the disk several times. Also overwriting everything with zeros and overwriting 7 times, which I actually skipped after 5 times
- Erased the parameter RAM holding Command, Option (Alt), P and R while starting up.
I would be grateful for any hint how I can install.
Thank you!

Click to expand...

This error tends to happen when you are installing a specific MacOSX disk that was distributed with a machine onto a machine that is a different class or version. i.e. if you try and install the MacOSX disk that came with, for instance an iMac onto a MacBook Pro, then this error would occur. Try installing from a generic (i.e. retail) disk. Also, Leopard will NOT install onto recent machines, so you will need Snow Leopard. Hope this helps

Elantra said:

I looked other forums and found only on solution:
http://forums.techguy.org/apple-macos/913322-solved-macbook-pro-no-os-2.html
is that really it: you need to buy an OS X and your original DVD does not work to reinstall the system? is apple that facist!?!?!

Click to expand...

You're complaining that they won't let you use the operating system that shipped with one computer on another computer? You're complaining about not being able to steal their software?

Wow.

Farewell.

jW

Elantra said:

Click to expand...

Have you performed the simple checks that were posted by dashcs?

If so, what were the results?

On the disc you're attempting to use, there will be a 691-???? number. What is that number? Is there anything else written on the disc?

Also, what model MacBook are you using. To find out specifically, plug your serial number into the search box here:

http://support.apple.com/specs/

Elantra said:

...the serial number I will check tomorrow. I think it is this one
# MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009) - Technical Specifications
January 21, 2009 http://support.apple.com/kb/SP504

My Harddrive had two headcrashes yet. By the way: this happend both times when it was put on the table. So I have the third Hard-Disk now and they put me bigger ones every time. Now it is 250 GB and the Macbook was born with 120 GB. Might that be the reason for rejecting the installation?...

Click to expand...

No.. The size of the drive should not make a difference.

The key issue will be the discs being used to install.

If it is a MacBook 13" Early 2009 then the original disks should be:
2Z691-6317-A DVD MacBook MacOS X Install
2Z691-6359-A DVD MacBook Applications Install

Elantra said:

-It is an intel computer. I will look for GUID but I think the options were several Apple journaled, Aplle journaled with Gross-Klein-Schreibung (big and small letters) or FAT (which is for PCs i think). I will check and post the results tomorrow. As I said I am at work and the Macbook at home. Thank you!

Click to expand...

That all refers to the format of the Volume. The volume is what you see on the desktop.

The drive has other sections that are laid out in a certain way (you don't see these parts). To change the way these "invisible" parts are created, use this Apple Support document which explains how to change from "Apple Partition Map" to "GUID Partition Table"(as originally noted by dashcs.

However, I'm starting to think that the DVD Disc you are using is not the correct version.

Your best bet would be to buy a retail copy of Snow Leopard. That works on any Mac without checking for the individual config of the model...

The disks might be the Leopard upgrade disks, I ordered them just after I bought my Macbook (same time as you it seems) and I had to install Tiger first in order to upgrade.

Snow Leopard retail disks let you just install

Elantra said:

the serial-nr. is w8742015z5w
so it is MacBook (Mid 2007) with 2.16 GHz
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP18
the disc is 2Z691-6504A
I could not find the disc-numbers fitting the computer....

Click to expand...

Hmmm... According to Apple, that model never shipped with a 10.5.x

Do you still have the accessories box? I've been concerned for quite some time that Apple puts the 2 DVDs underneath square manuals and were/are often missed by customers.

On the disc you have (2Z691-6504-A 10.5.2), what else is written on it? Any chance of a Pic? Does it say "MacOS Leopard Upgrade" or "MacOS Leopard CPU Drop-In" ?

I don't seem to be able to locate any info on this particular disc.

Edit:
Leopard Upgrade DVD is 2Z691-6039-A
Leopard Upgrade CPU Drop-In is 2Z691-6040-A

Elantra said:

Obviously they gave me the wrong discs in the store - the app.disc was also missing from the beginning.
Thank you all for everything. I will buy me a Snow-Leopard and only post something it this does not work neither.

Click to expand...

Interesting. Before you make the purchase, I'd be interested to hear from somebody who has done this before. On THIS MODEL MacBook

This is a MacBook that NEVER shipped with 10.5 (and Apple knows this).

So, if the Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD you're about to buy requires Leopard, odds on it WON'T allow you to install unless it sees a copy of Leopard.

Also, even if it DID work, since you don't have your original discs, you won't have the "Bundled" iLife software. In this case, you'd need to purchase the "Mac Box Set" of Snow Leopard, which of course, costs more.

Can you post a pic of that disc you have. I'm intrigued as to what it really is.
EDIT: just saw it in the quoted section of your last post. sorry.

EDIT2: Ok, the disk you have (2Z691-6197-A) is for a MacBook (13-inch Early 2008)
Sadly, you have a MacBook (Mid 2007)

Leopard Upgrade DVD 2Z691-6780-A

Click to expand...

This sounds like a SNOW Leopard DVD going by the number but I could be wrong.

And what happened to the "2Z691-6504-A 10.5.2" you quoted earlier. I'm getting a bit confused here.

EDIT 3: Finally the discs you need are:
2Z691-5993-A For MacBook, Install 1 of 2, MacOS v10.4.9, AHT v3A128
2Z691-5975-A MacOS Install 2 of 2

Or

2Z691-6089-A For MacOS Computers, MacOS Install 1 of 2, MacOS v10.4.10, AHT v3A133
2Z691-6113-A MacOS Install 2 of 2

EDIT 4: Not an endorsement: The second set (10.4.10) appears to be available here

MacTech68 said:

Interesting. Before you make the purchase, I'd be interested to hear from somebody who has done this before. On THIS MODEL MacBook

This is a MacBook that NEVER shipped with 10.5 (and Apple knows this).

So, if the Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD you're about to buy requires Leopard, odds on it WON'T allow you to install unless it sees a copy of Leopard.

Click to expand...

You can't buy such a disk in stores. The disks you purchase in the store do not check for any OS, only the compatibility of the machine itself. In fact, you could never buy one of those disk in the store, only get it as a drop-in or by mail with the Up-To-Date program.

jW

Mal said:

You can't buy such a disk in stores. The disks you purchase in the store do not check for any OS, only the compatibility of the machine itself. In fact, you could never buy one of those disk in the store, only get it as a drop-in or by mail with the Up-To-Date program.

jW

Click to expand...

even then, it is the same disc, just in different packaging.

Mal said:

You can't buy such a disk in stores. The disks you purchase in the store do not check for any OS, only the compatibility of the machine itself. In fact, you could never buy one of those disk in the store, only get it as a drop-in or by mail with the Up-To-Date program.

Click to expand...

I hardly think that Apple will still be selling Snow Leopard Upgrade Retail DVDs that allow a machine that NEVER shipped with 10.5.x to use a cheap Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD. I could be wrong, hence my question to anybody that has done it on a Mid 2007 MacBook (NOT a Late 2007).

What version are the currently shipping Snow Leopard Upgrade Retail DVDs? 10.6.2? .3?

brucem91 said:

even then, it is the same disc, just in different packaging.

Click to expand...

Over time, this hasn't always been the case. CPU Drop-ins are often slightly different to Upgrade DVDs. Sure, Apple seemed to make a boo-boo with the 10.6 discs, but that may have changed since then.

MacTech68 said:

I hardly think that Apple will still be selling Snow Leopard Upgrade Retail DVDs that allow a machine that NEVER shipped with 10.5.x to use a cheap Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD. I could be wrong, hence my question to anybody that has done it on a Mid 2007 MacBook (NOT a Late 2007).

Click to expand...

You are wrong. The retail Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD does not check for a previous install of Leopard. It can be installed on a blank drive. This is pretty common knowledge.

Apple has usually depended on the honor system, not crude "verification" practices.

Darth.Titan said:

You are wrong. The retail Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD does not check for a previous install of Leopard. It can be installed on a blank drive. This is pretty common knowledge.

Apple has usually depended on the honor system, not crude "verification" practices.

Click to expand...

My queries still haven't been answered, and I'm well aware of the issue with the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.

However, I still state that it is possible for Apple to have changed the SL Retail Upgrade DVD.

As for Apple not using crude "verification" practices, if we're talking about Retail release versions, yes. If we're talking about Machine Supplied OS Discs, CPU Drop-In and other Upgrade discs, then yes, Apple indeed does and has used "crude verification practices".

MacTech68 said:

My queries still haven't been answered, and I'm well aware of the issue with the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.

However, I still state that it is possible for Apple to have changed the SL Retail Upgrade DVD.

As for Apple not using crude "verification" practices, if we're talking about Retail release versions, yes. If we're talking about Machine Supplied OS Discs, CPU Drop-In and other Upgrade discs, then yes, Apple indeed does and has used "crude verification practices".

Click to expand...

It is not possible for Apple to have changed them without my knowledge. I work for an Apple Specialist, and I deal with these disks, among many other things, all the time. As noted, too, this is very common knowledge. Don't come in here and confuse people by stating your ignorance as fact.

jW