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Failed installation of 10.6 and can't install 10.5 again

H

hrishidev

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 3, 2007
107
4
Well, this might be anachronistic to ask about 10.5 when talks of Lion are in air
but I am stuck with problem

I tried to install 10.6 on my mac-book which was having 10.5.8 installed on it.
Two successive attempts failed and I decided to reinstall 10.5.

But I got following error
Mac OS X cannot be installed on this computer.
This software cannot be install on this computer​

I have tried erasing the drive , repartitioning with "Disk utility" of 10.5 installation DVD as well as 10.6 DVD .
but error remains unaffected

Currently my Macbook is without any OS

Help awaited , Thanks
 
hrishidev said:
Well, this might be anachronistic to ask about 10.5 when talks of Lion are in air
but I am stuck with problem

I tried to install 10.6 on my mac-book which was having 10.5.8 installed on it.
Two successive attempts failed and I decided to reinstall 10.5.

But I got following error
Mac OS X cannot be installed on this computer.
This software cannot be install on this computer​

I have tried erasing the drive , repartitioning with "Disk utility" of 10.5 installation DVD as well as 10.6 DVD .
but error remains unaffected

Currently my Macbook is without any OS

Help awaited , Thanks
Click to expand...

Have you checked that your Macbook is compatible with Snow Leopard? Dumb question, but that's the only real thing I can think of if you've already tried wiping the drive and repartitioning. Are you repartitioning with "1 Partition" (vs. "Current"), in "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" Format, and "Options..." as "GUID Partition Table"?
 
chrisdazzo said:
Have you checked that your Macbook is compatible with Snow Leopard? Dumb question, but that's the only real thing I can think of if you've already tried wiping the drive and repartitioning. Are you repartitioning with "1 Partition" (vs. "Current"), in "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" Format, and "Options..." as "GUID Partition Table"?
Click to expand...


Yes, my macbook is compatible with Snow Leopard


Earlier I had partitioning options set to default but now I have tried the options suggested by you unfortunately problem persists :mad:
 
Sounds as if you are using a grey Apple 10.5 disk ?

It may be the wrong disk for that MacBook...

Which model of MacBook - specs - is it ?

What does the 10.5 disc say on it ?
 
Yes I have grey Apple 10.5 disks (2 DVD set) which came bounded with my macbook , I have already installed using it hence I guess there is no problem with 10.5 Disk

Spects are as follow

macbook 4,1
processor Intel Core 2 duo 2.4 Ghz
Ram : 2GB


http://support.apple.com/kb/SP5 may give you more information
 
Is my mac-book compatible with Mac OS X Lion?
Wikipedia says it is compatible with x86-64 processor (Macs with an Intel Core 2 Duo or later CPU)

my friend offered me his DP copy of Lion
 
Last edited:
The gray disk should be ok then but it will be 10.5.2 or 10.5.4.....

Sounds more like a HD problem in that case ...
 
logana said:
The gray disk should be ok then but it will be 10.5.2 or 10.5.4.....

Sounds more like a HD problem in that case ...
Click to expand...


Version of OS on Disk is 10.5 and HD was working fine time till I attempted to install 10.6
 
hrishidev said:
Version of OS on Disk is 10.5 and HD was working fine time till I attempted to install 10.6
Click to expand...

If it says 10.5 then it is the wrong disk for your MacBook - that disk is for the earlier 3,1 MacBook models and you cannot use it to install OSX.

Have you tried booting from the dvd and running the hardware test (hold down d while starting up) - because that should not work either.

The install disc will allow you to run disk utility but not install the OS.
 
I could run the hardware test but I am getting following error there

"Apple Hardware Test does not support this machine"


I guess, 10.6 OS disk has upgraded the firmware causing it incompatible with 10.5 Installation disk ....

Additions information which might help

SMC Version : 1.31f1
Boot ROM version : MB41.00C1.B00
 
I'm not aware of Apple installing firmware updates with the OS Installation. They are usually notified via Software Update, or downloaded manually from support.apple.com.

Latest versions and download links are listed here : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237

I've got a sneaking suspicion you've got incorrect OS disks if it gives that error on the AHT. The 10.5 discs that shipped with the machine will be locked to stop them being used on a different type of Mac.
 
hrishidev said:
But I got following error
Mac OS X cannot be installed on this computer.
This software cannot be install on this computer​
Click to expand...

That error means you're trying to install from a machine-specific OS install disk that isn't your machine. A retail Snow Leopard disk should not give you that message.
 
Detrius said:
That error means you're trying to install from a machine-specific OS install disk that isn't your machine. A retail Snow Leopard disk should not give you that message.
Click to expand...


Correct - the disks you have are not for that MacBook...

Is the 10.6 disk a retail copy or a grey disk from a MacBook or what ???
 
As per discussed here , I decided to give a try with installation DVD having version 10.5.4 and I have successfully installed my macbook with 10.5.4 OS.

All the installations DVD which I have , are came bounded with hardware purchase i.e they are grey DVDs


Sent from my macbook with 10.5.4 :apple:
 
me too... learnt from the hard way.

how i did it was, put my harddisk to a SL capable installed machine say MB7,1. fresh install from its SL disc. then took the disc out and put it back to my machine, and it worked... fiddle but maybe it would work for you too.
 
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