Booting from a Snow Leopard Retail dvd

I have a 2009 iMac that came with Leopard installed.  I later purchase the retail Snow Leopard disc with I believe 10.6.3. 
I want to reformat my iMac HD and reinstall a fresh copy of Snow Leopard so I can move my Mac Pro data over to it, but it doesn't load the Snow Leopard disc when I reboot and hold the Option key.
I've upgraded to 10.6.8 and was wondering if that was the problem.  I have used the original Leopard Install discs to check the drive and corrected a few errors with one pass.  Should the iMac be able to boot from the SL disc?  Not being able to read the dvd, I can't even attempt a .dmg image to mount, even if I knew how.  I've read numerous posts with other users not being able to boot from the SL retail disc.
Would I have the same issues if I purchase a new Snow Leopard Install dvd?

Unlike Windows, the DVD or CD versions of the Mac OS (Snow Leopard or earlier) have no serial number, or even keep track of how many times you've installed it. It's all on the honor system of following the license you have, which as mende1 noted, is either a single computer license, or five in one household (not shared with friends or relatives).
Lion and Mountain Lion are a bit different. Macs that came with either OS have a machine specific version (for the necessary hardware drivers) and cannot be shared, other than with a 100% identical Mac. The App Store versions are intended for Macs that were released before the respective OS's, and contain only the hardware drivers for the Mac models they are listed to support.

Similar Messages

  • How To Boot Snow Leopard Retail DVD

    Hello,
    Would you be able to help me out with my concern?
    Alright, Before we begin I've recently bought Apple's Snow Leopard 10.6 and would like to install it onto my Asus G73Jw Notebook. Currently running,
    Windows 7 Home Premium, and would like for you to be able in assisting me with my issue which is quiet simple.
    How Can I Install my Apple Snow Leopard Retail DVD onto my Notebook Step by Step would be appreciated.
    Thank You
    System Specifications:
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit
    Intel Core i7
    Nvidia GTX 460M 1.5GB
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    Not comaptible unfortunately.
    At least not without some serious work.
    Have a look here:
    http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-install-mac-os-x-on-a-pc-without-using-a-mac /
    -Graham

  • How many Installs Can I do from a Snow Leopard Retail Disk?

    I have an old Snow Leopard Retail Disk (10.6.3) that I used a few years ago. Our Macs have mostly been upgraded to Lion since then, but we still have a 2007 iMac running Leopard and want to run some legacy third-party software. We need to upgrade that iMac from Leopard to Snow Leopard, then upgrade via system update to 10.6.8 in order to run the legacy software.
    I know we used this Snow Leopard retail disk to upgrade one computer to Snow Leopard already, and we might have used the disk to install Snow Leopard on an external hard drive as well but I'm not sure as it was a few years ago and that hard drive may have been archived and placed in storage.
    My question is, is there a limited number of installs that we can do with this disk? Do we need to first uninstall Snow Leopard from one computer before we can install it on another?

    Unlike Windows, the DVD or CD versions of the Mac OS (Snow Leopard or earlier) have no serial number, or even keep track of how many times you've installed it. It's all on the honor system of following the license you have, which as mende1 noted, is either a single computer license, or five in one household (not shared with friends or relatives).
    Lion and Mountain Lion are a bit different. Macs that came with either OS have a machine specific version (for the necessary hardware drivers) and cannot be shared, other than with a 100% identical Mac. The App Store versions are intended for Macs that were released before the respective OS's, and contain only the hardware drivers for the Mac models they are listed to support.

  • Problems with Booting from the Snow Leopard Install Disc

    I need to do a reformat of my iMac drive and reinsall Snow Leopard.  Then I want to run System Migration and move the contents of my Mac Pro (running Snow Leopard) over to the iMac.
    I placed the retail Snow Leopard installation disc and held the "C" key down during restart.  My optical drive make a bit of random noise and eventually ejects the SL disc.  I've tried a CD, movie dvd and another software program installation disc and none of them seem to be able to be read.  I've sold the Mac Pro and am in a bit of a bind as I need to get this done and shipped out.  I'm also going to have to wipe the Mac Pro drives clean and do a reinstall of Snow Leopard.
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    Thanks,
    John

    Do you have the original install discs that came with the computer?
    If you do, try powering up the mac pushing in the disc and hold the OPTION key, which will bring up the start up manager, select the insrall disc to boot from.
    After booting, select the language, on the next page go to the menu bar and select Utilities/disk utilities, select your volume (default name is Macintosh HD, or what ever you ma have named it) First aid tab, run verify disk.
    If it comes up with errors (they will be in red font) click repair disk. Rerun this till it it comes up with "this disk seems OK i(n green font)
    Then quit the installer and eject the disk.
    Try the Snow Leopard disk using the same proceedure (power up, push in disk, holding the OPTION key) to boot to the start up manager, and select the SL disk, and do a clean install.
    Make sure that you have a retail install disk (white SL on it)
    You can try this from the retail SL disc, if you do not have the Original disc(s) you should include all of them to the person you seel/give it to.
    After install, follow these instructions.
    http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-prepare-your-mac-for-sale/
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5189?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
    Hope this helps

  • 2011 27" iMac cannot boot from a slow leopard install DVD

    I just got a new iMac 27". It came with Lion preinstalled. I wanted to install Snow Leopard on the 2nd hard drive and it wont let me boot from the DVD or run the Snow Leopard install from the DVD when running under lion. When I try to boot from the DVD I get a kernel panic. I am also having problems with computer not waking from sleep. I think I should return this computer as defective. Anyone else have this kernel panic problem?

    As stated, you can't use SL on the Mac, so the kernel panics should subside if you're not trying to boot from SL. However, there are plenty of other posts re. freezing/not waking after sleep.
    So, if you do want to run SL, you could try to find one that still has SL installed (and you'd get the free upgrade to Lion) - there are quite a few refurbished units at the Apple Store. If you're within the 14 days and purchased it at an Apple store, you can return it and could order a refurb with SL (or find a new one at a reseller who bought up the left over stock). That's what I've usually done.

  • Can Mac OS X Snow Leopard Retail DVD be used to erase and install on a Leopard 10.5.8?

    Can that retail DVD be used to erase and install on a Leopard 10.5.8?
    Or can you only do that with the discs that came with the computer?

    One pitfall is if you don't have the minimum 1 GB of RAM, Snow Leopard will be very slow to work. Also make sure your hard drive after the installation is less than an arbitrary 85% full.  This amount has been found to be the break even point where all versions of Mac OS X can get messed up. Otherwise, check my FAQ* for other possible compatibility concerns:
    http://www.macmaps.com/upgradefaq.html

  • Getting an error when I try to boot from my snow leopard disk

    I want to install Snow Leopard on a partion on my new iMac. But when I try to boot from my old Snow Leopard-startup-disk all that happens is that I hear some beeping noise from the iMac.
    Would apreciate any help.
    Best Regards
    Andreas.

    If your machine shipped with Lion, most likely you cannot install SL, since it won't run on it. Details in Don't install a version of Mac OS X earlier than what came with your Mac

  • Snow Leopard retail DVD vs MacPro

    Good afternoon.
    MacPro (2.8QCX/3X1G/1TB/5770)  (MC560LL/A) (mid-2010)
    I received this without a HD (due to proprietary software).
    Will the retail Snow Leopard (marked OS 10.6.3) install fully on a new HD?
    Apple tech support is adament about it working properly.
    Thanks for your time.

    The retail disk is unlikely to work. I have almost the same Mac. It is also a mid 2010 Mac Pro (though mine with the 3.3 GHz CPUs). Like yours, it came with 10.6.4. I've tried the 10.6.3 retail disk with this Mac, and it will not boot to that disk. Per the usual reason, the necessary hardware drivers aren't on the 10.6.3 retail disk since my model was released later. Hence, you need the 10.6.4 gray disks it came with in order to install Snow Leopard.

  • Can't boot from Original Snow Leopard DVD

    I have a late 2009 15" MacBook Pro.  I can't boot my system and wish to restore a backup.  Unfortunately, I have inserted the original system DVD that came with the machine and tried to boot holding down the "C" key, holding down the "option key" (that only gets me to a big padlock with a password box but won't accept my password), holding down the "Command" key, holding down the "Control" key, and holding down the "shift" key.  None of them work.  I always come to the apple logo with the spinning gear, and no further.
    Obviously I need help ?

    danielfromloudon wrote:
    I'm heading out to Best Buy in a bit to pick up another drive and will pick up a cleaning disk also.  Thanks for the advice.  Any other thoughts?
    It already appears that all bases were covered in possible solutions that the knowledgeable users provided.  The ball is now in your court to try them all.

  • Mid-2010 MacBook reset factory w/ Snow Leopard Install DVD?

    I will be receiving a MacBook mid 2010 MC516LL/A soon. I would like to reset it to factory and then install Yosemite.
    I have an Install DVD 10.6.3 Snow Leopard. Will this allow me to reset the MacBook with a clean install, or do I need to get the original install DVD for that specific model?
    I assume that I will need to download the 10.6.8 updater Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1   to get access to the App store upgrades to eventually get to Yosemite.
    thanks!

    First, do you have a backup? If so then you can just boot from your Snow Leopard disc, re-initialize the hard drive and install SL anew, then restore from an older backup (assuming you have one?).
    Clinton
    P.S. You might be able to install without wiping your hard drive. To see, just use your SL disc and try to reinstall. I don't know - I've only gone back-in-time with TM since getting a new Mac with Lion installed.

  • Lost Snow Leopard Install DVD

    Hi,
    Hope this is the right topic for this question.
    I recently purchased a MacBook Pro 13 inch and I have upgraded the hard drive.
    Only when I wanted to install OS I couldn't find my install DVD.
    I tried installing from a friend's MacBook Air install media. but It dosen't work.
    Can anyone tell me what can I do here to get at least new install media for my macBook Pro?
    Thanks

    You probably need to get replacement discs rather than a retail DVD in any event. If your "recently purchased" MBP is the "mid-2010" model, then the current retail OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard Install DVD probably won't work.
    See
    [Don't install a version of Mac OS X earlier than what came with your Mac|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2186]
    The "build" of the OS version on a retail installer disc can't be older than the build of the OS version that shipped with the computer. The most recent Snow Leopard Retail DVD is OS X 10.6.3, Build 10D575. According to [this page|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159?viewlocale=en_US], the earliest OS version that shipped with the mid-2010 model MBPs was OS X 10.6.3, Build 10D2125, which is a later build than the current retail OS X 10.6.3 version.

  • Mac keep shutting down after cancelling Snow Leopard upgrade DVD

    Hello,
    I tried to upgrade my computer with the Mac OS X Snow Leopard DVD. The upgrade failed twice, so I decided to quit it and to restart my computer with hardware, but then, it doesn't run more than 35 sec and then shuts down automatically. I have tried 5 times to restart it, but it shuts down even before I can see my desktop. Ho yes, and I ejected the DVD from it.
    ...help please! : )
    Thank you!

    Sounds like you've damaged your system by forcing it to quit and restart in the middle of installing. You probably also had something wrong with your machine that was interfering with the installation in the first place, as the Snow Leopard installer is ordinarily pretty good at failing without damaging anything if something causes it to fail.
    I would advise [repairing the hard drive with Disk Utility|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417]. If that fails, you'll need to erase and repartition the hard drive and reinstall Snow Leopard from scratch. If repair works, but you still can't boot, you probably have corruption in important system files. You could try installing Snow Leopard over it at this point, while booted from the Snow Leopard disk. If repair shows no problems, post back here, as you've got something a little more exotic than simple hard disk damage going on.
    Do you have a backup? If not, it's possible all your data might be gone at this point, depending on what exactly has gone wrong with your computer. You can try to back up from Disk Utility running from the Mac OS X install disk... see the Restore tab. You'll need an external hard drive to which to copy.

  • Reinstalling using the Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD?

    This may be a stupid question, but I need to reinstall my Mac, however I only have the Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD that was shipped to me since I the leopard dvd is stuffed somewhere in the back cupboard that I can't find for love nor money.
    Can I erase the hard drive and perform a clean installation from the Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD? I've a feeling that I can't but just wanted to confirm.
    Thanks!

    Hi thelongmile;
    If it is the upgrade DVD then you can't.
    Allan

  • Working in adobe illustrator - computer crashed - will not soft boot or reset PRAM - should i reinstall from CD snow leopard 10.6.3? I have an extra hard drive in my MAC with time machine on it set to do auto back ups. How do i recover ?

    working in adobe illustrator - computer crashed - will not soft boot or reset PRAM - should i reinstall from CD snow leopard 10.6.3? I have an extra hard drive in my MAC with time machine on it set to do auto back ups. How do i recover ?

    Well first you have to figure out what is wrong with the machine and solve that problem first.
    Your post is very vague on what occured, and there are many types of "crashes" it really depends upon what see on the screen and what the hardware does, we can't see it to tell you, so you have to tell us.
    I suggest you run through these user tips and provide more information about your hardware.
    Disconnect the TimeMachine drive for now
    ..Step by Step to fix your Mac
    Help us to help you on these forums
    Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive
    If this is going way over your head, there are local PC/Mac techs that will assist you for a fee, Apple only does hardware repairs and is advised to use them if you discover it is, especially if under warranty/AppleCare.
    Hard drive and RAM upgrades can be handled yourself or by a outside tech in many older models of Mac, but don't expect Apple to cover the new parts.
    Install/upgrade RAM or storage drive in Mac's

  • Installing xcode from the snow leopard dvd

    Hi all
    i am a new mac user and want to learn as much as i can,i want to install xcode from the snow leopard dvd but want to make sure i do it correctly ( i know there are boxes to click and i dont want to make mistakes ).
    i am hoping that someone can give me a step by step guide on how to do this.

    See if this helps any:
    http://thomas1111.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/installing-xcode-and-using-gcc-on-mac /

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