Cant reinstall lion says disk is used for time machine backups

is there anyway i can get the install cds

Do you have a file called backups.backupdb on your disk?
If so the installer think that it the Time Machine disk.
Allan

Similar Messages

  • 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

  • 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

  • "Disk is used for Time Machine Backups" on My air, HELP!

    I am trying to download Mavericks on my mac air. I get almost to the download and it says "Disk is used for Time Machine Backups" I did a backup from my old pro to my new mac air when I got it a month or so back but would that affect it ? Help!

    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 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 ???

  • "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..."
    What can I do?

    After 10 days of trying to install Mountain Lion I finally took my IMac t the Apple Store in town. It was still under Apple Care.  When I would try to install it I would get a message that this disc (HD) was used by Time Machine.  I had read about the Time Machine backup folder some people had mentioned should be trashed. I used "Find" and "Spotlight" and never could find it.  My phone calls to Apple Support were non productive.  The young lady tech at apple took all of one minute to fix the problem. She simply went to the backup folder which was empty and trashed it.  mmediately the Mounain Lion begin the install and problem solved. She said that folder would not show up using Find or Spotlight as they were not to be messed with by the average Joe. It was on the HD but I have forgot how she got to it. The Apple Store was a great experience. You call and make an appointment and take your computer to what they calll the Genius Bar where they have nummerous technicians. They hook it up with you sitting at the Genius Bar as you show them what the problem is and they fix it on the spot in most cases. They will even carry the computer in and out if you need help.  They also answered some other tech questions not related to my original problem. They must have the fastest net connection in the world and you are free to walk into the store and use it if you have a big download. On one install it would have taken me 8-10 hours at home while going to the store it took less than an hour. You have a place to put your computer on a bar and a stool to sit on while doing this. No charge of course. I am sure glad I bouhgt Apple Care in this case. A very impressive operation.

  • 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

  • Downloaded Yosemite but it will not install on Macintosh HD as it says it is used for Time Machine Backups but it is not.  TM backup is to an external 2TB HD.  Downloaded OX x twice with the same result.

    Downloaded Yosemite but it will not install on Macintosh HD as it says it is used for Time Machine Backups but it is not.  TM backup is to an external 2TB HD.  Downloaded OX X twice with the same result.

    OS X: Cannot install on a volume used by Time Machine for backups
    For some reason you have a folder called Backups.backupdb at the root level of the hard disk on which you want to install Yosemite.
    Move it to the Trash.

  • 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

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