Can't install OSX 10.4 on this computer? But it used to run it fine!

Help! I have been running 10.4 since it came out... loaded from the black retail box. Then, last week, my HD was corrupted...to the point it would no longer function. I have replaced it with a 100MB drive from OWC. Everything installed fine...except 10.4. It would not install from the original retail disks.
I went back to the original 10.3.9 disks that came with the computer, and they loaded fine. I again tried to upgrade with the 10.4 disks, and same message!
The CS3 apps I have been running for two months are now unusable... can anyone help?

My message is the same as my subject: "can't install OS X 10.4 on this computer". No options, nothing.
What gets me is that it was running OS 10.4 from day 1! Then the HD died...

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Can't install OSX Mountain Lion, on the disk selection screen i cant select the Macintosh HD to install OSX giving a message (This disk cannot be used to start up your computer).

Can't install OSX Mountain Lion, on the disk selection screen i cant select the Macintosh HD to install OSX giving a message (This disk cannot be used to start up your computer).

Read
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15659267#15659267

Can't install OSX Mountain Lion, on the disk selection screen i cant select the Macintosh HD to install OSX giving a message (This disk cannot be used to start up your computer).only have one disk to select and my partition map scheme is GUID partition

just bough OSX Mountain Lion, my laptop operating with v10.6.8. Can't install OSX Mountain Lion, on the disk selection screen i cant select the Macintosh HD to install OSX giving a message (This disk cannot be used to start up your computer).only have one disk to select and my partition map scheme is GUID partition table. 24.44gb disk available.

Verify your computer can run Mountain Lion:
Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
     OS X Mountain Lion - System Requirements
       Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
         1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 7,1 or later
         2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 5,1 or later
         3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 2,1 or later
         5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         7. Xserve (Early 2009) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
Open Disk Utility and verify the drive is partitioned using GUID and formatted Mac OS Extended, Journaled. If it is then do this:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
Now try installing Mountain Lion.

Can I install osx leopard 10.5.6 on a 2012 mini to run cs2?

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Problem "Can not install Mac OS X on this computer"

Trying to upgrade from 10.2.8 to 10.4 (with a CDROM not DVD) on a G4.
Plenty of memory, hard drive, and processor speed.
Will not complete "Computer Check"
Keep getting error "Can not install Mac OS X on this computer"
Mac on line support FAQ said this
*+Computer check+*
*+The Mac OS X Installer makes sure your computer can use the version of Mac OS X you're trying to install.+*
*+Troubleshooting tip: If you see a message that you cannot install Mac OS X on this computer, even though it should work with Mac OS X, you may need to install a firmware update. Restart your computer from the hard drive and install the latest firmware available for your computer.+*
Well I tried all of this, firmware update said I already had the most up to date firmware installed. So I am stuck and need a little advice...
PLEASE HELP!!!

Welcome To  Discussions skatam1!
Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?
You should contact the vendor, and request a refund, or an exchange for a Full Retail Version, of the Tiger Install DVD.
If that is not an option, advise if you would like purchasing information.
Be sure not to, again accept grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
The discs should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade, CPU Drop-in DVD, or "This software is part of a hardware bundle purchase - not to be sold seperately." on them.
If your Mac doesn’t have a built-in DVD-ROM player, you will have to use an alternative method of installation.
Info here Installing Tiger Without A DVD Drive.
And here Installing Tiger Using Firewire Target Disk Mode.
The Tiger Media Exchange Program, referred to in those articles, is no longer available.
ali b

Can Not Install Mac OS X on this computer (MacBook)

Puzzles me: Brand new refurb. MacBook with 10.5 installed.
Repartitioned the drive to get two partitions and tried to use my Full Retail OS 10.5 disk to re-install.
Get error after the language selection: cannot install Mac OS X on this computer...
Same thing if I restart with an external drive and try to install from the retail disk to the MacBook's drive. I just can't imagine why I need to use the included machine specific disks instead of the retail version. I know it works if I take the drive out and mount it via FireWire to another Mac.
So what gives?

Your other answer had probably in the sentence.
I looked but could not find it so, as I remember, when Leopard retail came out with all the drivers and libraries for both PPC and Intel and some users were trying to install Tiger on new Leopard MacBooks and, like me, other cross installs, Apple released a short note that said only the install disk would work on the MacBook, not the retail. No reason was given. You have a better life because of it and your computing life is richer too.
Research Apple Partition Map and GUID. Do what you know works.

I can't install OSX 10.6.3 as it says HD used for Time Machine backup, I can't install OSX 10.6.3 as it says HD used for Time Machine backup

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Jane Doubleday wrote:
I've got an Intel mac otherwise I wouldn't have bought Snow Leopard.
Please update your profile info, then Jane - we can only go on the info you give us.
Glad you're sorted though

Can I install the creative cloud on multiple machines but not use it or pay until activate it

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Hi There,
If the software is installed on the machine and it is not activated, you would not be able to use it once the trial is expired after 30 days.
Whenever, you wish to use it, you can buy it and can start using it.
Thanks,
Atul Saini

I recently purchased an iMac with Maverick system. I want to know can I install my Photoshop CS5 on this computer then upgrade it to CS6 without a months charge in the cloud?

I recently purchased an iMac with Maverick system. I want to install my Photoshop CS5 on it, is that okay?
Then I want to update it to CS6 without the iCloud purchase monthly (don't want that, want a one time charge)???

As per System requirements | Photoshop, PS is not officially supported on Maverick and you might face several compatibility issues as well. However, we have many users who are still using CS5 on Mavericks. So, if you want you can give it a try and check it for your self.
As far as CS6 is concerned, you can get PS CS6 perpetual version easily from Adobe.com Creative Suite 6
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~ Arpit

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Hi,
I just purchased and received Tiger from Amazon.com via a seller that is a legit make repair biz. The disk they sent me says: Mac OS X Tiger "CPU drop in DVD" also states that the software is part of a hardware bundle. I can not install from this disk it shows up in my startup prefs as "Mac OS X upgrade DVD". Was I sold a bogus DVD? Do I have to buy another version of the install?

Can't install osx on 2009 macbook pro

Hey guys i'm haveing a nightmare getting osx reinstalled on my macbook pro, firstly i have no experance with mac's but have always wanted too so when offered this macbook pro i snapped it up even with a dead HDD thinking it to be a very easy fix, so replaced the drive with a new one and still can't install osx
anyway here's whats going on, i booted the macbook with the instalation dvd it loads up as it should but when you get to the select drive part nothing is there so googled a few things and found the drive has to be set-up first so entered disk utility to partition and format the drive but get an error with whatever i do, i have removed and reseated the HDD cable and memory and have tried booting with only one stick to see if there was an error with one of the sodimm's, i have also tried accessing the AHT but none of the ways i have found work............ please if anyone can help me, please let me know

Thanks for the reply mate, sorry to say i have tried every option in disk util i've even tied a couple of terminal commands to do the same thing with no luck, i have however been able to remove the partition but that's where the good news ends as i can't create a new one..... is there anyway to prep the disk in windows? as i don't have an external case or another mac?
also what are the chances of the HDD cable being at fault? after more googeling i found someone with the same sort of problem's as me and he ended up replacing the cable http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/apple-notebooks/237964-cant-partition-brand-new -hard-drive.html unfortunatly i don't have an apple store anywhere near me so thats not an option but it's something i could do myself, the only problem is i don't have the £18 for a new one right now as i've had to buy a HDD and charger as well as the macbook and it's left me a little skint lol

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For Thisconfiguration of imac
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac6,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM61.0093.B07
SMC Version: 1.10f2
Serial Number: W86386XAVGN
Can I Install osx 10.6 if yes How?. I tried using my New imac's Install DVD 10.6.2, it say this version of osx cannot be installed on this mac
please tell which version of OSX 10.6 can be install in the above imac

First please don't post your serial number in a public. You should be able to install Mac OS X 10.6 on your system. The DVD you are using must be the original that came with the computer before it will work. What version of Mac OS X do you have on your system. I am thinking it is a higher version then 10.6.2.

Can I install OSX lion on a MacBook 4.1?

Can I install OSX lion on a MacBook 4.1? I'm trying to install iCloud on this computer and I need to install OSX (10.7.4) or higher. I don't see OSX (7) available in the store.

mqanderson wrote:
Can I install OSX lion on a MacBook 4.1?
Yes. Lion is not offered in the App Store, so you must phone Apple on the number shown in the Apple Online Store.
Explain that you want to purchase Lion for your MacBook4,1.
After Apple collects their fee ($20 + tax) they will send you a download code in an encrypted PDF document, and in another email supply the key to unencrypt the PDF.
"Redeem" the code in the App Store to purchase Lion.
Make sure you have enough memory; your Mac can address a maximum 6 GB. Lion's minimum requirement is 2 GB but I recommend at least 4 GB. More is better.

How can i install osx now ?

I clean my disk totally by disk utility and now nothing comes up when holding option key. After a while this text comes with a black background, "No Bootable Device -- insert boot disk and press any key".
I think I erase everything, even boot settings!!!
Now, How can i install OSX now on my iMac?

What is the exact iMac model you have, please? If your model can run Snow Leopard then you need to install Snow Leopard from your installer discs. Snow Leopard must then be upgraded to 10.6.8 so you can upgrade to the version of OS X you had installed from the App Store.

Replaced hard drive can't install OSX

A friend gave me an iBook G3 500 MgHz. I want it to coordinate with my iMac G5 to be able to use same Tiger software. I put in 640 MB of Ram, then installed OSX 10.4. Everything OK but the modem was broke and there was not much room on HD. So I bought new 80Gig Toshiba HD and new modem, did the surgery using excellent iFixit instructions and went to reinstall OSX from my cds. The computer works if I start it with OSX installer cd, and the disk utility and System Profiler show the hard drive properly,
BUT WHEN I START THE INSTALLER THE HARD DRIVE DOESN'T SHOW UP AS THE DESTINATION DRIVE,NOTHING SHOWS UP AS A POSSIBLE DESTINATION DRIVE.
DID I MISS A MAJOR STEP TO PREPARE THE COMPUTER FOR A NEW HD? IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO WITH DISK UTILITY TO MAKE IT SHOW UP?
HELP

Hi, and welcome to Apple Discussions.
In a Mac, it's called Open Firmware, and you get there by holding down the Command (Apple) Key + Option + o + f.
If it's a G4 (and it sounds like it is because the G3's have tray-loading optical drives), you may want to try posting in the iBook G4 Forum.
You have posted in the iBook G3 (Dual USB) Forum.
Also, an iBook G4 will not have version OS X 10.1.x (that version of the operating system is too old for an iBook G4), so you may want to check that information.

Can't install OSX 10.4 on this computer? But it used to run it fine!

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