HELP! My MacBook won't boot an OS X DVD and I can't install from elsewhere

Okay, so my cousin completely erased and installed Windows XP by itself on a MacBook, and now it's mine and I'm trying to install OS X on it. I managed to do FWTD mode and erase the drive and partition it as a guid. When I start it up afterwards, it expectedly shows a folder with a question mark, but when I try to hold down C for it to boot the DVD, it just won't. I can boot from my MBP's drive via firewire, and I can mount the MacBooks drive via FWTD mode on another computer, but that's all. When I finally was able to get the installer going on a computer where the drive was externally mounted, it gave me this error: "This destination is not within the first 8 GB of the hard disk." What in the world do I have to do to get OS X installed on this thing??

but when I try to hold down C for it to boot the DVD, it just won't...
I'm not exactly sure I follow you ...but are you sure you're booting the Macbook with the Install DVD that is specifically meant for the Macbook? You can only boot your machine with the DVD for that machine ...if this is the case try holding down the 'Option' key on startup, then inserting the DVD, then choosing the DVD to startup with when it appears on the screen.
Then follow the Install guide - if no drive is shown (or grayed) then launch Disc utility and Erase and format the drive as Mac Extended (Journaled).
You can also try holding down the 'D' key when starting from the DVD - this will launch you into the Apple Hardware Test - that can assess the state of your hard drive.
Macbook 1.8-) Mac OS X (10.4.8) Week 38 base model w/1G Ram

Similar Messages

My macbook won't boot pass the apple logo and the spinning wheel

Some programs on my Macbook starting crashing so I tried restarting it. Now it doesn't load past the grey screen with the apple logo and the spinning wheel.
I've tried installing the Install disc, holding 'c' but nothing happens.
I've tested the hardware holding 'd' in the start up, in which the test can back clean, so I'm assuming it's a problem with the software.
I've followed almost all the troubleshooting solutions on the apple website including restarting the PRAM and SMC, with no success.
However I foolishly followed a solution that was meant for an earlier version of Mac OS X, which invloved starting up in single-user and entering some commands, this appears to have done nothing but i'm concerned it may have done some extra damage.
I have bootcamp installed and I can boot up windows with no problem and even access some of the files on the Macintosh HD.
My backup harddrive broke recently so I haven't got a back up of any of my files either.
My question is, is there any way of fixing this problem or even just saving all my files and data so I can format the hard drive and start again, other than finding someone with a mac and try using the firewire method?
thank you for your time and help.

There's a possible solution but you must have the proper installer DVD for the computer. Assuming you do:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
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, Leopard or Snow 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 restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
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.

Please Help! Macbook won't boot up after attempted Leopard install (Wont bo

Ok so I'll go through EXACTLY what has happened to my laptop in the past day.. please note that the laptop was NEVER moved from the desk while this has all happened. Also a couple other things you should know.. I had Applecare, but 6 months ago when i sent it in to replace the harddrive -- they said they found some water damage, and it would cost $700 to replace... so i just put in the harddrive myself for $50, and it has worked fine since... So I'm pretty sure I can't turn to Applecare anymore...
Alright...
Yesterday
One of my memory sticks went bad on me... (i had 2- 1gig sticks.) I took the bad one out, and the computer seemed to run fine on the single stick of memory.
Last night
I started to install leopard as an update over 10.4, seemed to work fine, though it was slow -- and finally i got to the leopard installation complete thing (please reboot the computer)... so I did...
It starts loading up... shows the mac symbol with the loading circle thing... but wait, Oh ****, i was probally was supposed to take out the cd... So i turn off the macbook by holding down the power button... and I eject the cd, and then try to start it up...
Not loading... ****.
So after some mulling i decide, alright -- i'll reinstall again...
I boot to the cd drive, choose my options, start the install, and go to sleep..
This Morning
I wake up.. the install hasn't moved at all... It's still at the same place where i left it..
****... so again I manually shut it off, and try and restart to boot from the CD again..
NO GO....
If I hold down C to boot from DVD
The computer attempts to read the disk.. CD drive seems to power down.. then try again.. Then it ejects the cd, and goes to the Apple logo with the spinning circle, but never loads. I've tried it with My old 10.4 disk, and the new leopard disk. Same result on both. neither disk seems scratched either.
If I just boot up regular
It goes to the apple logo with spinning circle.
SOOOO...
I tried resetting the PMU, and PRAM
Is it likely that it is my superdrive gone bad, at a horrible time? If so I guess i'll just buy one on eBay and replace it myself. Is there any way to test it?
Could there by another problem wrong with it?
Please help me troubleshoot this! I'd be very appreciative -- I'm a poor college Computer science student that needs his computer to work for his classes.
Thanks All!
Message was edited by: chrysanthemum

Could there by another problem wrong with it?
Yes. You need the two RAM modules, or at the very least the remaining one RAM module must be for sure securely seated. If not securely seated with only one module, the result is as you've seen.
i was probally was supposed to take out the cd...
No, not necessary. After that, the very delayed loading was totally normal, sounds as if you were just impatient.
Message was edited by: myhighway
Oh, and check the AppleCare agreement, as to the best of my recollection, you can should be able to get a refund, pro-rated for time left.
Check how full your hard drive is now. I'm not clear if you've yet erased your HD or how many systems you've installed - if not erased perhaps it's full up.
A PRAM reset should allow you to boot from the install disc, access the Install Discs's System Profiler, and see what things look like. Also, you should be able to boot to the Apple Hardware Test - while you do need a working optical drive to do so, you don't need any hard drive at all, and it doesn't sound like either one has been lost.
Message was edited by: myhighway

Help! Macbook Won't Boot Up

First off, yes I have search for a few hours already and no other thread on the internet (that I could find) describes the symptoms of my laptop.
The Problem:
I have a 2007 Macbook Pro 15'' intel. I was running iTunes and Mail and had just closed out of Safari when I closed the laptop. Upon opening the laptop again (a minute or two later) the screen was off and the status light on the front was on. I mashed on the keys thinking it was just asleep but nothing happened. I turned off the computer. It is the next day as I type this and here are the up to date symptoms:
-Battery is charged
-When I turn the computer on:
--Start-up Chime DOES sound
--Screen stays off
--Keyboard light (caps and num lock) can turn on
--An error sound occurs when I try a command (like command X or command V) as normal
--Status light remains solid (brightly)
--I CAN hear the HDD spin
I have tried the following remedies:
-Held down the power button until light flashes
-All the battery tricks (use AC with/without, etc)
Thanks so much for any help
(I really do not want to have to go into the store because that would mean waiting until Monday (i'm out of town))
Message was edited by: Hank Steele

That does seem plausible, thanks. Although it does not really explain the status light. At least I know that if it is the NVIDIA I can get it repaired for free
(I don't have any disks with me to try the other solution, but thank you, I will try when I get home)

HT3529 i have a macbook pro my gf just got the macbook pro and she can send iMessages from there!!! i can't figure out how to do that from my matchbook! I'm running Mac OS X version 10.7.5 HELP!

i have a macbook pro my gf just got the air and she can send imessages from her laptop why cant i?!?! i have mac OS X version 10.7.5

Simple. You need OSX 10.8 or better

Mdworker deny mach-lookup. But macbook won't boot in safe mode

I have a common problem, I get theese messages every now and then in console:
2/8/13 6:38:24.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(793) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
2/8/13 6:38:24.534 PM sandboxd[793]: ([791]) mdworker(791) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd
2/8/13 6:38:24.556 PM sandboxd[793]: ([792]) mdworker(792) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd
There is a solution, which should resolve it, like here https://discussions.apple.com/message/19750564?searchText=mach-lookup%20com.appl e.ls.boxd#19750564
I have just boot in safe mode. (holding Shift during boot)
but my macbook won't boot in Safe mode. It just freeses with a grey screen for hours and wont boot.
I tried to leave it overnight to boot, but it didn't.
Please help me make my macbook to boot in SafeMode.
my configuration is the following:
MacBookPro8,1
OSX 10.8.2

There is a bug in fsck_hfs that is affecting a bunch of people. Basically as your comptuer starts in safe mode, it runs a file system check (fsck) against your hard drive, it gets to a certain point and... just sits there. No one knows why outside of apple.
Lots of info here, including a way to get around it by tricking the system to think fsck had been run, though the fsck will not be complete so it is not a good solution.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/21389737?ac_cid=tw123456#21389737

My Macbook won't boot up because there isn't enough free space for my start up disk. It's now stuck on a blue screen. How am I meant to delete files to free up space if I can't access the computer?

My Macbook won't boot up because there sin't enough free space to run the startup disk. My Macbook now won't go past the blue screen so exactly how am I meant to be able to delete files if I can't access the computer?

Do you have a bootable backup?
What operating system are you running? If OS X 10.6 or lower, boot from your original OS X DVD or a retail OS X DVD and then delete files as needed. Your goal should be to get to 10% of your disk capacity free.
If you have OS X 10.7 Lion or 10.8 Mountain Lion, you don't have many choices in recovery mode (boot holding the command and r keys down).
If you have a FireWire or Thunderbolt connection, you can try target disk mode with another mac.
If none of those work, perhaps your local Apple store can help with a bootable external drive.

Macbook won't boot, black screen, no chime

My macbook won't boot at all. It is a white non unibody one. When you press the power button the screen breifly blinks and a clicking sound is heard but no other sounds or chime or anything. I'm suspecting the worst but thought i'd submit it on here first. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the reply but it isn't a hard drive issue. I have tested the hard drive in an external enclosure and it's working fine. I even put in another hard drive i have and it wont boot that either. I'm thinking its a logic board issue. Any one know best place to get logic board replacement near london for cheap

MacBook won't boot when iPod is connected

I have the same problem as described here :
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=4112865
My MacBook won't boot if my iPod 5G is connected to the USB port.
If I unplug it, it will boot normally.
Does anyone know what could cause that ?

<When iPod is plugged in at startup, the MacBook does not startup; unplugging iPod lets it startup.
yes, it seems that the kernel is not loading
<After resetting the iPod and BEFORE synching it, there is no problem. Any type of synching seems <to make this problem recur.
only syncing music make the problem occur.
the other syncing works ok
<Even if iPod is connected directly to Mac and it is the only USB device connected, the problem still <occurs.
yes
<The iPod and MacBook work fine if iPod is connected after startup.
Yes
<If the iPod is set to NOT mount to the desktop, the problem with startup does not occur.
Yes, but there are some problems in the boot/halt process.
something like "killing all" fails and unmounting /home fails (45) blabla...
and the stopping process takes very very long, about 2 minutes.
thx robert

TS1398 Help! MacBook won't connect to the Internet on my network. Never had an issue on other networks, other devices work fine, i.e. iPhone/iPad. Says it's connected. Plugged in Ethernet and tried other browser. Called ISP and all good on their end.

Help! MacBook won't connect to the Internet on my network. Never had an issue on other networks, other devices work fine, i.e. iPhone/iPad. Says it's connected. Plugged in Ethernet and tried other browser. Called ISP and all good on their end.

You can't change it - just try aagain.
https://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa
Where you find these options:
Notebooks
MacBook Pro
MacBook Air
iBook
MacBook
PowerBook

Macbook won't boot up - grey screen only

Hi,
I have a core duo MacBook from summer 2007.
All of a sudden the MacBook won't boot up. The battery is fully charged and AC adapter plugged in (same symptoms if not plugged in). The following occurs upon pressing the power button:
1) Start-up chime sounds
2) Can hear hard drive and fans start up
3) Screen turns grey
4) Nothing happens (screen still grey)
Thoughts? I tried resetting PRAM and PMU with no changes.

I have the same problem, just the grey screen and tried
- resetting PRAM (second chime, so this should be OK)
- Safe Mode (just the same)
and pressing Option (or C) to choose the Mac OS X Install Disc gives me the wonderful cursor which can be moved by moving the mouse. No harddisk and even no Install DVD are displayed on the screen.
Also The Apple Hardware Test (by pressing D) doesn't get further than the, now familiar, grey screen.
I pressed the keys with different keyboards, with the original white keyboard and with the aluminium keyboard.
As I've tried everything, I think there's something seriously wrong. Does anybody have some last tips that I can try?

Macbook won't boot up anymore after trying to reformat

So my White Macbook won't boot up anymore after trying to reformat. While trying to install a fresh copy of Snow Leopard, the Macbook just froze and I had to reset. Now, while trying to boot it up, it hangs at a white screen with a folder with a question mark.
My install disk is still in there, so when I try to boot up while holding C, nothing happens. It either goes to the folder with a question mark or the screen stays white. So after that I tried holding option to go to the drives nothing happens. I just see a white screen and a cursor.
I tried resetting PRAM and tried booting in safe mode and everything but to no avail. Everything results in just a white screen or just a folder with a question mark.
Can I do anything before I have to bring it to the Apple Store? The optical drive should work because before I reformatted it, I could see that the disk was in the drive because the icon was in the upper right.

it hangs at a white screen with a folder with a question mark
Startup your Mac while holding down the Option key. That should prompt the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk.
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

MacBook won't boot up power light on

My MacBook won't boot up without the system disk, has Lion with 4 Gb Ram all updates, has a DVD stuck n the drive any suggestions

Have you tried booting into Lion recovery mode? Boot holding the command and R keys down.

MacBook Won't Boot just on AC.

My recent issues are power related.
Won't boot. Reason: Dead battery at 0 mAh.
Won't boot with dead battery even on charge...
When I take out the battery, it won't boot anyways.
I got lucky since I plugged it in when I left it off charge for the night, and went away about 10 minutes, and it boots. Now that won't boot it up... I take out the battery and tried to boot it since I know it's dead. Nothing.
I have 2 MagSafe adapters (One is OEM and is spliced (Charges and fine), and another is not OEM (stupid eBay lied) ) and when I remove the battery to boot just on AC power, nothing. Tried both chargers, both plugs, 2 tips and extension cable, Nothing.
I noticed the light is a dim green when I plug in my OEM charger to my MacBook.
So how can I get it to boot on just AC power? Noone I know has any type of Mac...

If your MacBook won't boot on just the AC adapter, and you are certain the AC adapter is not damaged, then there is a hardware issue with your computer that needs to be repaired.
~Lyssa

Help! Powerbook won't boot..

Hello Mac Users;
I'm looking for some help! I was just sitting here at my desk playing a game on my pc, when I look over at my powerbook, an update has come up. Itunes and Mac OSX update. I reach over to do the update, type in my password, close Itunes, update goes through the process. Finishes the update, and then says I need to restart. I restart the Powerbook, and says something about entourage fails, and the ball just continues to turn for about 15-20min. I panic, press and hold the power button to turn it off. I restart the Powerbook, and hear the ding like it is going to start up, but the display is blank, upon further investigation, I can see the apple in the back ground and the gear turning. The backlight isn't coming on, and the fans will turn on when I power it off, and power it on.. I think I have reset the pvram or whatever, by taking battery out, and holding down powerbutton for 5 secs, I power it back up and still doing the same thing. What happened, and is there anyway for me to get this fixed? I do have apple care, but last time they had to replace the logic board it took 2 weeks. I would try to put in the tiger cd, except I watch the movie Blow this afternoon on it, and it is still in there. I tried to eject the dvd and it won't do anything.
Please help me. What can I do?
Cliffs;
1. update
2. won't boot
3. lcd backlight not on;
4. can see apple and gear
5. tried pvram reset
6. dvd in drive
7. Help?
17" Powerbook G4 1.67ghz

Hello Brandy,
If you cant see the screen at all, or if its very dark...like theres no backlight, i would suggest this to remove the disc.
immediatley after boot chime, press and hold the mouse button on the trackpad. this will automatically eject the disc in the drive, and make life easier for you.
also, try(seperately to removing the disc), after you hear the boot chime, press and hold apple-option-P-R, all together, untill you hear a second and 3rd boot chime then let them go. this may help revive your screen. otherwise, take it on in to the apple service provider. hopefully its something simple, but you never can tell.
let me know how u went
bryza

HELP! My MacBook won't boot an OS X DVD and I can't install from elsewhere

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for