Can't install OSX or reformat HD with disk utility?

We're getting an error -10000 can't unmount volume.
It's on a 1.25ghz mdd g4... we've been getting tons of errors and we want to re-install 10.3 but we keep getting errors at the end of the install. So we tried to reformat the HD but we can't. Can't run disk utlity either - error: can't unmount volume?
Does anyone know how to fix this?
We just want to reformat and start from scratch!! help!
We are booting from our original 10.3 install CD.
Thanks!!!
--Jeff

Do you have any other OS Installer Discs? Maybe OS 9? Borrow someone else's installer discs (they will need to be either the retail box or from exactly the same machine)?
Give them a try and see what happens. There is a chance that your OS installer discs have gone bad. If they are bad you will get some sort of error message that more often than not has absolutely nothing to do with what the actual error may be. It just knows that something did not work.
You might examine the discs themselves to see if there is any pitting or scratching on the bottom side. If there is pitting it will be very small and you will need to examine the disc closely to see them if they are there.
If you have access to Tech Tool Pro see what it has to say. Just because a drive passes a S.M.A.R.T. test does not necessarily mean that it is good though.

Similar Messages

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'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 Time Capsule hard drive be accessed with Disk Utility? I'm having issues...

How does one mount , inspect , verify , and possibly repair a Time Capsule hard drive with Disk Utility ?
My 500Gb 1st gen Time Capsule ( used wireless with Airport) has quit backing up new data . ( iMac Core2Duo, Snow Leopard) . TC says it needs 238 Gb of available space, but only has 35 Gb available. So it quit doing new incremental backup altogether. It's almost like it wants to start over.
Airport connection seems good. Time Capsule seems healthy enough ( for being 3.5 years old) . I really dont want to lose the data on the existing backup.
What is the nature of this glitch ?

I'm sorry , LaP , but " Time Capsule become too full " is not the cause of my problem .
In fact, I just got done pruning the iMac system hard drive a little to free up some 10 Gb of new space , yet created only maybe 1-2 Gb of new data to archive. The TC had been doing regular daily backups without issue and Time Machine was showing me stuff from about ten days back.
The TC informed me it needed 235 Gb of space but only had 34 Gb available. That 235 Gb needed is totally in error. My problem more resembles corrupt hard disk directories . Maybe Permissions ? which is why I asked about using Disk Utility.
Yes, I do need a newer larger TC, but pigs don't fly and money does not grow on trees to make tha happen. The backup I have now is fine and should work if I need to restore anything in the forseeable. New data will not be archived, alas.

HT204347 Unable to Re-install mountain Lion after erasing with disk utility! help

I bought my new Macbook pro retina disply 13 inch last friday. played with it some time and try to restore using a time machine back up of my old Mac Air. It worked well but I didn't like it so I restarted and pressed Command + R to bring the restore utility and from there I used the Disk utility to erase my Disk and then after connecting to net I clicked reinstall Lion. First my machine was verified by Apple, then I entered my apple ID, then the mountain lion licence agreement came and i clicked agree and it started installing. Immediatley below the installation bar it showed 50 hrs remaining to finish installation. it was odd because I used to finish it within 2 hrs. Moreover the time appeared to increase from 50 to 51 and more. I waited all day without any use. it looked as if the disk has some write protection, the software is trying to install but unable to write.
What can i do now? I am now without a OS in my mac.

A new Mac comes with 90 days of free tech support from AppleCare from the date of purchase.
AppleCare: 1-800-275-2273.
Have the serial number of the computer ready in hand and give AppleCare a call.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1559?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
They will walk you through.
Best.

Can't modify external hard drive partition with Disk Utility

Hi,
I have an external 750GB hard drive that I previously formatted as FAT 32 because I wanted to be able to plug it into Windows computers as well. I was not very thoughtful at the beginning and I just created one big 750GB partition. I currently have 450GB used and about 300GB free.
I would like to create a new partition in the free space without losing the data I have in the disk, and format the new partition as Mac OS Extended to use it for Time Machine backups. Presumably Disk Utility can do it, but when I go to the "Partition" tab it says "This partition cannot be modified" and the "+" sign below it is grayed. Can anybody help me repartitioning my drive without losing my data?
Thanks!!!

That would likely be because the drive is partitioned MBR and not GUID. You cannot repartition an MBR partitioned drive on the fly. What you need is a drive that is partitioned using GUID (GPT) with on partition formatted for the Mac and the other formatted FAT32. But to do that you must start the drive from scratch:
Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the entire partition in the rectangle by clicking on it (the lines will turn darker blue) and click on the [+] Add button. The volume will be divided in two. Select each volume and resize as your require.
5. Select one of the volumes you just created. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Erase button.
6. Repeat Step 5 using MSDOS as the format type.
This will work with any PC that understands the GPT partition scheme which is Vista and Windows 7. Otherwise, you should just leave the drive as it is and forgo using Time Machine or purchase another drive for Time Machine.

How can i install OSX on a drive with having the dvd or an OS on it

am new to Apple,
so can someone help me?

Need more information.
Which of the many models of iMac are you using?
What version of OS X is it running?
What problem are you trying to solve with this install of OS X?
Allan

Can't install OSX on a Macbook with Windows XP!! alone on it

Hey,
I have a Macbook pro on which i have only Windows XP . I want to install OS X10.5 on it and by no means i can boot the machine from DVD.
I have tried the this below,
1. To boot on Safe mode - dint work
2. To boot in Single user mode - dint work
3. Tried to open Firmware command-option-O-F - dint work
4. Tried to boot from DVD using 'C' -Dint work
5. Clicked 'options' button on boot, it will show, windows partition and CD but when i click on CD it will get stuck
Is there anyway, i can boot from Mac OS x 10.5 DVD and install it on this machine?
Thanks.

If the machine is older than December 15, 2008, it may use the 10.5.6 retail installer shown on this tip, and possibly the 10.5.4, or 10.5.1, or 10.5.(0) retail installers depending on its age:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2275
If the machine is newer than December 15, 2008, you must the 10.5 installer that came with it.
If the machine is newer than August 28, 2009, it won't support 10.5 at all, except possibly 10.5 Server. Check the 10.5 server forum if that might be something that you are willing to consider. Most everything that runs in 10.5 can in 10.6.
If the machine is newer than July 20, 2011, it can't run 10.6 at all, and must run 10.7 when it comes to Mac OS X client. Again server editions may run as well. The server forums are here: https://discussions.apple.com/community/servers_enterprise_software

Can you work while you repair permissions with disk utility?

I had read somewhere that it was fine to repair permissions while you run Safari and other apps on your Mac at the same time. Obviously, everything runs slower while you are doing this, but other than that are there any ill side effects from doing this? (i.e., are things not repaired for apps you are running, etc.?)
I've been searching all over the place for an answer on this and would appreciate an educated answer from the pros here. My assumption from what I know of permissions repair is that it's harmless, but I'd like an expert explanation.
Thanks!
By the way, I'm running 10.5.8 if that makes any difference.

Not that I'm aware of. It would be implied by the fact that you should repair permissions while booted into your normal system. Since hundreds of processes are already running apparently repairing permissions is not affected by them. Then again if you know what's involved in repairing permissions you would learn that it is simply a matter of reading information on a file and comparing it to the contents of a database. If there's a difference then fix the file information in the directory. This is not an operation that requires one to quit all open programs because the program data are not involved in the repair process. And having done this for 20 years I know there isn't a problem.
Hopefully you're now convinced it's OK.

Partitioning with disk utility

hi there.. i wonder, can i partition my primary hard drive with disk utility live? (i mean not from the leopard dvd on boot) i want to create a new partition that would be less than the amount of free space i have, while running leopard (my mac os shouldn't be damaged i think), is that possible? and safe? thanx

cukerko,
If you have an Intel Mac, the answer is yes. Intel Macs must have internal drives that use the GUID Partition Map, and these can be dynamically partitioned and re-sized under Leopard's Disk Utility.
It is relatively safe, but it is an action that modifies the drive at a low level. In other words, one would be foolish to attempt a re-partitioning or re-size without a good and current backup on hand. Provided you have such a backup, there's no reason not to create your partition.
Scott

Can you install osx lion with thumb drive from 10.6.3

can you install osx lion with thumb drive from 10.6.3

No. You can install Snow Leopard with a flash drive 10.6.3 installer. However, for Lion you must start with 10.6.8 in order to access the App Store to purchase and download Lion.

Can't install OSX on external drive...

Hi ----------------------------
A couple of days ago I purchased a Seagate 300gig Firewire/USB drive. I partioned it with Disk Utility and proceeded to install OS 10.4 from the install DVD. No dice. It wouldn't let me get past the window where you indicated a disk/volume on which to install. Phoned Seagate support. They said I couldn't install a system on an external drive. That sounded strange to me as I have a ACOM 60gig external on which I had no problem installing OS 10.2.8.
Anyhow, I then turned to Carbon Copy Cloner and proceeded to try that. after clicking "Make Bootable" on the CCC preference page, I then proceeded to try to make a clone of my system. I failed twice, but the third time was a charm. When I fired up the Startup Disk in System Preferences, there was an icon for my new drive partition staring me right in the face. I choose it as the new startup disk, clicked on it, and my computer started it restart routine.
But, a flashing icon appeared on the screen, alternating between a question mark and a folder icon, and then the computer restarted up in its original disk/volume.
Hey, what gives? What am I doing wrong? I thought when I saw the new system icon in the Startup Disk window, that I was home free. If I'm unable to get a start up system on my new drive, it will become (just like the birdie in Monty Python) and "ex-new drive." It will go right back to Comp USA.
Can anyone help me out here? If so, TIA
Phil (Da Kid)
G4 867 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

FWIW, the 'zero out' option is a waste of time for problems like this. Please understand that even a one volume partitioning scheme puts more than one partition on the drive. Partition number zero contains information about the scheme & the other partitions. (This is the partition Disk Utility's "Info" button reports info about when you select the drive rather than one of its volumes. That should say it is ApplePartitionScheme for a PPC Mac, or a GUID one for an Intel one; otherwise the drive won't boot the Mac in question no matter what else you do.)
This partition is not affected by an erase with zeros option, which only applies to a mountable volume & only overwrites data on that volume with zeros. Aside from the intended use as a security option, the only other value it has is to pre-mark bad blocks on the drive used for storing that volume's data. But since it doesn't affect the other partitions, since the drive already maps out bad blocks wherever it finds them at write time, & since a misread zero is as bad as a misread one wherever it might occur in the partition info, there is just no way the zeros option is going to correct a boot problem.
So, if you want to do something useful, forget this advice to 'zero the drive' & the "Erase" tab in Disk Utility as a means of formatting the drive. You can only format volumes with that tab. To reformat the entire drive, or to check that its partition scheme is the right one for booting your Mac, use the "Partition" tab & its "Options" button.
FWIW #2: the StartUp Disk system preference doesn't do extensive checks on a startup volume, so it sometimes displays startup volumes that won't actually boot your Mac. If you select one of these, you see exactly what you saw: the flashing icon, followed by a startup from a viable volume, if one is present.
Startup Manager, which is enabled by the Option key restart, does much more extensive checks (which is why it takes so long to complete its scan for startup candidates). If a drive doesn't show up in Startup Manager, you can be sure it won't boot the Mac. The same isn't true of the pref.

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.

Big trouble: Tried to do 2 partitions now I can't install OSX.

I had this happen once before on my G5 and it was fixed by rebooting and trying again. Not this time.
I wanted 2 partitions on my new MacBook so I decided to reinstall before I got a whole lot of software on it.
After making both partitions Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and clicking partition I tried to finish setup but both partitions say they can't have OSX installed on them!
I restarted, booted to the CD again, repartitioned back to a single Partition, same problem.
Next I repartitioned again and tried to Zero out the disk, (getting desparate at this point) 45min later. No luck!
HELP!

The problem is the type of partition that you have created.
You are going to need to repartition the disk again. To do this boot from your OS X disk and use disk utility (it is under the "Utilities" menu (i think there is a menu with disk utility for sure.)
Once you have Disk Utility Running go into the partition menu and select options. You need to use the GUID Parition Table to allow you to install OS X on an Intel map. After that then repartition and you should be able to install.

Put in new HD,but 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 or some startup keyboard stuff TO MAKE IT SHOW UP?
HELP

YO YO YO Matt, you are the MAN! Don't know why a blank disk needs to be erased but hey, it worked . I almost tried it last night but wasn't sure which format to use. Thanks; OSX is installing.

Can't install OSX or reformat HD with disk utility?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for