Can't install - my disk is used for Time Machine backups

I only have one hard disk. And it has Time Machine turned on. Mountain Lion won't let me install on this disk, saying
"This disk is used for Time Machine backups"
I'm ASSUMING this means that I cannot install ML on a Time Machine disk.
Is this right?
So, do I turn off Time Machine to get ML to install?

I deleted Backups.backupdb.
Now, the ML installer says simply "OS X cannot be installed on <my drive>"
What the ???

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I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard. When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed. Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Mach

I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard. When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed. Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Machine)?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2986

I can't install OS X mountain Lion to my macbook pro. It says when I'm trying to choose the disk, (This disk is used for time machine backups'. What can I do about it? thanks!

I can't install OS X mountain Lion to my macbook pro. It says when I'm trying to choose the disk, (This disk is used for time machine backups'. What can I do about it? thanks!

From the Finder's Go menu, choose Computer:
Double-click your hard disk icon. It is usually named "Macintosh HD":
Look for this folder:
Drag it to the Trash.

Can't install Lion on my HD. Says this disk is used for time machine backups

I just downloaded Lion to install on my 2008 macbook and i can't get past the window that asks me to select the disk where I want Lion installed. It says my hard disk is used for time machine backups. Any suggestions on how I can select my hd to install Lion?
Thanks

That means there is a directory on your HD called something like backups. backupdb
It thinks you're using the drive for TM. Delete this directory and it will then load.
Regards,
Captfred

Can't install Lion This disk is used for Time Machine backups

The Lion installer, downloaded from the app store, won't let me select my internal hard disk, it says "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" which it isn't.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Neil

I was sure that I had trashed the Backups.backupdb folder from the top level - it did require me to enter my Admin password.
Yes I had tried several times to go back to the terms of agreement screen and click agree once again, but still had the problem.
I had external HDs connected, but disconnected them and the problem persisted.
I restarted my mac and now the message has gone away and I am having no problems installing.
Thanks everyone

Can't install Yosemite because my startup disk is used for Time Machine backups?

Tried to install Yosemite, but when I get to the screen which asks which disk I want to install it on, it won't allow me to select my computer's hard drive because "This disk is used for Time Machine backups." Any suggestions?

Because at the time I originally set it up I couldn't afford an external drive for a real backup, but thought it would be useful to have Time Machine copies in case I accidentally deleted a file or changed my mind about having done so. Once I finally got that external drive and started backing up to it, I forgot I had Time Machine files an my startup disc and didn't know that would be a problem. Anyway, thanks for the info, that fixed my problem.

Unable to install Lion. Installer says disk is used for Time Machine backups. But it's my Mac's HD.

On attempt to install Lion from CD, the installer says: "Mac OSX cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD". This disk is used for Time Machine backups."
I have an external drive that I've been using for Time Machine backups, but it stopped functioning recently and I have not replaced it.
Is there a workaround?
Thx in advance. Bryant

Maybe this http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2986 can help you.
Stefan

"Mac OS X cannot be installed on 'Macintosh HD'. This disk is used for Time Machine backups."

I am trying to upgrade our MacBook to Snow Leopard, but when prompted to select which hard drive to install on and "Macintosh HD" is selected, the following message generates: "Mac OS X cannot be instaled on 'Macintosh HD'. This disk is used for Time Machine backups."
I disabled Time Machine switched it "off," put it in the trash can, then "Secure Emptied" the trash can. I also rebooted. Then I connected an external hard drive thinking that might help, but for some reason I still cannot proceed with the Snow Leopard upgrade because "the disk is used for Time Machine backups."
WHAT is the DEAL!?

It doesn't sound like an upgrade would work very well anyway. Make sure you have a good backup and repartition the startup volume. Then install Snow Leopard onto the hard drive and migrate your old users and applications.

Cannot install Mountain Lion on my hard disc, as I keep getting the message" 'This disk is used for Time Machine backups'. Which it isn't - I don't use Time Machine

Cannot install Mountain Lion on my hard disc, as I keep getting the message" 'This disk is used for Time Machine backups'. Which it isn't - I don't use Time Machine

Check to see if you have a folder named "Backups.backupdb" at the root level of your hard disk. That can cause this error message.

Install problem because disk is used for Time Machine backups?

I am currently running OS 10.6.8 on a MacBook Pro 15 inch. I just purchased Mountain Lion from the App Store and I am trying to install, but it tells me that it can't install on my hard drive because "This disk is used for time machine backups". Which as far as I can tell is not even true, because I have set up an external hard drive for the Time Machine backups. So I can't get past this screen and install. What can I do?

Low possibility, but check System Preferences/Time Machine to make sure the hard drive isn't listed. While there, turn off Time Machine and try the install again. If that doesn't work, disconnect your external drive, restart and try the install again.
Also see these discussions.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/19033168#19033168
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15699444#15699444

In the installation process lion will not install as message reads MAC HD 904 gb available this disk is used for time machine backups .What is the next step

After downloading ,completing the lic agreement phase, the next step is where to install and automatically' MAC HD with 904 gb available this disk is used for time machine backups' is shown and installation is blocked .
Any body got any idea what to do next ?

Time machine needs its own partition to operate. So you are not going install a OSx Lion on that volume.
If there is enough room you may be able to partition the drive on the fly with DiskUtility
Are you saying you clean installed Lion and you are trying to move your user Data over with TM via the migration Assistant? Please explain.

Lion Install does not work, says "This disk is used for Time Machine backups"

I'm having trouble installing Lion onto my macbook pro intel core 2 duo.
I am backing up my computer with an external drive using TimeMachine, but i've disconnected it. Also i'm running SL 10.6.8
I have a windows 7 partition that was created with boot camp.
I've tried to make sure everything is all ready for lion but when I go to install lion it says "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and the hard drive is grayed out.
Same problem as this guy: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3190321?start=0&tstart=0
I'm hearing that a file called "Backups.backupdb" is on the top level of the hard drive, but I see no such file. I've looked at the invisible files and I cant find it.
I've also created a bootable flash copy of the lion install but that does not work It gives me the same message "This disk is used for time Machine backups".

"Backups.backupdb" if the file in Time Machine. As the discussion says, you have to find that file and trash it. Try spotlight to locate it. If that does not work, down load OmniDiskSweeper from the Internet (free) and go through an organized search to find "Backups.backupdb". If that takes too long or is too tedious, then if you have everything backed up, erase the HDD and start from square one.
Ciao.

I am getting error "The disk is used for Time Machine Backup" when installing the new OSX Mountain Lion upgrade"

I am keep getting this error "The disk is used for Time Machine Backup" when installing the new OSX Mountain Lion" when doing the upgrade to newly OS.

The folder would be at the root of your hard drive. Double-click Macintosh HD and look there.
If it isn’t there, I’m not sure what it is seeing.

"This disk is used for Time Machine backup..."

I bought my MacBook Air in january 2012 and want to install the new Mountain Lion update. I have downloaded it but when I´m supposed to choose where to save it I can't choose the Macintosh HD because "This disk is used for Time Machine backup..."
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Time machine needs its own partition to operate. So you are not going install a OSx Lion on that volume.
If there is enough room you may be able to partition the drive on the fly with DiskUtility
Are you saying you clean installed Lion and you are trying to move your user Data over with TM via the migration Assistant? Please explain.

Can't install - my disk is used for Time Machine backups

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