Cannot install Leopard

I just moved up to a new iMac. I want to sell my old Power PC imac. It was running OSX 10.4. I erased the HD completely using the 35 pass method. I own a version of OSX 10.5 which I want to install on the computer before I sell it. When I insert the installation disc first I get a spinning world, then a question mark. It seems I can reinstall OSX 10.4. Why won't the computer recognize 10.5?

Maybe the Leopard disc isn't a retail install one and is a machine-specific version that came with another machine. If so, it won't work. Better than installing anything, just give the buyer the original discs and manuals that came with the machine and let the buyer install the software.

Similar Messages

Cannot install Leopard on Intel Macbook

I have an Intel Macbook (2GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD) with OS 10.4.11 installed, and am trying to upgrade to 10.5 with a retail version of Leopard. However, when I attempt to boot from the install disc (which I can successfully do), I cannot install Leopard because of an error message that it "cannot be installed on this machine."
Any help/advice?

pixelinpink wrote:
I have an Intel Macbook (2GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD) with OS 10.4.11 installed, and am trying to upgrade to 10.5 with a retail version of Leopard. However, when I attempt to boot from the install disc (which I can successfully do), I cannot install Leopard because of an error message that it "cannot be installed on this machine."
Any help/advice?
Check out this article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1940?viewlocale=en_US
Is the Leopard DVD a complete retail version (not an update)?
Is your MBP a very recent one? If you you need a very recent version of the install DVD.
Is your HD formatted/partitioned properly for Leopard (GUID, HFS+)?
You may need to backup your Tiger install (SuperDuper or CCC clone is perfect) and then do an erase and install of Leopard on a blank HD. You can always boot into Tiger (as I do) from the backup, and you can migrate from the Tiger BU to Leopard.

Cannot Install Leopard on my Macbook

Hi,
I recently bought a macbook off ebay due to my ibook dying and not being good enough to run leopard anyway (67MHz off!), eventually got it and I can't install leopard on it! This makes no sense to me as its a core 2 duo 2ghz 2gb ram, definately high enough spec! I put the Leopard Disc in (it's not the retail one but it says "For Mac Computers") and it boots to it, gets to the first screen asking to choose the language, so I pick English...then it has a think...then it says "Mac OS X cannot be installed on this computer". What's that about? I can install ubuntu on it easily, I can even put XP on it easily but it won't have leopard! Anyone got any ideas?

When you buy a Mac from an "official" reseller, it always comes with the system software on a DVD that will only work on that model of computer.
You appear to have a DVD designed to be used on a model of computer other than the MacBook you bought.
The retail version would work. I think you'll have to buy it.
However I do think that the person who sold you the MacBook should have included the system software disks with it.

I cannot install Leopard 10.5 onto my PowerMac G5 (dual processor)

I have a new retail full install DVD of Leopard 10.5 and cannot install it to my PowerMac G5 (dual processor). I bought a new disc, thinking it was the original. Nothing! I bought a new SATA 1tb hard drive... Nothing! I have reformatted until I can refomat no more. I have tried to "Safe Boot", holding down C, Option, Shift, etc... Can someone tell me what to do?

Hmmm, with the Leopard Install Disc in use Disk Utility to Verify the DVD, does that come out OK?
If so ...
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
   2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
      *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
   3. Click the Erase tab.
   4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
   5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
   6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, select the Security Options button, choose Zero Out Data, Erase... after completion hopefully you'll be able to install.

CANNOT install Leopard 10.5.6 formatted hdd into PowerMac G4 (graphite)

so i am currently building a PowerMac G4 (graphite) Dual 450mhz with 1gb RAM for a friend. when i bought this originally, it came with a 30.7gb hard drive running OS9...computer boots fine when that hard drive is connected.
but when i connect a 60gb hard drive that i formatted using my time machine backup (running OSX leopard 10.5.6) it wont recognize the drive and run. which is odd because just before building this one, i built the SAME exact model but when i bought it the hdd was running 10.4 so upgrading using time machine and my install disc was a cinch.
when powering up i get the whole "panic (cpu 0 caller..." deal:
panic(cpu 0 caller oxoo36fffc)
"unable to find driver for this platform:
\"powermac3,3\"\n"@/sourcecache/xn4/xn4.....etc.
mac os version: not yet set
kernal version: darwin kernal 9.6.0:
..........etc, so on and so forth.
i asked around and people said that it seems like i need to update the bios, but i dont know how to do that.
also, when i try to just put in my OSX install disc and install leopard onto the original drive, it says there were errors and that it could not be completed after the entire installation process goes through.
WHAT CAN I DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? anything i am missing?

mahem4DUB wrote:
so i am currently building a PowerMac G4 (graphite) Dual 450mhz
A Dual450MHz is not supported for a Leopard install. You need 867MHz or higher to run it the way it was meant to be.
but when i connect a 60gb hard drive that i formatted using my time machine backup (running OSX leopard 10.5.6) it wont recognize the drive and run.
What machine is it a backup of? It has to be exactly the same build date G4 for any hope of operation. Your specs. say you have a Quicksilver. It doesn't have the correct drivers for a G4 Gigabit (you say graphite, but I believe the Dual 450MHz was a Gigabit Ethernet....I have one).
Also, Time Machine backups are not bootable. I believe, though am no expert on Time Machine, one must install the OS from the disk, then backup from Time Machine.
And the Gigabit can't run Leopard unless you upgrade the processor. Some have tried but operation has been unsatisfactory for most. You would have to install thru Target Disk Mode, off an install disk, using a Mac that meets Leopards specs.
Dale

Cannot install leopard, keeps restart

Hi, I recently purchased a macbook pro. It works perfect, but I just want to re-install leopard however it doesn't let me do it.
When I try to press and hold C, it keeps restarting. "D" Hardware test works though and it doesn't find any problem. I have tried 3 different leopard cd's and all same problem.
Any solution?
Thanks...

korro wrote:
Hi, I recently purchased a macbook pro. It works perfect, but I just want to re-install leopard however it doesn't let me do it.
When I try to press and hold C, it keeps restarting. "D" Hardware test works though and it doesn't find any problem. I have tried 3 different leopard cd's and all same problem.
Only the DVD that came with the computer will work. DVDs from other machines will not work, and, since your machine is new, even a recent commercial DVD may not work if it was released before the production date of your machine.
It's also possible that your optical drive is not working properly.
Try resetting PRAM first - a long shot but why not?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

Cannot install Leopard OS 10.5 on my PowerBook G4-12"

The new Leopard DVD installed in about one hour, but then on restart there was a blue screen for a couple of hours and then nothing.
I reinstalled TIGER from my "SuperDuper!" backup (thanks a million for that!) -- but now am gunshy about trying to install Leopard. A G4 PowerBook running at 1500 MHz with 2 gb RAM -- this should work fine!
Are there any firmware updates? Disk verified OK -- Permissions repaired. What else to do?
Thanks for any comments.
Steve after NOEL not advancing here... thanks for any comments!

the install DVD has a program checking your computer minimum requirements so it won't let you install on a 733MHz machine. However, there are some hacks to go around the issue. If you are really curious you can try them. Basically, the idea is to make a copy of the install DVD on a separate hard drive, manually change one line of code in the xml file that lists the min requirements and install Leopard from that hard drive.
here is a link to detailed instructions
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071026083746346&query=leopard%2Bm inimum%2Brequirement
P.S. you'll need to install the Developer Tools to follow the hint in the above link. They should be on your install DVD.

Cannot install Leopard 10.5.4 on iBook G4, MacBook

Hello,
I have a retail DVD of the Leopard 10.5.4 install disk, and I cannot get it to install on my machine (iBook G4, 1.0 GHz, 1.25 GB RAM). After inserting the disk and restarting the computer, I never get to the "select language" screen - it just stalls on the boot screen with the gray apple logo and the gray pinwheel. I tried the DVD on a friends' MacBook and encountered the same problem. Next, I tried it on an old eMac that I have and did NOT have such a problem. What gives? Could this be a faulty DVD? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

This is the original DVD, not a copy? It sounds like a bad DVD, or bad drives.

Cannot install Leopard on G4Pbook from Disk Image

G4 Powerbook 1.67, 1.5GB RAM, 10.4.11
I have a backup of my Universal Leopard disc on a bare SATA drive that I use as an installer drive, via USB and drive adapter. Much faster than reading the DVD and no need to swap discs. Anyway, I was able to use it to upgrade my Mac Pro last year, but now that I'm finally getting around to my PBook it won't install from the external drive. I open the installer file but it tells me "the application cannot be run from this disk" and I can only quit. On other machines the installer ran and I was able to restart the machine to boot into the Leopard install. The 'Startup Disk' in the Prefs doesn't list the Leopard partion on the SATA drive as a viable system disk, so that may be the issue there. Do G4s have issues with seeing USB drives as startup disks?
I don't have the original Leopard DVD with me, so I need to come up with other options for installing. Target Disk from my tower and run the install that way?
TIA, JK

Hi
+Do G4s have issues with seeing USB drives as startup disks?+
Yes in the sense they won't work. AFAIK PPC architecture macs will only boot from certain external firewire drives - depends on the chipset. Oxford Semiconductor is one chipset that I know that works - there are others. I'm not absolutely certain but I think it's safe to say the later Intel Macs (last year or so) will boot from external USB drives as long as they're USB 2.
You should be able to boot your MacPro using the external drive (as you've done before) and target disk mode the G4 to your MacPro. It should present itself as a viable destination source when you run the Installer.
Tony

Cannot install Leopard! after getting flashing folder icon @ boot-up

Hi, I have a retail version of leopard but not having any luck installing it.
While installing I choose to erase and install option, when it started to install it comes up with a error "The source media you are installing from is damaged. Try istalling from a different copy of the source media or contact the manufacturer for a replacment".
Now when I boot up to try it again, it comes up with a flashing folder error, with ? mark in it.
I have resetted the pram and restored drive but no luck. Any help?

How long into the install process (after you clicked install and it started installing) until you received the error?
* If it had already formatted the hard drive, then the reason you're not able to boot is because all of your previous operating system and data were erased already and you're s@#t up a creek and will have to contact Apple, tell them the steps you took, and request a new Leopard disk.
* If it simply checked the Leopard DVD and it hadn't formatted the drive or started installing, then booting off your original OSX disk (or the disk of the previous operating system you had on there) and going to "Disk Utility > First Aid > verify Disk" will tell you what the issue is. If it has errors, then try using "Repair Disk". If it fails, you're s@#t up a creek and will have to contact Apple, tell them the steps you took, and request a new Leopard disk.
Good Luck!

Cannot Install Leopard on Xserve G5

Trying to do clean install of Leopard Server on headless G5 Xserve. It gets to 15% and stalls. Now when I try to go back to 10.4 it doesn't recognize the serial number.

Did you partition the drive before installing the OS? I don't mean format... actually recreate the primary partition? Most drives now ship as a GUID partition, which G5 will install on, but won't boot from.
MBLNNASH

Cannot install leopard, grey screen

When I click restart on the install dvd app, it restarts, then goes to the grey screen, and stays there forever. could it be bad ram module?

Kevin Wyatt-Scott wrote:
When I click restart on the install dvd app, it restarts, then goes to the grey screen, and stays there forever. could it be bad ram module?
If it never gets to the DVD selftest, then it's either a hardware problem such as you mention, RAM, or a bad DVD or even a bad or marginal optical reader.
I would reset PRAM and NV-RAM and also look at the DVD for scratches and/or dirt and clean it if necessary with a damp soft cloth, wiping from center to outside in a straight line.

Late 2008 mbp - installed new ssd - trying to boot from snow leopard iso on flash drive - says 'cannot install mac os on this computer'

Hello -
I just installed a new M500 Crucial ssd in my late 2008 mbp - everything was working fine on old hard drive (running snow leopard) but was getting slow and wanted to upgrade - i lost my snow leopard disk when moving from hawaii so i found an iso online - using a flash drive i partitioned the disk and made the bootable image on flash drive - formatted as extended/journaled - switched out the hard drives - plugged in the flash drive - started the comp - held option - install begins to boot - choose language - all is fine - choose english - next step window pops up saying 'cannot install os on this computer' - click on utility but all options are greyed out - disk util is greyed out - only options it gives is to start from backup or restart - real confused here - all help appreciated - thanks in advance and happy new year!

Snow Leopard comes in discs only. The USB drive may be a counterfeit and/or corrupt. There are two options for you:
Get replacement original OSX installation disks from Apple customer service. Have your MBP serial number ready and there is a charge.
Or two, purchase a Snow Leopard disk from the Apple online store:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Ciao.

Cannot install iTunes 10.7 on snow leopard MacBook Pro.

I have received my new iPhone 5 two weeks ago but I am unable to use it since I cannot install iTunes 10.7. I have a MacBook Pro with Mac OS 10.6 (snow leopard) and 2GB RAM. I have been trying to install it and every time I get an error message saying that the disk could not be verified. I tried skipping verification and again it would allow me installing. Furthermore, I am trying to do my recommended software updates (including one about security) and my mac never succeeds. I am just wondering if that could be the problem.
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you!

Try updating using a .dmg installer downloaded from the Apple website:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Help - tried to install leopard over tiger on iBook G4 and cannot boot up

My ibook G4 apparently does not have enough disk space to enable me to install leopard; shame, BUT in process of finding this out I cannot restart in Tiger - machine spends 3-4 mins trying then powers down to black screen.
Any help/advice gratefully received...
Thanks, Bob

Hi Bob, and a warm welcome to the forums!
Do you have a Backup?
Do you have a bootable external drive?
Do you have another Mac around so you could use FW Target Mode to clear some space...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583
If none of the above, then using your Install Disk to Erase everything and start over completely is about the only ting left.
Due to temporary files, RAM Discs, VM, you need twice what they say minimum to install... 20 GB free.

Cannot install Leopard

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