Failed Erase and Install of OS X Tiger on a 15" MacBook Pro (older model)

Hello,
I just recently attempted to erase and install Tiger on my MacBook Pro using the two installation CDs that came with my computer when I originally purchased it (August 2006). The error I am having trouble with is that about three quarters of the way through the installation using disc 2, the installation stops and says that it was unsuccesful due to errors that occured in the installation process. The installer suggest that I attempt the installation again and asks for disc 2, at which point the process starts again and I recieve the exact same error message.
I tried to solve the problem myself by looking at the support pages, but nothing specifically addressed my problem. The support site said that sometimes a lack of RAM can be to blame but clearly my computer's 2 GB is more than the reccomended 512 MB or 256 MB or whatever it said it was.
I suppose the culprit is either the install disc or my hard drive. All I really need is to know how to get out of the installing process and try and install off of a different OS X Tiger DVD disc that I have in addition to the two CDs that came with the computer. This obviously will tell me if my computer or the disc is at fault. I hope it's the disc.
Thank you very much for your help,
-Travis
15" MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.10) 2 GB RAM 120 GB Hard Drive

travishaby:
+There isn't any way to access the utlilities menu,+
I suspect that there may errors in the directory that is causing your difficulties. I suggest that you start over.
Formatting, Partitioning Zeroing a Hard Disk Drive
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.
Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
Go to the Utilities menu (Tiger) Installer menu (Panther & earlier) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create a single partition volume.)
Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volume diagram.
(Note: 1 partition is normally better for an internal HDD. External HDDs usually have more than one)
Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
Select Erase tab
Select the sub-volume under Manufacturer ID (usually Macintosh HD).
Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
Select on Security Options button (Tiger) Options button (Panther & earlier).
Select Zero all data. (This process will map out bad blocks on your HDD. However, it could take several hours. If you want a quicker method, don't go to Security Options and just click the Erase button.)
Click OK.
Click Erase button
Quit Disk Utility.
Open installer and begin installation process.
(Note: There is some question about the usefulness of zeroing the HDD, but because of the difficulties you are having I think it is advisable)
Please post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

Similar Messages

TIGER/POWERBOOK 12" G4 - erase and install problems. please help..

Hello,
I have a powerbook g4 (the last of the powerbook 12"/ 80gb/1.5ghz to be released) with tiger installed.
I have had a a crash x 2 when doing software updates. So I managed to get it going, to then back up to an external drive - to do an erase and install.
Once I went to do the erase and install it failed, so I tried again and it seems to have done the erase. now my actual HD isn't visible as the select detination to install?
So, I can't actually even attempt to install with no destination.
any help would be most appreciated.
thankyou

suzannah-a:
Unfortunately, it seems as if your HDD has failed. Try booting from the install disk, the go to the Utilities menu and launch Disk Utility. If the HDD shows up in the sidebar, you should reformat it. (Directions below). If it does not show up, you need to replace the HDD. Post back for a list of available HDDs and vendors, step by step directions and additional tips.
If your HDD shows up follow these directions to reformat and erase:
Formatting, Partitioning Erasing a Hard Disk Drive
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.
Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
• Go to the Utilities menu (Tiger) Installer menu (Panther & earlier) and launch Disk Utility.
• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
• Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create a single partition volume.)
• Click on Options button
• Select Apple Partition Map (PPC Macs) or GUID Partition Table (Intel Macs)
• Click OK
• Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volume diagram.
(Note 1: One partition is normally preferable for an internal HDD.)
• Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
• Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
• Select Erase tab
• Select the sub-volume (indented) under Manufacturer ID (usually Macintosh HD).
• Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
• Click Erase button
• Quit Disk Utility.
If you are able to do the reformat and erase, you can then proceed to restore from your backup, or to install the OS from disk.
Please do post back with an update on how it goes, and with further questions or comments, if any.
cornelius

Archive/Erase and Install fail

I hate to add my own sob story here, but I'm at a loss here.
I'd had lingering minor problems with my Tiger installation, so I figured that when I got Leopard, I'd wipe my hard drive and start fresh. So I pop in the disc and 24 hours later, I've had no success. At first, I thought my problems might be the result of a bad DVD, so I returned it to the CambridgeSide store today and obtained a replacement, which fails exactly as before.
I've tried using both "Archive and Install" and "Erase and Install", with several extras or just the base system; it always terminates with a message about how the Installer could not validate the contents of the "Essentials" package. At one point, after a botched Erase and Install I tried an Archive and Install for kicks, and it seemed to get farther along before terminating in another Install Failed, this time telling me that it could not install files to my hard drive.
I've run Verify Disk in Disk Utility on my hard drive twice, and it hasn't found anything wrong. Anyone have any idea what's going on?

Larry V. wrote:
I The Genius I worked with told me it was likely a bug (albeit a major one) in the install program.
Well there's one Genius whom I can respect.
I think this is the conclusion many of us are reaching. I wonder if it might be related to the DVD being double-layered? It might simply demand a tad too much from an older or slightly out-of-kilter optical drive.
I know for a fact that the ultra-thin optical drives in the MBPs have been a headache for Apple.
Eventually this will all be sorted out. My disks shipped today. I am already an expert in what not to do, but only the doing on my own machines will tell how well I have learned my lessons. I have two MBPs and one G5 to Leopardize. I will have a house full of backups for each before I even start

Trying to do an erase and install on an IBook with original Tiger Disk

Hi, I just bought a used IBook from a friend, got for super cheap and knew I was taking a risk since it wouldnt start up.
I'm not even sure if its a G3 or G4 IBook, its white and it all it says on the laptop is IBook Model number A1007.
Anyway, it didnt come with any disks so I took my Install disk from my G5, the main Tiger disk and ran disk repair and permissions and all of that, it didnt find any issues with the disk.
So I chose to do a complete erase and install which appeared to work fine, but when I start it up it starts the setup process where you enter in your name, address and all that and I get to the part where I go to enter my apple ID and thats right about where the laptop freezes every time. The screen kinda flickers for a second and then it is seized up completely.
any ideas on how to resolve this?
Do I need to track down an original install disk for an IBook G3 or G4 or is it the same thing as I am using now? If I need an install disk for my specific model where can I get one?
Thanks,
Brown.Recluse

Hi brownrecluse;
You can't use the G5 install media on the iBook because they are hardware specific. You will need to get the retail Tiger install media to do that provided the iBook meets the mimimum requirements of Tiger.
Besides that installing again would be illegal anyway.
Allan

I did an erase and install of os 10.6.8 and it failed

Macbook Pro:
- selling my 2011 MBPro... did an erase & install for 10.6.8... Erased fine, but install failed... started install over, same result. Third try, same result... so, Disc Utility checked install disc and hard drive, they check out OK, there was a message that went with the big yellow caution/alert exclamation point that said (wish I wrote it down) "install failed, then something about script error I think....
- tried again, but did custom install and left out other languages... this time, installed OK, but when starting up, got to keyboard select, highlighted US keyboard and clicked Next and it hangs there... had to use the power button to shut it down, and tried 2 more times, same result, can't get past Keyboard layout selection...
- don't know how to eject the install disc, or how to get past my situation... anyone? Thanks!

1: Hold the power button down to hard shutdown.
2: Hold the option key and trackpad button down and boot the machine.
3: The disk hopefully should pop out, if not when you get to Startup Manager, keep pressing eject on the keyboard.
4: Take some rubbing alcohol (a tiny bit) on a soft clean cloth and polish the bottom of the disk, when dry and blemish free, stick it in and when it appears, click the arrow key to boot from it.
5: Review your secure erase procedures here to make sure your not leaving data
How do I securely delete data from the machine?
6: Try to reinstall 10.6 again
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
7: If that fails, call Apple and tell them you have a Early 2011 Mac and require MACHINE SPECIFIC Snow Leopard install disks. (10.6.4 -10.6.8) These disks also include the free iLife suite on them.
The 10.6 white retail disks sold online are 10.6.3 and won't work in your machine due to a lack of more recent hardware drivers not present on those disks also they don't contain the free iLife suite.
8: After install, just hard shutdown and it will boot to the "Welcome" video for the next owner.
9: If Apple is going to take too long to send you disks or won't, there is a option to create a image of the bad disk and burn a new one on another Mac (possibly on a PC too) as a ISO image.
Sometimes when the read and burn occurs, errors are repaired and the new image will work when the old one won't.
http://www.walterjessen.com/make-a-bootable-backup-snow-leopard-install-disc/
10: Another option is to create a Snow Leopard boot USB from the disk
http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html

Merging Itunes Libraries after erase and install of Tiger

Hello all,
If someone can point me in the right direction. i have searched and read a lot of postings about merging libraries. i'm not sure if i fall into any of these categories.
here is what i did:
1. all my itunes music is on an external maxtor 300 gb hard drive.
2. upgraded to tiger - had errors, so needed to do an erase and install.
3. the maxtor external hard drive was disconnected during the upgrade.
4. itunes was installed during the upgrade with none of my current playlists or purchased music since the external drive was not connected (found this out from reading a post).
5. my girlfriend downloaded music that was waiting to be downloaded so now i have music in my new itunes library.
and the questions is:
i would like to combine the new library with the existing library so that all my purchased music is in one folder and i reclaim all my old playlists (the current itunes setup has no playlists yet).
so is there anything i need to do special in this instance?
thanks so much for any and all help.
regards,
ron - nyc

Thanks for your questions. Actually, I did two Archive and Installs and one Erase and Install. In every instance by the time I got the OS up to 10.4.11 (via one combined update) things started acting funky. iPhoto wouldn't work — to get it running required an overwrite install via iLife 05, Appleworks 6 won't open and, as mentioned Mail never worked from the get-go.
I have tried reinstalling only Mail. But as yet no luck getting it to work.
I have been trolling around the forums and have noted a lot of problems regarding Mail in 10.4. When I have time, I will try some of the simpler, albeit arcance, suggested solutions.

I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to erase and install 10.4 on my iMac G5

After running into various bad experiences (apps quiting and app installers refusing to complete the task) I tried the usual fixits. I began with the Disc Utility and it repeatedly told me "1 HFS volume checked - Volume needs repair". After a little digging online, I opted to make the $100 purchase and got DiscWarrior. DiscWarrior said the volume and the hardware are fine now All is repaired. Soon after the problems reoccured. discWarrior again. All is fine. Problems soon follow. After a little more digging, I went to the last resort. I backed everything up and attempted an erase and install from the os disc that came with the computer. Now I'm getting a message telling me the installation was unsuccessful and to restart. I've gone throgh this hoop several times. Any thoughts?
I was running the 10.4.5 downloadable upgrade previous.

Although not definitive open Disk Utility, select the hard drive entry (the one with the mfgr.'s ID and drive size), then click on the First Aid tab in the DU main window. In the DU status bar note the reported SMART status. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing and needs replacing. If it does say "Verified" then it's highly unlikely that the drive is bad. However, the drive may have developed a bad sector. If you're willing to continue the journey then try the following:
1. Boot from your Tiger DVD. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
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. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
After the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now proceed with the OS X installation. After selecting the destination device click on the Customize button. Deselect items you don't require such as additional language localizations, Asian fonts. Only select the printer driver families you require for your printers.

How do I erase and install iMac to factory settings using Install disk?

Once in a while I like to do an erase and install to boost performance and get rid of extra unused files/applications on my computer that are inevitably slowing things down. I have already tried disk repair and that isn't helping.
The problem is now that Lion/Mountain Lion no longer support PowerPC applications, I can't figure out how to use the Install Disk that came with my computer. My computer came with 10.4 (Tiger). I have been unable to erase and restore my computer to it's original factory settings.
I have read a bunch of threads that say to hold down the "C" key, but nothing happens when I do this. The computer just starts up like normal.
The reason I want to do this is because my computer is going slower and slower all the time. I have the "Free Memory" app and I can see my memory decreasing slowly day by day. It goes from about 3GB to less than 1GB in a few days. If I restart, I'm back up to 3GB again.

You had to use Snow Leopard to install Lion or Mountain Lion, so you can downgrade to Snow Leopard:
Downgrade Lion/Mountain Lion to Snow Leopard
1. 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.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, 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. Quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard.
This will erase the whole drive so be sure to backup your files if you don't have a backup already. If you have performed a TM backup using Lion be aware that you cannot restore from that backup in Snow Leopard (see below.) I suggest you make a separate backup using Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.1.
If you have Snow Leopard Time Machine backups, do a full system restore per #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions. If you have subsequent backups from Lion, you can restore newer items selectively, via the "Star Wars" display, per #15 there, but be careful; some Snow Leopard apps may not work with the Lion files.
Booting From An OS X Installer Disc
1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.

HD not an option to erase and install on

I have been working through a problem with my 1.5 year old Powerbook over the past few weeks. I was first told I had to archive and install but when I tried that an error message told me that the disk was too damaged. I got my hands on a copy of the disk warrior boot disk and was able to retrieve all the files I wanted to save, but the program was unable to rebuild the disk.
Now I am prepared to erase and install, but when it comes time to select a volume to install to, nothing shows up. (this is the third step of the install process, before I actually choose erase and install vs. archive/install). does erasing through disk utility make it possible to install OSX again without taking up all my space? are there any other options to look into before taking my computer to a store or something and getting the hard drive replaced?

Can you start/boot the computer from your hard drive boot volume?
If so, after the startup process is complete, go to Application > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Launch Disk Utility and select the hard drive at the very top of the drives and volumes window.
Under the First Aid tab, what does the S.M.A.R.T. status indicate at the bottom of the window?
If anything other than Verified, your hard drive is failing or has failed and needs to be replaced.
If the S.M.A.R.T. status for the hard drive is shown as Verified, quit Disk Utility and boot the compute from your Tiger install disc.
Select your language and at the Installer screen/prompt, navigate to Disk Utility via the Installer menu bar.
If you are unable to boot the computer from your hard drive boot volume, select the hard drive at the very top of the drives and volumes window and under the First Aid tab, check the S.M.A.R.T. status. If shown as Verified, you need to erase the hard drive using Disk Utility. Be sure HFS+ (or extended) is selected as the format with Journaling enabled.
When completed, quit Disk Utility and the focus will return to the Installer.
Try performing an Erase & Install again.

Please help with erase and install

I have been having major problems lately with my Leopard upgrade which I did once Leopard first came out.... Ran good for a while but now it locks up all the time and force quit does nothing... At first I did an Upgrade from Tiger but now I want to do an erase and install...
Can someone run me through using Time Machine to backup my existing drive for my Applications I have like CS3 and Quark etc...
My main question is... after running TM and having a copy of my existing hard drive.. once I erase and install Leopard can I just tell TM to put certain files back on but leave the NEW Leopard install clean?
Thank you in advance,
Marc

If you are going to go to the extreme of doing an Erase and Install, then do it right and also re-install all your third-party software. This will assure that you won't have problems caused by damaged components or files belonging to your third-party applications. Just backup your personal data files, pictures, music, etc. which you can do by copying them to your backup drive.
If this isn't feasible then rather than an Erase and Install do 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.

How much HDD space should Leopard consume on an "erase and install" install

I installed Leopard into my 17 In MacBook Pro and the 92 Gig HDD is now half full and I only have about 14 gig of music on the HDD.
I would figure the OS take about 14 to 18 gig max, so my question is, did the installed keep the old stuff and if so how do I reclaim the HDD space back.
Hope someone and point me in te right direction
Thanks
Newport Tom

If you did an Erase and Install then nothing should be on the drive except what you installed. You might try this:
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 and Leopard.) 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. Now shutdown the computer for a couple of minutes and then restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger, and 4.1 for Leopard) and/or TechTool Pro (4.6.1 for Leopard) 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.

MBP Early 2008 erase and install (bundled) additional iLife apps option

ok, can't figure this out. I have a MBP that I am going to reinstall everything using the factory 2 dvd set. I want to erase and install and install the original factory apps (meaning iLife). There is the option, when you boot up, to "install mac os X and additional apps." When you go through the process, you have to modify the install to erase and install, since there is a newer version of mac os x already on it. Then you proceed, when you goto customize (because I want to make sure the ilife extra stuff is checkmarked, it says there is a newer version already and thus won't checkmark those iLife apps as part of the install. Since I have chosen the erase and install option, shouldn't it know that and let those options be installed?
Message was edited by: powerbook1701
Message was edited by: powerbook1701

First, you must erase the drive. Do this:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. 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 or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the drop down menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Steps 4-6 are optional but should be used on a drive that has never been formatted before, if the format type is not Mac OS Extended, if the partition scheme has been changed, or if a different operating system (not OS X) has been installed on the drive.

Can't erase and install SNow Leopard on old MacBook Pro

I am trying to erase and install Snow Leopard on a MacBook Pro3,1. I boot up with the installation disc, get to pick a language but then a window pops up that says "Mac OS X can't be installed on this computer" and gives me the options to Restore from Backup or Restart.
I had upgraded to a 500GB hard drive on this machine which I used for months, but it is currently running off the hard drive of a new MacBook Pro that got fried. The installation disk I am using is the one I got with that unfortunate machine. Could this be the problem?
Any other suggestions?
Other info: Mac OS X 10.6.1 (108504)
Other History: The machine I am trying to erase and install on recently had its logic board replaced under warranty because of the NVIDIA graphics card issue. I have not found the service centre in South Africa to be very trustworthy, in fact the first time they claimed to have replaced the logic board, the computer (which had been intermittently failing to boot up) immediately started displaying the same problems. Another mac shop said to me that the "new" logic board looked so dusty that it seemed extremely unlikely that it had been replaced a week prior. Anyway, it has ostensibly been replaced again, along with a faulty superdrive.
When it went back to the service centre, they put in the hard drive of another, new, MacBook Pro of mine that got fried in an unrelated incident
Please help! I want to give this machine to an employee but
a) want to make sure it's stable and functioning properly, and
b) want to give it a clean slate with my personal data and settings erased.

You need a retail Snow Leopard installation disk. Available for $29 USD. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MACOS_XSNGL
Once you install it onto the old machine, you can use the setup assistant to migrate your stuff and apps from the other machine.

Cant erase and install cleanly. some type of hijack itseems.

m trying to erase and install cleanly. i know the procedure, done it many times due to the fact some very malicious and tech savvy individual has a beef with me for some reason. the attacks are worse and worse. its debilitating actually. not a game anymore. i was able to save a piece of all messages log during install. much different than previous install logs. the system works although i have very limited authority. and oddities re: preference panes,( its shows it as locked yet i ca change security setting even in std user account. only some terminal commands are operable even under sudo. (error message"command not found") e.g.: env, open, history, rm, ls -A, etc..... no function.
PLEASE NOTE : I UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THIS AND REALIZE THERE MAY NOT BE ANY RESPONSES OR RESOLUTIONS. IN ANY CASE THANKS A MILLION FOR YOUR TIME.
SORRY BOUT THE LENGTH....ALLMESSAGESLOG:
4/20/09 1:20:37 PM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] BootCacheControl: could not open /var/db/BootCache.playlist:
4/20/09 1:20:37 PM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] No such file or directory
4/20/09 1:20:38 PM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist
4/20/09 1:20:38 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cupsd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
4/20/09 1:20:38 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.ntp.ntpd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel npvhash=4095
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kextd[10] 394 cached, 0 uncached personalities to catalog
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel hi mem tramps at 0xffe00000
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel PAE enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel 64 bit mode enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0: Thu Oct 11 19:23:39 PDT 2007; root:xnu-1228~3/RELEASE_I386
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel vmpagebootstrap: 973843 free pages and 74733 wired pages
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel migtable_maxdispl = 79
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel devfsmakenode: not ready for devices!
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel AppleACPICPU: ProcessorApicId=0 LocalApicId=0 Enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel AppleACPICPU: ProcessorApicId=1 LocalApicId=1 Enabled
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Loading security extension com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Loading security extension com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel calling mpopolicyinit for TMSafetyNet
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Security policy loaded: Safety net for Time Machine (TMSafetyNet)
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Loading security extension com.apple.security.seatbelt
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel calling mpopolicyinit for mb
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Seatbelt MACF policy initialized
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Security policy loaded: Seatbelt Policy (mb)
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel MAC Framework successfully initialized
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel using 16384 buffer headers and 4096 cluster IO buffer headers
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel IOAPIC: Version 0x20 Vectors 64:87
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel ACPI: System State [S0 S3 S4 S5] (S3)
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel mbinit: done
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Security auditing service present
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel BSM auditing present
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 1E76D942-E07B-3808-B155-B129A649A793
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel FireWire (OHCI) TI ID 8025 built-in now active, GUID 001e52fffe48209e; max speed s800.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Got boot device = IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0/AppleACPIPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleAHCI/PRT0@0 /IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDrive r/ST9500325AS Media/IOGUIDPartitionScheme/Untitled@2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel HFS: created HFBT on untilted
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Jettisoning kernel linker.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Resetting IOCatalogue.
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel GFX0: family specific matching fails
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 1
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:39 PM kernel Matching service count = 2
4/20/09 1:20:41 PM kernel ath_attach: devid 0x24
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel Override HT40 CTL Powers. EEPROM Version is 14.4, Device Type 5
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel NVDANV50HAL loaded and registered.
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel GFX0: family specific matching fails
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel CSRHIDTransitionDriver::start []
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel GFX0: family specific matching fails
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel athdescdmasetup: tx dddescpaddr = 0x165a3000, length 0x46500(288000) bytes
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel athdescdmasetup: beacon dddescpaddr = 0x1507a000, length 0x90(144) bytes
4/20/09 1:20:42 PM kernel mac 12.10 phy 8.1 radio 12.0
4/20/09 1:20:43 PM kernel CSRHIDTransitionDriver::switchToHCIMode legacy
4/20/09 1:20:43 PM kernel USBF: 9.152 CSRHIDTransitionDriver[0x6ddda00](IOUSBCompositeDevice) GetFullConfigDescriptor(0) returned NULL
4/20/09 1:20:43 PM kernel CSRHIDTransitionDriver... done
4/20/09 1:20:44 PM bootlog[60] BOOT_TIME: 1240258834 0
4/20/09 1:20:44 PM fseventsd[51] log dir: /.fseventsd getting new uuid: 1C2B66FB-7F36-44AC-82E6-865CFF20B0A8
4/20/09 1:20:44 PM rpc.statd[42] statd.notify - no notifications needed
4/20/09 1:20:45 PM kernel E:[AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController][FindInterfaces] mInt0InterruptMaxPacketSize = 16
4/20/09 1:20:46 PM DirectoryService[55] Launched version 5.0 (v514)
4/20/09 1:20:48 PM kernel yukon: Ethernet address 00:1b:63:bd:6c:4c
4/20/09 1:20:48 PM kernel AirPort_Athr5424ab: Ethernet address 00:1e:52:73:57:e4
4/20/09 1:20:48 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow[47] Login Window Application Started
4/20/09 1:20:50 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[72] SFLSharePointsEntry::InitializeSPNode: dsOpenRecord returned -14136
4/20/09 1:20:50 PM mDNSResponder mDNSResponder-162 (Oct 15 2007 16:31:59)[46] starting
4/20/09 1:20:50 PM configd[58] New network configuration saved
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM airportd[86] Launching AirPort updateprefs
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[43] Entering service
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM Apple80211 updateprefs[87] updateprefs launchd..
4/20/09 1:20:51 PM Apple80211 updateprefs[87] Changing version to 6 (6)
4/20/09 1:20:52 PM airportd[86] Error: ACInterfaceGetPowerPreference() failed
4/20/09 1:20:52 PM /usr/sbin/ocspd[92] starting
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM kextd[10] writing kernel link data to /var/run/mach.sym
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...Generating key pair...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...creating certificate...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Serial Number : 3F EF 8A D8
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Issuer Name :
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.systemdefault
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Subject Name :
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.systemdefault
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Cert Sig Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 05 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not Before : 20:20:53 Apr 20, 2009
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not After : 20:20:53 Apr 15, 2029
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub Key Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 01 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub key Bytes : Length 140 bytes : 30 81 89 02 81 81 00 BD ...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] CSSM Key :
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Algorithm : RSA
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Size : 1024 bits
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Use : CSSMKEYUSEENCRYPT CSSMKEYUSEVERIFY CSSMKEYUSEWRAP
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Signature : 128 bytes : 37 79 EA DB 34 6B A9 7D ...
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 17 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 16 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Extension struct : OID : < 06 03 55 1D 25 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Critical : FALSE
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] purpose 0 : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 63 64 04 04 >
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..cert stored in Keychain.
4/20/09 1:20:53 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..identity registered for domain com.apple.systemdefault.
4/20/09 1:20:55 PM kernel E:[AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController][StartInterruptPipeRead] there is alredy a pending read, skipping.
4/20/09 1:20:55 PM kernel [InterruptReadHandler] Received kIODeviceNotResponding error - retrying: 1.
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...Generating key pair...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ...creating certificate...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Serial Number : 54 E2 19 7F
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Issuer Name :
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.kerberos.kdc
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Subject Name :
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Common Name : com.apple.kerberos.kdc
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Org : System Identity
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Cert Sig Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 05 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not Before : 20:20:56 Apr 20, 2009
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Not After : 20:20:56 Apr 15, 2029
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub Key Algorithm : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 0D 01 01 01 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] alg params : 05 00
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Pub key Bytes : Length 140 bytes : 30 81 89 02 81 81 00 D1 ...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] CSSM Key :
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Algorithm : RSA
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Size : 1024 bits
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Key Use : CSSMKEYUSEENCRYPT CSSMKEYUSEVERIFY CSSMKEYUSEWRAP
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Signature : 128 bytes : 8F EF 0E C8 B8 76 3B A5 ...
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 17 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Other field: : OID : < 06 0C 60 86 48 01 86 F8 4D 02 01 01 01 16 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Extension struct : OID : < 06 03 55 1D 25 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Critical : FALSE
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] purpose 0 : OID : < 06 09 2A 86 48 86 F7 63 64 04 04 >
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..cert stored in Keychain.
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] ..identity registered for domain com.apple.kerberos.kdc.
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.kdcmond
4/20/09 1:20:56 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] /usr/sbin/kadmin.local-q add_principal -randkey afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] WARNING: no policy specified for afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C; defaulting to no policy
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Authenticating as principal root/admin@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C with password.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Principal "afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249 D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C" created.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] /usr/sbin/kadmin.local-q ktadd afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Authenticating as principal root/admin@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C with password.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM com.apple.configureLocalKDC[57] Entry for principal afpserver/LKDC:SHA1.C508249D73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C@LKDC:SHA1.C508249D 73E93D92C34AA2DE76F825F0D9B3D83C with kvno 3, encryption type Triple DES cbc mode with HMAC/sha1 added to keytab WRFILE:/etc/krb5.keytab.
4/20/09 1:20:57 PM
log disappeared soon after

thanx. i took your advice, and though the passwords were different the account with apple and mobile me and email and such were the same. so i started with a new hd and took it to apple and they installed os x and all the updates THEN i made a completely new id ,address, passwords and thought how simply brilliant that was. unfortunately i need a little more advice if you could be so kind.
so i got this person messing with me. i know this because he/she is taunting me with emails sent from "me" with subject "you looked at me today" and "i am going to bad today" and other personal messages one could only get from reading my mail.
but i dont want to pester you with trivial matters. i have been researching what is happening and i have a ypbind that i cant seem to unbind. at least not as admin using the GUI in directory utility. i can unlock the active directory and change some of the options but the ones that matter remain grey. and the ones i do change return to their original value by the next time i open it. the directory server help apple provides is pretty thorough but the procedures just arent jiving with the machine. is there a way to unbind or delete these automatic connections for good with the command line. i disabled the root user immediately following the fresh install so that is still intact but im afraid to open it with the password. perhaps with the sudo kill?
* ACTIVITY MONITOR ALL PROCESSES *
Active Memory: 755.22 MB
Free Memory: 2.76 GB
Wired Memory: 438.53 MB
Used Memory: 1.24 GB
Inactive Memory: 71.50 MB
Total VM: 38.07 GB
Number of processes: 58
ID Process Name User CPU RSIZE VSIZE
0 kernel_task root 3.5 74.77 MB 1.74 GB
1 launchd root 0.0 556.00 KB 586.74 MB
10 kextd root 0.0 1.28 MB 586.19 MB
11 notifyd root 0.0 476.00 KB 586.17 MB
12 syslogd root 0.0 460.00 KB 587.24 MB
14 ntpd root 0.0 864.00 KB 586.12 MB
15 usbmuxd _usbmuxd 0.0 944.00 KB 587.46 MB
16 update root 0.0 288.00 KB 585.57 MB
17 SystemStarter root 0.0 680.00 KB 585.61 MB
20 securityd root 0.0 2.16 MB 587.43 MB
23 mds root 0.0 13.52 MB 64.70 MB
24 mDNSResponder _mdnsrespo 0.0 1.21 MB 587.49 MB
25 loginwindow ianmac 0.0 5.92 MB 787.90 MB
26 KernelEventAgent root 0.0 652.00 KB 585.68 MB
28 hidd root 0.0 600.00 KB 586.12 MB
29 fseventsd root 0.0 1.38 MB 592.71 MB
31 dynamic_pager root 0.0 608.00 KB 585.61 MB
33 diskarbitrationd root 0.0 1,016.00 KB 585.69 MB
34 DirectoryService root 0.0 3.93 MB 21.80 MB
36 configd root 0.0 1.89 MB 587.20 MB
39 autofsd root 0.0 672.00 KB 585.62 MB
41 socketfilterfw root 0.0 2.29 MB 585.93 MB
44 distnoted daemon 0.0 792.00 KB 585.59 MB
45 portmap daemon 0.0 360.00 KB 585.62 MB
46 coreservicesd root 0.0 16.61 MB 38.91 MB
49 blued root 0.0 1.96 MB 596.99 MB
55 WindowServer _windowser 16.6 68.21 MB 864.35 MB
76 launchd ianmac 0.0 532.00 KB 585.74 MB
93 hpusbmond root 0.0 784.00 KB 586.77 MB
101 HPIO Trap Monito root 0.0 1.43 MB 588.07 MB
106 AirPort Base Station Agen ianmac 0.0 5.35 MB 2.75 GB
110 Spotlight ianmac 0.0 3.98 MB 731.96 MB
111 UserEventAgent ianmac 0.0 3.19 MB 598.84 MB
112 Dock ianmac 0.0 9.99 MB 782.59 MB
114 Finder ianmac 0.0 38.39 MB 322.15 MB
115 ATSServer ianmac 0.0 5.17 MB 638.64 MB
116 pboard ianmac 0.0 588.00 KB 586.61 MB
119 coreaudiod root 0.0 2.39 MB 588.91 MB
123 HP Event Handler ianmac 0.0 2.91 MB 721.91 MB
125 iTunes Helper ianmac 0.0 2.43 MB 730.67 MB
136 AppleSpell.service ianmac 0.0 3.63 MB 601.72 MB
306 Console ianmac 0.0 23.08 MB 847.61 MB
572 Safari ianmac 5.8 159.05 MB 1.11 GB
704 Terminal ianmac 0.0 6.18 MB 797.03 MB
798 Activity Monitor ianmac 15.7 21.17 MB 867.06 MB
799 pmTool root 1.4 1.39 MB 595.69 MB
988 SystemUIServer ianmac 0.1 12.73 MB 233.25 MB
1159 TextEdit ianmac 0.0 9.45 MB 814.12 MB
1418 cupsd root 0.0 1.91 MB 586.87 MB
2226 Mail ianmac 0.0 41.83 MB 850.06 MB
2361 helpdatad ianmac 0.0 8.14 MB 603.46 MB
2718 Photosmart _lp 0.0 25.29 MB 689.89 MB
2719 usb _lp 0.0 764.00 KB 586.62 MB
2804 Network Utility ianmac 0.0 8.91 MB 798.14 MB
2815 pppd root 0.0 1.62 MB 587.00 MB
2859 Directory Utility ianmac 0.0 15.32 MB 822.47 MB
2868 Help Viewer ianmac 0.0 9.70 MB 798.31 MB
3118 mdworker ianmac 0.0 2.04 MB 598.43 MB
* DIRECTORY SERVICE LOG *
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xA050D720] -
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xA050D720] - DirectoryService 5.7 (v514.25) starting up...
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Cache>, Version <1.0>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Configure>, Version <3.0>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Local>, Version <1.1>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <LDAPv3>, Version <3.1>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <Search>, Version <3.1>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin <BSD>, Version <2.0>, processed successfully.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB030B000] - Registered node /Configure
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB030B000] - Plug-in Configure state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB040F000] - Plug-in LDAPv3 state is now inactive.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB038D000] - Registered Locally Hosted Node /Local/Default
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB038D000] - Registered node /Local/Default
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0513000] - Registered Locally Hosted Node /BSD/local
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0513000] - Registered node /BSD/local
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0513000] - Plug-in BSD state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB038D000] - Plug-in Local state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Registered node /Search
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Registered node /Search/Contacts
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Registered node /Search/Network
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0491000] - Plug-in Search state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:57 PDT - T[0xB0420000] - Local Plugin - index passed integrity check
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0289000] - BSD Plugin - index passed integrity check
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0289000] - Registered node /Cache
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0289000] - Plug-in Cache state is now active.
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin "Active Directory", Version "1.6.5", is set to load lazily.
2009-07-05 03:39:58 PDT - T[0xB0185000] - Plugin "PasswordServer", Version "4.0.3", is set to load lazily.
2009-07-05 04:12:10 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 04:12:11 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 04:16:03 PDT - T[0xB0103000] - Plugin "Active Directory", Version "1.6.5", loaded on demand successfully.
2009-07-05 04:16:03 PDT - T[0xB0103000] - Plug-in Active Directory state is now inactive.
2009-07-05 07:54:25 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 07:54:25 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 08:22:22 PDT - T[0xA050D720] - Sleep Notification occurred.
2009-07-05 08:53:59 PDT - T[0xA050D720] - Will Power On (Wake) Notification occurred.
2009-07-05 09:03:31 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
2009-07-05 09:03:31 PDT - T[0xB0081000] - Network transition occurred.
i dont know if these logs help. BUT THANKS A MILLION. REALLY.

Erase and install?? a few problems...

Hello. This is going to be a long one, so you might as well get a fresh cup.
A little history. I started with a G4 Powerbook (10.4.11) some number of years ago. In November of last year I got a 24" iMac. Turned it on, set it up with a new user named "swank" (the same as on on powerbook.) After this, I realized I wanted to bring my old user over from the lappy. Using migration assistant, I tried to do this. I can't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure that because there was already a user named "swank", I had to change the one I was bring in. So, I changed it to "swanks." I also made a user for my girlfriend.
So, for a long time I used m$ office 2004 on the lappy. Then I upgraded to 2008. Everything worked fine and dandy. Then I moved over to the iMac. Not so fine and dandy anymore. Word works just fine, but PP and Excel have issues with saving documents. If I email a doc to myself from school, I can open it and view it just fine.
(on edit: actually, this is not true. I'm going over the details below and realized that I can access a file from a thumb drive, etc, but not email)
BUT, if I save it afterwards or save it from the email BEFORE opening it, it disappears somewhere into the ether. I eventually found out where this "ether" place is, but that will come later. I tried to reinstall office a couple times, to no avail. So I went to the local Mac store (non-corporate) the other day and talked with one of the techs about it. He told me about some files that needed to get deleted along with the uninstall. I did that a couple times, did a repair disk from the install disk (per the techs request as well), restarted between doing everything, etc, etc. Once convinced all was clear, I reinstalled office 2008. AAAAHHHHHH. SAME THING!!!! I don't get it. I don't want to talk with m$. I tried that once. It failed.
Now I am wondering about starting ALL over from scratch. I'm not sure how to proceed from this point though. I have a time machine backup (250 gb of stuff from myself and my gf) and I have a bootcamp partion (that time machine has NOT been backing up.) So I guess my questionS are:
1. can I do an erase and install on JUST the mac partition?
2. once reinstalled, will I be able to pick and choose stuff off the time machine disk? Or do I have to simply restore completely from it (which at this point I would rather not)?
3. is step #2 a good idea (bringing in individual files, if possible)? Or will this possibly bring in the corrupted-ness that I am currently experiencing?
4. is there a way to do this without a clean install?
Details of office problem:
1. I open a document (new)
2. Type anything
3. Save
4. Right click on file name at top of window
(this is what I was referring to as the "ether." *WHY IN GOD'S NAME WOULD SOMETHING GET SAVED HERE?* Even though I specified that it get saved in "Documents"?????
5. Bang head against wall
1. I ATTEMPT to open a document saved when office worked
2. 1 of 2 things will happen:
OR
(No matter WHAT file I try to open, only the last document I made will open, AND it will be called "juan")
2. Bang head against wall
Anyway, if you've made it this far, your are brave. Maybe you have advice. Thanks for listening.
Dave
Also, now, after erasing the m$ stuff, when I open a finder window in the user "swanks", the one I mainly use, the window for "swank" shows up. You know, with all the little red circle with white line through it things on the bottom right corner of a folder?? What the heck?

Before erasing the volume and reinstalling, there are a few things you might want to try first, which are less disruptive:
1. Force Office to generate new preference files. Go to /Users/swanks/Library/Preferences. Create a folder called "Microsoft_old". Drag the folder /Users/swanks/Library/Preferences/Microsoft into the new Microsoft_old folder. Drag all files in your preferences folder which begin with "com.microsoft" in there as well. Relaunch PowerPoint and test it out. You may find it was just a wonky prefs file causing the behavior. If you aren't seeing it in any other application, this is pretty likely.
2. Test the opening/saving behavior of powerpoint in the new user account. If it is fine, then you can just move your files over from one user to the other. There are a few ways of doing this, but the simplest is probably to put everything you want into the /Users/Shared folder and change ownership to your new user account via the Get Info window or the Terminal, if you are comfortable in the command line (using chown -R is usually faster and more reliable than using the Sharing & Permissions section of the Info window, in my experience). Also, you can use your girlfriend's account to test this - does PowerPoint work as expected when she is logged in?
If a new user account behaves the same way, then you probably have deeper issues than just preference problems. At that point you may want to consider rebuilding the OS.
To answer your questions directly:
1. can I do an erase and install on JUST the mac partition?
Yes. You do not have to touch the Boot Camp partition when reinstalling Mac OS X. When booted from the install disc, you will have
2. once reinstalled, will I be able to pick and choose stuff off the time machine disk? Or do I have to simply restore completely from it (which at this point I would rather not)?
Yes. When you browse your Time Machine Backup (with the fancy space-warp background), you can select individual files/folders to restore. It will prompt you to select a location where you want to restore the files.
3. is step #2 a good idea (bringing in individual files, if possible)? Or will this possibly bring in the corrupted-ness that I am currently experiencing?
I don't think you are dealing with actual file corruption, more likely broken preferences or damaged defaults. I wouldn't be worried about bringing over any non-OS files.
4. is there a way to do this without a clean install?
See above. Those are the things I would try first, before you do a clean install.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, post and I'll try to answer.
Message was edited by: Duncan Wright

Failed Erase and Install of OS X Tiger on a 15" MacBook Pro (older model)

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for