Cant Reinstall OS from Install Disk

I am attempting to wipe the hdd on the macbook pro and reinstall the os. Using the bundled disks from the original packaging I can insert the disk, choose install OSX and I get a password request. After that the macbook pro restarts and I get a pale grey screen, nothing else. Tried rebooting with the disk in place and holding down 'C'. Same again, pale grey screen and nothing else.
Anyone else encountered this?

After putting in the DVD, you need to restart with the C-butten pushed until the apple loge appears.

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Ibook g4 won't boot from install disks

Got an ibook g4 1.33 ghz combo drive from original owner w/install disks. I want to reinstall original system but it won't boot from install disk 1. Tried starting holding down c but ignores disk. Holding down option just gives me the HD. Install disk shows up on desktop and opens. Tried disk utility from install disk but it doesn't allow me to erase the hd. Is there anything else I can do? Thanks.

OK, so let us suppose that you have the correct disk, the possibilities are:
• the optical drive is not functioning properly. However, since the disk shows up on the desktop the drive is apparently reading it.
• the disk itself is the issue. It could the wrong disk, but let us assume it is not. It could be damaged so that it is no longer bootable, or it could dirty. I would begin by giving the disk a good buffing and see if that will encourage it to boot the computer.
Good luck.
cornelius

I can't boot from instalation disk need help

can anyone tell me why i can't boot from instalation disk
i burn a DVD with verified iso with MD5 with Nero Express

i use burn image , of course and
i have a Sempron +2400 with asus a7s8x mainboard
and i download all 5 file for DVD x86 and then i copy /b all this files.
when computer boot from cd the screen is bleu with Solaris ................ v.20 message and after 1 second message became
Aolaris ..................v.20 and computer remain in this position

I downloaded updates to iphoto and computer erred on install. I cannot open iphoto. I decided to reinstall iphoto from app disk and now I get an error message"......iphoto may be damaged or incomplete" Any suggestions how to get iphoto going again???

I downloaded updates to iphoto and computer erred on install. A report went to Apple.
I cannot open iphoto. I decided to reinstall iphoto from my app disk and now I get an error message"......iphoto may be damaged or incomplete" Any suggestions how to get iphoto going again???
My iphoto library still exists and I don't want to lose it.

https://discussions.apple.com/community/ilife/iphoto

Can i & how to boot from install disk copy to reinstall os10.4

i am farly computer illerate, sorry...this is a two parter: i have an older g4 that was running 10.2 and it has malfunctioned in that it isn't showing the finder or disk or any other plugged in periphial device like my usb hub or flash drive or camera or card reader or mp3 player. i have alot of i tunes and want to save to a different g4 i just picked up that seems to operate good. it's running 10.4.11 and the guy i got it from gave me a set of copies of that software install disks.
first i can't use firewire conections because the old computer freezes up anytime i get it booted and try to acess anything...i heard that i could put the old hard drive in the working machile and copy my library. i did this (after finally figuring out to set the jumpers correctly!) and it put some of my music on but not all of it...i put the old drive back in the old machine and the complete library is still there so.
i'm currently in process of downloading those cd's i still have access to and have accepted i'm going to lose the rest...
question 1: is there some way to get them from the older hard drive when it's in the newer machine as a slave drive?
question 2: can (and if so, how do i go about it, literally) rebooting to it and reinstalling a newer software version fix my older computer, or at least recover all it's memory so i can useit as extra storage?
)0

Yes, you can format it, but honestly, with it being only 20 GB, quite old & possibly next to failing, as well as drives that are faster & 25 times as big are fairly cheap... myself, believing in Karma, would find somebody that has less & would be willing to work with it.
>Stoopid technology...
I titally agree, & anymore the tech seems only directed at Bloat, Obsolesence, if it doesn't work just buy the newest/latest/greatest until 6 monts down the line.
I'm in biz for myself and can tell you that it doesn't pay to sell things that last for 5,10, 20 or more years, give solid advice for free... I'll likely be out of biz within 2 months after 40 years & be $200K in the hole.

Can't boot from install disk and I need to reinstall OS X 10.4

I am trying to boot from the install disk by restarting the computer and holding down the c button. It won't start up from the disk. I get a white screen and an icon that is a circle with a line through it. I am having that problem on all my iMacs in my lab and I don't know why. Help Please!!! thanks.

Sorry for all of the posts.. but it could be possible that the firmware is password protected - disabling users in the computer lab from corrupting programs? I found this article and it might help.. (http://www.fif3.com/howto/archives/001983.html) Some of the article is below....
ALSO: if you use open firmware password... you'll need this:
Startup Manager -accessed by pressing the Option key during startup
Enter commands after starting up in Open Firmware -press Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482
How to troubleshoot a computer with Open Firmware Password enabled
If you cannot access the Open Firmware Password application and need to troubleshoot your computer by:
Resetting the PRAM
Starting up in Single-user mode
Starting up in Verbose mode
Starting from CD-ROM
Then follow these steps:
Start up into Open Firmware by pressing and holding the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.
At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-nvram
Press Return.
When prompted for your password, enter it and press the Return key. It responds OK.
At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-all
Press Return.
The computer restarts and you are now be able to reset the PRAM and startup in Single-user mode, Verbose mode, or from CD-ROM.

Can't Start from Install disk or external Hard Drive

I've installed an operating system on a external WD 120Gb hard drive. I am unable to start up from the WD Hard Drive or the Snow Leopard install disk, either by selection them from the Startup disk or by pressing 'OPTION' at startup. Every time one of these is selected, the computer starts from the MacBook internal hard Drive.
I have installed the operating system on an Iomega 1 Tb external and it doesn't show up on the Startup disk or when I start using the option key.
I have reinstalled the operating system on both the MacBook Pro Hard drive and he 120Gb portable.
I have a 2Gb SimpleTech Dual Pro Drive, which I can see and start up by, using the Option key at system boot.
I have a 500Gb Iomega I am using for my TIme Machine.
I can't figure why I am unable to start up using the Software DVD.

Thanks for the tip. In the end I combined bits and pieces of what I had read on other peope's messages, what worked for me was putting the frozen computer to sleep with the power button and then waking it up with both the mouse and the C key held down at the same time. Individually nothing happened but with both the CD popped out.
Thanks again,
Jason

Reinstall OS hangup: Install disk can't find hard drive

Hi all,
I'm trying to reinstall OS X.3 on my daughter's iBook G4. I had it running ok but Safari wasn't working so I decided to do a clean install of the OS.
Somewhere along the line the internal HD disappeared from the install disk's radar, so to speak. If you're familiar with the install sequence, I can pin-point where things go wrong. Right after the window concerning software agreement--where you check "I agree"--the next window instantly opens asking where to install the software. The problem is the window does not show any drive to select. It's all just white space.
The reason I have to keep trying to reinstall the OS is that if I allow the computer to boot itself, it will display the prohibitory sign (circle with diagonal line) and that's as far as it goes. I have tried using the original install CD, another Panther disk, a Tiger disk and TechTool Pro 4. I've also been able to bring up Apple's own Disk Utility but it can't repair the disk--something is wrong with the allocation section of the volume structure, it reports.
Here's another clue: The battery will no longer hold a charge. This created a bad situation during my first attempt to reinstall the OS, because the power cable accidentally got pulled out and there was apparently no power in the battery so everything grounded to a halt. I haven't been able to get the computer to boot up since.
I realize I may have to erase her drive in order to get up and going again, but, failing to heed Daddy's past warnings to Backup! Backup! Backup! she has no way to restore her data. This is, of course, tragic.
Any ideas? Any lifelines to throw out?
Thanks for reading this rather lengthy post. Help, as always would be most appreciated.
Ddale53
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4)
Powerbook G3 Pismo FW Mac OS X (10.3)
Powerbook G3 Pismo FW Mac OS X (10.3)

You need to reformat the drive before reinstalling the OS or do an Archive install. It wont let you install the OS because there is a newer version installed (is it upgraded to 10.3.9?).
From the sounds of things you'll want to do an archive install. Go down to options (it will show up on the bottom of the installer window where the drives show up). Then click on it and select archive install and away you go.

Need to Reinstall Mail from Leopard Disk

How do I reinstall just the Mail.app from the 10.5 disk?
If I do, will all the current mail boxes and messages stored on my hard drive still be there?
Mail is from .Mac
Thanks

Mike,
Reinstalling Mail will not affect anything in your HOME folder. This includes anything in your mailboxes, any of your settings for Mail, etc.
Look on versiontracker.com for an application named Pacifist. Pacifist will allow you to browse the contents of the Leopard install disk, and extract/install just Mail.app. Are you sure that you need to reinstall Mail, and if so, why?
Scott

Start-Up from Install Disk with Complications

Originally I had start-up problems (flashing folders with question marks), so after troubleshooting, I started up from the install disk. After going through Disk Utility, nothing appeared in the First Aid for me to Repair the Disk. So the next step would be to delete the disk, and reinstall completely using the cds. However, I cannot find advice on how to do this, and don't see my hard drive on the Disk Utility bar to delete. When I try reinstalling the disk, it asks me where I would like to put the hard drive, and nothing comes up. I love my computer and am desperate - please HELP!

To start up from your OS installer disk 1 insert it in the Mac. When it appears on the desktop restart and hold down the 'c' key. If that fails there may be a problem with the disk or you are using the wrong disk. Until you get a new disk you can do repairs by restarting and holding down the command-s keys until you see the white scrolling text on a black background. Then at the prompt type:
fsck -fy
hit return. If it repairs something do it again until there are no repairs needed. Then type"
reboot mac
hit return

2011 MacBook will not restart from Install Disks

I have had problems with my macbook grey screening and having to shut down by holding down the power button (I get the screen with the instructions how to reboot in 5 different languages). When I start it up again I get the panic report from the shut down.
In Utilities, Disk Utility I ran the Repair Disk and received the message that the disk was damaged and I had to do the reapir from the install disk.
So I put the install disk in (came with the laptop, 10.6) and I tried to repair the disk using the disk utility from the install disk. Two problems: when I insert the disk, restart while holding down the 'C' key, nothing happens (stays at the grey screen) until I let go of the 'C' key and then I get another Panic and have to reboot manually. So I tried inserting the install disk with the laptop already on and clicking on the disk to hopefully get to the disk utility or at least reinstall the OS, which leads to problem two: I receive the message 'Mac OS X 10.6 cannot be installed on this computer.'
My laptop is currently running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. I just want to get the Panics to stop happening. Any ideas?

Hi..
Try here > Tutorial: Avoiding and eliminating Kernel panics | MacFixIt - CNETReviews

Lost Admin rights, can't change PW from install disk

I just installed the update to 10.4.11 and my main user lost it's admin status. It was the only admin I had set up.
I've found several articles including this one:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=ServerAdmin/10.4/en/c8od36.html
which seem to address my problem. It seems like changing the Root Admin's password would fix everything however when I boot up from the install disk and click on change password I'm then supposed to click on my HD icon but can't because it's greyed out.
It seems to be that my computer doesn't recognize any users, not even the System Admin (root). The only thing I can imagine (in my very small amount of mac knowledge) is that the there are no users listed in the admin users group in the computer.
Any ideas at all that might help me fix this without having to reinstall everything would be so greatly appreciated!!
Beth

Hi Beth, and a warm welcome!
I think you may have some corruption...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, 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 First Aid 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. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Help First Aid Fails From Install Disk

My I-Mac G-5 crashed and on restart is displaying the grey screen with the question mark instead of finding the os / hard drive. I rebooted again from the install disk holding down C and when I went to verify and repair the disk... the repair option wasn't selectable and when I select verify i get this message
"First Aid failed
"Disk Utility stopped repairing permissions on '(volume name)' because the following error was encountered: No valid packages"
The Apple support on this topic here
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25704
only covers when the application disk utility fails from your OS... But its failing for me from my INSTALL Disk.
Thanks in advance!

That error occurs because either the /Library/Receipts/ folder has been deleted or its contents were deleted. Without that DU will not function. This is because when you repair permissions Disk Utility uses the Receipts folder on the OS X volume being repaired.
However, it cannot fix your problem. Your problem results from damaged or corrupted system files required during startup. The only solution is to reinstall OS X. You may be able to do this without erasing the drive by doing an Archive and Install:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.) 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, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) 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.
2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

Cannot boot either from install disk or hard drive

I have done a number of searches, and I have not found a problem precisely like the one I am encountering.
Earlier today, my MacBook (running Leopard 10.5.3) failed to wake properly from sleep. After I attempted to reboot the machine using the power button, I encountered a black box with the following message: "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the Restart button."
I have tried all of the usual fixes (e.g., zapping PRAM, removing all power sources, holding down the shift key), and nothing has worked. What puzzles me most of all is that, although the DVD drive is clearly working, I am unable to boot from the install disk.
I would add that, when I old down the option (Alt) key while booting, I am able to see all three of the available options for rebooting. This seems to suggest that the computer is still able to detect my hard drive as well as my DVD drive. Why, then, does nothing allow me to get past the black box with its cryptic (and rather unhelpful) message?
Out of desperation, I unsuccessfully tried to use the option of rebooting from my boot camp partition. I then received a message that might provide a clue. "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: system 32\hal.dll" Does this suggest anything to anyone?
If I continue to be unable to get past the black screen over the course of the weekend, I will take my computer in for service on Monday. But it would be nice to come up with some sort of solution before then.

Let me add a quick update to my original posting.
I finally managed to run Apple's hardware tests on my machine. According to the tests, there is absolutely nothing wrong with my hardware. But the fact remains that I still cannot manage to boot into OSX--even using my original installation disk.
As I mentioned in my original post, I am able to get part way into the version of Windows XP that is installed on my boot camp partition. However, I am a little nervous about pursuing the possibility of repairing my XP installation. I am afraid that, by doing this, I may inadvertently damage my OSX partition.
Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. In particular, I would like to know whether there is perhaps some secret way of forcing a MacBook to boot from the installation disk. Is there anything that one can do when holding down the "C" key does not work?

How to undo boot camp, wont boot from install disk in dvd drive

A few months ago I went through trying out boot camp and parallels. Now, I think something is messed up. I dont need either right now, so I just want to wipe out the whole system, repartition the drive, and restore to a blank new install of os x 10.5 leopard.
But when I put in the install disk, it wont boot up off it.
I tried holding down the c key while powering it up, and it just cycles through: hearing the drive whirl, a bling sound, and then repeating it again while the screen is blank. Finally, I held down the click button on the touch pad so it would eject the install disk.
Maybe this will help someone recognize part of the problem. Ever since messing around with boot camp and parallels, my machine wont "reboot". To reboot it, I tell it to reboot, then it hangs on the star like screen, then I have to hold the power button down, then if I do nothing, it tries to boot, but ends up in a dos looking screen saying no bootable device. So when I power it back up, I hold down the alt key, and then I have one choice: the hard drive. I pick that and it boots up ok.
So... I thought, well, maybe the boot camp is still messed up; maybe I should undo boot camp. When I start the boot camp assistant, there is only a "partition" and "back" button; nothing to "restore" the hard drive to just one partition.
What can I do? I want to wipe the drive and install a fresh install from my install disk.

Forgot to specify:
Im using an older Unibody Macbook (back when they were not all macbook pro's) 2008ish with Snow leopard 1.6.8
The thread you linked me to, Eric, shows the guy 'Niganit' with the eXACT SAME PROBLEM as me! He seems to have found out the problem but I dont see his resolve.
I just dont have the option to install windows 7 in any other form that a cd
a picture;

Cant Reinstall OS from Install Disk

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