I've tried booting to my original install CD and the macbook (late'08) continues to cycle between the black and grey screen with the start up tone each time. I've tried booting to it thru System Preferences, after inserting it and getting the menu to click to install, holding down the C , the M and Option. In every attempt the result is the same. I've started in Safe mode, reset Pram, SMC, verified disk and repaired permissions and tried 2 other macbook install CD's. Normal boot up is fine in all other cases, just not from an install CD. Any other suggestions out there?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Can't boot from install cd, normal boot is fine.
- Thread starter teeshot
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Couple of questions...
1. Doing a PRAM reset, do you actually hear the chimes? (3 chimes or more?) basically we need to know this to rule out if there is a firmware password.
2. While holding down the OPTION key to get to the boot manager, do you see the installation disc there? If yes, try to select it and note what happens.
If there is no firmware password, there is a very good chance the SuperDrive is not reading the disc. If you're in OS X, can you mount any disc?
1. Doing a PRAM reset, do you actually hear the chimes? (3 chimes or more?) basically we need to know this to rule out if there is a firmware password.
2. While holding down the OPTION key to get to the boot manager, do you see the installation disc there? If yes, try to select it and note what happens.
If there is no firmware password, there is a very good chance the SuperDrive is not reading the disc. If you're in OS X, can you mount any disc?
1. Yep, three chimes. I had never set a firmware password.
2. All disks that I've tried mount fine, including the install disk. When pressing the option, key, I do see both the HD and the CD. That was one of the ways I've tried to boot to it. Same result in every case. Just continues to cycle between the grey and black screen.
2. All disks that I've tried mount fine, including the install disk. When pressing the option, key, I do see both the HD and the CD. That was one of the ways I've tried to boot to it. Same result in every case. Just continues to cycle between the grey and black screen.
Don't much more to say about it. When the macbook attempts to boot from the install cd, It gets to the grey screen, startup tone, black screen, grey screen, startup tone, black screen, etc., etc., etc., etc. Sat and watched it do it over ten times once before shutting it down. Again, the boot up is absolutely normal except when attempting to boot from an install cd.
Just wanted to determine whether you were talking about a kernel panic. Do you have a Windows disc? Have you tried to boot off that and see if it works?
I've grown fascinated at your problem. Try this...
- Boot into OS X and insert the OS X install DVD
- go into System Preferences and restart with the install DVD like you did before
- right when it starts to restart, press command-v and see what if the computer reports anything.
Hopefully it will tell why it can't boot off the OS X install DVD.
- Boot into OS X and insert the OS X install DVD
- go into System Preferences and restart with the install DVD like you did before
- right when it starts to restart, press command-v and see what if the computer reports anything.
Hopefully it will tell why it can't boot off the OS X install DVD.
Boot into Single-User Mode (command-s) on startup. When you get to the command line, try typing "boot cdrom -s" (without the quotes) and see what happens. I want to say the boot up file is corrupted, isn't allowing boots off the optical drive.
(edit: ignore, you can boot off XP -- my post is doesn't change anything)
(edit: ignore, you can boot off XP -- my post is doesn't change anything)
My first Macbook 2.4ghz machine actually came with bad disks I had them exchanged and all was good after that. I have since gottem my macbook replaced due to an unrelated incident. I can hook you up with the replaced disks if you pm me your info.
I don't think it's bad discs. He has tried it on other Mac's and they boot up just fine. It also mounts when OP is in OS X. Right now, your options are bring it into an Apple Store or copy the contents of the Leopard DVD onto a USB drive and see if you get the same error.
Teeshot, I would also recommend calling up AppleCare and ask to be transferred to a product specialist. You've done all the basic troubleshooting so you might have to go a bit further.
I had the exact same problem as you until about 10 minutes ago. I was trying to install on my late 2008 Macbook using the original retail DVD (10.5). I realized my goof after 5 days of researching this mess with no solution. Inserting the actual Macbook's 10.5.5 restore DVD put me back in business.
So, just a hunch, maybe this is your situation?
So, just a hunch, maybe this is your situation?
Shouldn't matter. Retail/drop-in install discs are universal and should work on any computer and I do OP is using his original disc that came with his portable.
I had the same issue, but not the cycling thing. I was just stuck with the apple screen. The problem was that I tried to install from my retail snow leopard disk, but it doesn't have the new drivers that my brand new mbp needs! The dvd that came with the box is fine. So I thought to mention it. You can't use retail dvds of the os with newer machines, because apple drivers for your peripherals aren't there! I found that out by using cmd+v at startup!