Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Re-Installation Error

J

jhawkin1

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 20, 2010
82
2
Chicago, IL
My goal: reset my MacBook Pro (Mid 2009) to factory settings.

I am attempting to install Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 but I get this error message.

Cannot Install MAC OS X.jpg


I have also tried using the internet to digitally download OS X but it won't allow me to.

Please help!

Thanks,


Jim
 
Try formatting it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Make sure the partition map is GPT and then try to install. IIRC on SL the partition map settings are under the "Partiton" tab (be sure to select the drive itself and not the partition like you have selected right now when you do this).
 
RogerWilco6502 said:
Try formatting it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Make sure the partition map is GPT and then try to install. IIRC on SL the partition map settings are under the "Partiton" tab (be sure to select the drive itself and not the partition like you have selected right now when you do this).
Click to expand...

How do you format it? Do you highlight the disc itself or the drive labeled '160.04 GB FUJITSU?
 
RogerWilco6502 said:
Ok, try going to the "Erase" tab and seeing if you can erase from there.
Click to expand...
Okay so here's where I'm at after the erase. Where do I go from here? The disc still won't work even though the drive is now a green arrow pointing down instead of the yellow caution sign.
 

Attachments

  • MAC next.jpg
    MAC next.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 113
  • MAC next2.jpg
    MAC next2.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 91
jhawkin1 said:
Okay so here's where I'm at after the erase. Where do I go from here? The disc still won't work even though the drive is now a green arrow pointing down instead of the yellow caution sign.
Click to expand...
This is getting a little odd... Have you tried restarting after formatting the disk? It may just be that the installer needs to refresh itself.
 
jhawkin1 said:
It's working now! Thanks for your help! Which OS x platform is the best for mid 2009 to function normally?
Click to expand...
Like I said, High sierra is good. Use the tool I linked to in my first reply. The tool can download High sierra, put it on a usb and then install and patch it.

When installing HS make sure you set the date before hitting the install button. The date has to fall in a certain range else installation will fail. In terminal type:

date 121212122017
 
  • Like
Reactions: jhawkin1
jhawkin1 said:
It's working now! Thanks for your help! Which OS x platform is the best for mid 2009 to function normally?
Click to expand...
No problem and glad I could help! I dual boot mine between 10.6.8 and 10.11.6 and that works well for me. 10.11.6 is the maximum supported, but you can patch it to run newer but unsupported versions of OS X though. :)
 
Analias said:
Like I said, High sierra is good. Use the tool I linked to in my first reply. The tool can download High sierra, put it on a usb and then install and patch it.

When installing HS make sure you set the date before hitting the install button. The date has to fall in a certain range else installation will fail. In terminal type:

date 121212122017
[/QUOTe
Click to expand...

This is probably not true but I should ask: if I run a OS x that is not supported, will it run slower compared to the ones supported?
[automerge]1588170462[/automerge]
RogerWilco6502 said:
No problem and glad I could help! I dual boot mine between 10.6.8 and 10.11.6 and that works well for me. 10.11.6 is the maximum supported, but you can patch it to run newer but unsupported versions of OS X though. :)
Click to expand...
This is probably not true but I should ask: if I run a OS x that is not supported, will it run slower compared to the ones supported?
 
  • Like
Reactions: RogerWilco6502
jhawkin1 said:
This is probably not true but I should ask: if I run a OS x that is not supported, will it run slower compared to the ones supported?
Click to expand...
That depends on a few factors, primarily memory and if you have an SSD installed. I tried installing HS on my Mid '09 and played around with it for a little bit. From what I remember, it was slower than El Cap but not unusably so. I was using an SSD and 4GB of RAM. I'm ok using El Cap because it suits my needs just fine. If you need to use newer apps though, it might be worth the slight performance hit. :)
 
OP:

If you're just prepping the MB to sell, I'd put ANY OS THAT BOOTS onto it, and let it go at that. It will be up to the buyer to decide what he/she wants to do next.

TIP:
Once the install starts, just let it finish to the point where you see "choose your language".
Then... push the power-on button and HOLD IT DOWN UNTIL THE SCREEN GOES BLACK and the MB shuts off.

Now... the next time you reboot... it will boot right back to the same screen, just as if it were a new computer. This is how you want it to be when the new owner opens it. You may want to have the new owner boot it up at purchase, just to see if it works. He can either create a basic account right there, or, just close the lid (leave it powered on), and the new owner can do setup when he gets it home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RogerWilco6502
Fishrrman said:
OP:

If you're just prepping the MB to sell, I'd put ANY OS THAT BOOTS onto it, and let it go at that. It will be up to the buyer to decide what he/she wants to do next.

TIP:
Once the install starts, just let it finish to the point where you see "choose your language".
Then... push the power-on button and HOLD IT DOWN UNTIL THE SCREEN GOES BLACK and the MB shuts off.

Now... the next time you reboot... it will boot right back to the same screen, just as if it were a new computer. This is how you want it to be when the new owner opens it. You may want to have the new owner boot it up at purchase, just to see if it works. He can either create a basic account right there, or, just close the lid (leave it powered on), and the new owner can do setup when he gets it home.
Click to expand...
This is great! Thanks for that.
 
One other thing (and I always forget to mention this):
Make sure you have SIGNED OUT of iCloud (or any other clouds).
Make sure you have gone into iTunes and DE-AUTHORIZED the Mac.

If you DON'T do these things, it could cause problems for the new owner.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RogerWilco6502
Analias said:
Like I said, High sierra is good. Use the tool I linked to in my first reply. The tool can download High sierra, put it on a usb and then install and patch it.

When installing HS make sure you set the date before hitting the install button. The date has to fall in a certain range else installation will fail. In terminal type:

date 121212122017
Click to expand...

How do I change the date? I didn't change the date and I get this message after getting through all the steps including uploading the file to a USB drive and restarting the computer to load the USB OS. :

IMG_5482.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back