Won't let me install 10.6

[Imaxium]

I'm trying to update my imac8,1 Core 2 Duo 2.4 20-Inch (Early 2008) to 10.6. It seems that I can upgrade(with 2gb of RAM, which I got), but when I put in the disk it says OS X can't be installed on this computer.

I'm wondering if its my imac or the disk? The disk is Mac OS X 10.6.4 disc verson 3.0 copyrighted 2010.

 

[Bear]

Is the disc in question gray? What else does it say on the disc?

 

[Intell]

You're using a machine specific restore disc. You need the black retail disc.

 

[benji888]

You're using a machine specific restore disc. You need the black retail disc.

^this (but the disc is white w/snow leopard on it)

It's only $20 now: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

 

[Imaxium]

Oh, didn't know there were different discs, yeah its the gray one.

thanks for the clarification.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Yeah, grey installation discs are machine-specific (for example, an iMac 27" from 2010 came with a grey installation disc consisting of Snow Leopard 10.6.x, but the disc only includes specific drivers for the iMac 27", and would not support any other Mac, including an iMac 21"). The white disc, on the other hand, is installable on any computer that supports Snow Leopard. I believe it's $19.99 from the online Apple store, and can be picked up in any Apple Retail store, or be shipped to you. If memory serves me correctly, the latest version on the white disc is 10.6.3, so you'd need to run Software Update to get Snow Leopard updated to 10.6.8 after installation.

If you have a friend who has the exact same iMac configuration (early-2008, iMac 8,1) as you, then you could always try and see if you could borrow his/her installation disc and see if that works though.

Oh, didn't know there were different discs, yeah its the gray one.

thanks for the clarification.

 

[Nermal]

If you have a friend who has the exact same iMac configuration (early-2008, iMac 8,1) as you, then you could always try and see if you could borrow his/her installation disc and see if that works though.

That would only help to reinstall 10.5, not upgrade to 10.6.

 

[Intell]

The white disc, on the other hand, is installable on any computer that supports Snow Leopard.

The white retail disc will only install on Macs that came with 10.4-10.6.2, if using the retail 10.6.3 disc. It will not install on Macs that came with 10.6.3-10.6.8, even though the disc contains 10.6.3. The Macs that came with 10.6.3 came with a special build of it that is not on the discs.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Hahaha, wow. I guess my hungover got the best of me! Nevermind that comment, so sorry. My bad.

That would only help to reinstall 10.5, not upgrade to 10.6.

Interesting! I guess only Macs from 2006 to around March 2010 (when the 10.6.3 update was released) would be able to support the retail disc. It's a good thing that Apple moved to the App Store distribution method for Mac OS X, because you can re-download the Mac OS installer anytime and have it be at the very latest version (e.g.; purchasing Mac OS X 10.8 on release day, then re-downloading the installer at 10.8.5 now).

Again, apologies for the confusion!

The white retail disc will only install on Macs that came with 10.4-10.6.2, if using the retail 10.6.3 disc. It will not install on Macs that came with 10.6.3-10.6.8, even though the disc contains 10.6.3. The Macs that came with 10.6.3 came with a special build of it that is not on the discs.