Can't install OS X on external drive

[Scarlet Fever]

I put install disk 1 in, restarted and got into the installer, only to be told OS X couldn't mount on the volume (external HDD). I erased the drive, formatted it to Mac OS Extended, Journaled, and it sill didn't work.

I tried it with FW400 as well as USB, neither worked.

Running 1.83GHz CoreDuo MacBook, using legitimate install disks. I've used the drive before for backups etc, and it works fine. The drive is an ultra ATA 3.5" 7200 RPM drive in an IceCube case.

 

[mad jew]

Are they the discs that came with this machine? Is that what you mean by legitimate discs?

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Are they the discs that came with this machine? Is that what you mean by legitimate discs?

yeah, they're the same ones which came with the machine.

 

[mad jew]

Which partition map have you chosen? Are you using the GUID Partition Table?

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Which partition map have you chosen? Are you using the GUID Partition Table?

err... i don't know

What do you reckon I should be doing?

 

[mad jew]

When formatting the drive, there should be an Options button somewhere along the way. Make sure it's set to GUID Partition Table instead of the probably-default Apple Partition Map. This pretty much determines whether a PPC or Intel machine can boot from the drive (actually the partition). I'm not sure if it's relevant to whether you can actually install OSX on a partition, but you'll need it set to GUID eventually anyway.

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Rad, i'll give it a go now.

EDIT: It works! Thanks, MJ. I wouldn't have thought of looking in the partitioning panel. You learn something new every day