I am trying to erase my hard drive and start a new

I have an iMac 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 duo running Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.8 I have backed up all my files but after i restart and open up Disc Utility the erase tab is 'grey' and will not allow me to select it. I no longer have the DVD that came with and i would rather upgrade to a better operating system. what shall i do?

You can't erase the same volume that you're booted into. What system are you wanting to upgrade to? If it's Yosemite and your iMac can run Yosemite there's no reason to do an erase and install unless you're having some big problems with what you have. Just go to the App Store and download and install: https://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/

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I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things. And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad. Here's the info on my IMac:
Model Name:          iMac
Model Identifier:          iMac6,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors:          1
Total Number Of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          4 MB
Memory:          3 GB
Bus Speed:          667 MHz
Boot ROM Version:          IM61.0093.B07
SMC Version (system):          1.10f2

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew
Why do you feel you need to do this? That is such a 'Windows thing' to do!
And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad
Very rarely, but nothing in life is guaranteed (except death and taxes)! If you purchased RAM from a reputable source like Crucial or OWC it will carry a lifetime warranty.

I have an old powerbook. i tried to erase the hard drive and it went wonky and now i cannot even start up from a leopard cd. i get a screen filled with code and the top error message reads: panic (cpu 0 caller: 0x002E1EC4): (message continued)

error message reads:
panic (cpu ) caller 0x00231EC4): Unable to find driver for this platform: "PowerBook 5,6".
Lastest stack backtrace for cpu 0
trying to load in leopard OS cd

no it wont
it's the same screen
after the data above about the platform it reads:
No debugger configure-dumping debug information
MSR-00001030
Latest stack bactrace for cup0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095BF8 0x 00026898 0x002E1EC4 0x002c12A0 0x002c1068 0x002cAD0 0x002C20DC 0x000A9714
Exception stat (sv-0x0052d500)
PC-0x00000000; MSR-0x0000D030; DAR-0x00000000; SISR-0x00000000; LR-0x00000000; R1-00000000; XCP=00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0; Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 20007; root: xnu-792.24.17-1/RELEASE_PPC panic: We hanging here....

I erased my hard drive and now my Macbook pro won't boot

I bought a new macbook pro the other day, so I decided to erase the hard drive on my 2010 Macbook pro and reinstall my OS cleanly. I erased the hard drive and tried an internet recovery. It downloaded the recovery and would not boot. Tried resetting everything you could name of and it doesn't help. Can't get anywhere with command R, it just freezes. Safe mode won't boot. Command V, eventually ends with an error saying to return to old smc. I pulled the hard drive out and put it in another mac from about the same year and through internet recovery, actually loaded OS Lion back on it. I put it back in the problem mac, and it just freezes at the apple logo and spinning wheel. Can't understand why erasing the hard drive would effect any hardware, but maybe it messed with logic board somehow? I've now tried using the Recovery partition, since OS Lion was loaded on the drive, but it freezes there as well. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Are you sure it came with Lion?
Check out the support page for what build shipped with which OS.
PJRS

I had to erase my hard drive and now when I try to sync the I phone or Ipad it says I will loose my data on the iphone or ipad . how can I sync the phone or I pad without loosing my music ?

I had to erase my hard drive and reinstall ox snow leopard. when i try to sync my Iphone or Ipad it says that my device was synced with another computer and I will loose my songs on the Iphone or ipad and it will be replaced by the library that is on my computer now. The library is empty since I had to erase the hard drive. Can anyone help?

1) ensure iTunes is authorized for your iTunes store account(s)
2) connect your device and right-click or control-click it in the iTunes Source list, then choose transfer purchases from the shortcut menu that appears.
3) sync the device
iTunes will wipe the iPhone/iPad but, since you transferred your purchases in the previous step, your content will be in your library and you can re-populate the iPhone/iPad with it.
above works for purchases from the iTunes store. for everything else, check out this post by Zevoneer.
also, there are PhoneView and iRip.

I had to erase my hard drive and then reinstall everything back from my passport external hard drive. Now my iPhoto edit is not working. I get a blank screen when I want to edit. The photos show up in the library but I cannot edit them. Help?

I had to erase my hard drive and then reinstall everything back from my passport external hard drive. Now my iPhoto edit is not working. I get a blank screen when I want to edit. The photos show up in the library but I cannot edit them. Help?

There are several possible causes for the Black Screen issue
*1. Permissions in the Library* : Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to check and repair permissions.
*2. Minor Database corruption*: Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
*3. A Damaged Photo*: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and right click on it. From the resulting menu select 'Show File (or 'Show Original File' if that's available). Will the file open in Preview? If not then the file is damaged. Time to restore from your back up.
*4. A corrupted iPhoto Cache*: Trash the com.apple.iPhoto folder from HD/Users/Your Name/Library/ Caches...
*5. A corrupted preference file*: Trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder. (Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)
If none of these help:
As a Test:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
Import a few pics into this new, blank library. Is the Problem repeated there?
Regards
TD

If I upgraded my MacBook Pro from Snow Leopard to Lion via the web and now wish to erase the hard drive and restore it to factory settings to sell. How do I accomplish this?

I upgraded the operating system on my MacBook Pro from Snow Leopard to Lion via the web. Now I need to erase the hard drive and restore it to factory settings, so that I can pass it on. How do I accomplish this? When I insert the Mac OS X install disk, the only option is to erase the free space. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you

You need to boot off the original Snow Leopard DVD's that came with the system.
Once you are running off of the DVD you will be able to do a clean install of SL
To boot off the DVD with the system up running Lion insert the DVD. Open Sytem Preferences->Startup Disk and select the DVD then restart the machine.
Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano

With Lion, How Can I Erase the Hard Drive and Reinstall The System Software?

I plan on buying a used iMac with a Core 2 Duo so that I can run Lion. Since Lion can only be purchased at the Mac App store what if I needed to erase my hard drive and re-install the system software. How can I do this without a DVD with the OS on it like I have for Snow Leapard. I suppose that I could boot from my Snow Leapard DVD and do the erase. Then, I supposed I would be able to download Lion again from the Mac App Store without paying for it again. But, how would you erase a hard drive and reinstall the system software when purchasing a new Mac with Lion already installed and no DVD at all with the OS on it?
-- Kaydell

When someone purchases any Apple computer with a DVD Drive, they should have recieved two DVDs... One contains the Operating System (up to Snow Leopard, Lion no longer ships on DVD) and the other contains the SYSTEM SOFTWARE (i.e. iLife and iWork). To install the software, they just insert the DVD with the SYSTEM SOFTWARE into any compatible Mac and run the installer. There is no need to erase the hard drive to install SYSTEM SOFTWARE. Maybe a friend can let you borrow the SYSTEM SOFTWARE DVD. The other option is to purchase the software via the App Store.
FYI... App Store purchases are linked to the PURCHASER'S APPLE ID. So if you buy a used Mac from a friend and that Mac already has Lion installed on it,that Lion purchase is linked to YOUR FRIEND'S APPLE ID, not yours. So if you want to download Lion again, you will have to enter your FRIEND'S APPLE ID AND PASSWORD. You can always have your friend re-download Lion and make you a DVD copy.

I can't import any photos. 'Could not copy to requested location' is the given but i have tried importing to both hard drive and external drive.

i can't import any photos. 'Could not copy to requested location' is the given but i have tried importing to both hard drive and external drive. Help please ?

Most likely, the "requested location" where you are trying to copy files to does not have WRITE permission, and so you need to change the permissions.

I want to reinstall os X yosemite on my macbook Air but i erased the hard drive and i cant get the local recovery option; only internet recovery; is there any way to go back and get local recovery option?

i want to reinstall os X yosemite on my macbook Air but i erased the hard drive and i cant get the local recovery option; only internet recovery; is there any way to go back and get local recovery option?

Hi Bockworld1,
I'm afraid you did an error when erasing your hard-drive, this has automatically erased the "local recovery". In order to pass-by this, you must use a former Mac OS X installation DVD (such as Snow Leopard 10.6.3) and then when updated to 10.6.8 you may access the Mac App Store to recover the Yosemite Installer and proceed to a fresh "update" OR creating a Bootable USB Installation drive with DiskMaker in order to alway get a installation copy.
I also suggest you to create a USB Basic Operating System (you must select a local USB device to install Yosemite or whatever OS you want) with only the base operating system to launch your computer in case of Main Operating System issues.
Given the amounts of issues reported by users with 10.10.2, I command you to download 10.10.2 version to get a stable OS working.
Let me know how it is going.
Good Luck.

How do i erase the hard drive and reinstall?

How do i erase the hard drive and reinstall everything? My computer is running slow and i thought with having a 2.4ghz processor and 4gb of ram would make speed not a factor but obviously i was wrong in that my comp is running slow. Not as slow as my pentium processor desktop but its too slow for my tastes. Im waiting to get an external hd so i can save my songs and pictures to before i do erase everything.

Go to finder and in Spotlight, type in erase and install. The second choice is "Reinstall OS X. Print that out and follow the directions.
Good Luck.
Adam

How do I get my Firefox bookmarks off of my old hard drive (now installed on my new computer as the 2nd hard drive) and into my new installation of Firefox on my new computer?

I had a lovely computer, about 8 years old, running Windows XP; the mother board died; the hard drive was fine.
I now have a new computer, running Windows 7, and I have the old hard drive as my 2nd hard drive.
How do I get my old Firefox bookmarks off the old hard drive and into my new Firefox installation?

You can find your current profile using about:support pasted into the location bar then click on "Open Containing folder. That is where you will want to replace your old files into.
Next find your old profile on your old HD, see
:https://support.mozilla.com/questions/886839
With Firefox down replace the profile files you decide to replace.
You might get a better idea of what you are doing or might want from also looking at
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

I just saved my iphoto original library to my external hard drive, now how do i create new space on my hard drive and create a new iphoto library

i just saved my iphoto original library to my external hard drive, now how do i create new space on my hard drive and create a new iphoto library

Trash the copy of the library you just moved. Then Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
But do you want to have two iPhoto Libraries? Why not just use the one on the External?

I have an 2tb time capsule 802.11n Wi-Fi base station can I use this as an external hard drive and use a new airport extreme 802.11ac Wi-Fi for my wifi?

I have an 2tb time capsule 802.11n Wi-Fi base station can I use this as an external hard drive and use a new airport extreme 802.11ac Wi-Fi for my wifi?

You can use the 2 TB Time Capsule as a network drive. That means that it must connect to one of the Ethernet LAN <--> ports on the new AirPort Extreme, or connect to the network using wireless.

I have erased my hard drive, and now i cant find it on DU

I have erased my hard drive, now when i'm trying to re-install mountain lion i can't see the hard drive in DU. Any ideas on how to restore this?

Try the following document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
If that doesn't work, this site has a lot of info on hard drive problems:
http://scsc-online.com
I'm personally betting that the first link will fix your problem. The second link has a book you can download that has a lot of reset and troubleshooting information on it.

I am trying to erase my hard drive and start a new

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