Ideas On Re-Installing Mac OS X

I've posted a few things on here about my computer not booting and then replacing a possible dying hard drive. After installing the new security update my powerbook would not boot. I took it in and they said it could be a dying hard drive. So, I ordered a new one and installed it myself, but I can't get the factory install disks to boot in the computer. I want to format my new drive and then do a fresh install, but it will not let me. I've tried holding c and option while booting, but the drive just keeps searching and the install screen never shows up. I'm going to keep my old drive and try to fix it once I get the new drive formatted and os x installed on it. Should I try to get a new os x disk or get someone to install it from a external disk? any comments are appreciated.

Are you sure the new drive is set up properly? You first need to use your install disk to boot to disk utility, by:
1. Inserting the disc, pressing the power button, and immediately after the startup chime, press and hold the C key until you see the spinning gear icon appear on the gray splash screen.
2. After the machine has booted, pick your language, and when the Installer window appears, do not press Continue, but go to the Utilities menu in the menubar and open Disk Utility.
Select the drive in Disk Utility (the uppermost icon related to the drive), then click the Erase button in the upper middle of the DU window. In the new pane, next to Volume Format, choose to format the drive as Mac OS Extended.
Joe

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HT1349 Newly installed Mac Mini legally upgraded to Mountain Lion is unstable

Newly installed Mac Mini legally upgraded to Mountain Lion is unstable 2.4Gh Dual, 8Gb RAM. Had to repeat initial install three times, then would not shut down. Reinstalled, seemed better, kernel panics happening and restarting, removed 3rd party devices. Zapped PRAM and fixed file permissions.
Any ideas welcome.

Newly installed Mac Mini legally upgraded to Mountain Lion is unstable 2.4Gh Dual, 8Gb RAM. Had to repeat initial install three times, then would not shut down. Reinstalled, seemed better, kernel panics happening and restarting, removed 3rd party devices. Zapped PRAM and fixed file permissions.
Any ideas welcome.

I have no idea how to install the Mac OS X 10.6.1. update disc sent to me by Apple.

I was on the phone with Apple Support telling them about the MacBook I bought used for my daughter. I wanted to reset it to "factory settings" and clear everything off of it. I thought I was doing everything that I supposed to be doing but when it came to connecting to the Apple Store to restore the OS I kept getting the error message that the product was temporary unavailable. They didn't really have an answer for me so they sent me the disc. I have the disc but have no idea who to access it since I don't have what normally would be my OS screen. I can see it in Disk Utility, but have no idea what to do from this point.
My Macbook Model is A1181.

Boot from the Snow Leopard DVD:
Clean Install of Snow Leopard
     1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
         with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
         After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
         a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.
     2. 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.
         After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
         size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
         partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
         and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
         (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
     3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
         with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
     4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
         Assistant. After you finish Setup Assistant will complete the installation after which
         you will be running a fresh install of OS X. You can now begin the update process
         by opening Software Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your
         installation current.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

How do I format / install Mac OS X on an IDE HD in a Power Mac G4?

I purchased what appears to be a Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) computer at a government surplus sale. There was no keyboard, no mouse, no software, no hard drive and no monitor. Someone at some point installed a PCI ATI Video card with a VGA and DVI-like output. Since there wasn't a monitor and since I couldn't tell whether the computer worked I offered $10 for the computer. The surplus staff were more than happy to sell it to me at that price.
The interior of the desktop appears to be "intact". Much to my (pleasant) surprise the computer powered up although a Folder with a question mark appeared and alternated between a question mark and Mac-Computer face. I powered down the computer, installed an 80GB IDE IBM Desktar Hard Drive, inserted the boot disk for a Mac OS X G4 Laptop and rebooted the computer. I didn't actually expect the computer to boot but I thought I make an attempt anyway.
So my question is ... what do I need to do to format the hard drive I put in this G4 Desktop computer and then install Mac OS X?
I'm thinking I'll need to get a Mac keyboard and a Mac Mouse as well or will straight-up USB mice and keyboards work?
Thanks for any assistance.

On the Apple site the two cheapest Apple Keyboards are $49 for the extended 10 key and for the keyboard without the 10 key (what's up with that??)
The extended keyboard is nice, but you need to have OS X 10.4.1 or later installed and have the keyboard software update installed before you can use it.
The "short" keyboard is a USB version of the wireless, which is also sans 10 key. Apparently there is a demand, but I don't care for it.
The short board requires Leopard 10.5.6+.
A white or black Pro keyboard is a good board, usually from $10.
How does the PowerMac G4 BIOS recognize the connected hardware?
By virtue of the firmware in the ROM of the connected device.
All devices must have Mac specific ROM, or, in the case of an optical drive, be from the same era (or earlier) as the OS.
OS X, unlike Windows, is loaded with drivers. If a device is Mac compatible, and compatible with the OS version, it will be plug and play.
Also, there is a lot of "generic" device support built in.
In the case of late model optical drives in OS X, with Tiger previous to 10.4.11, using Patchburn utility will provide profiles for OS X to fully utilize the burn capabilities of late model drives.
DVD-ROM functions should require no additional effort/patches/modification.
most or all of this hardware is not or does not appear to be manufactured by Apple.
As with most manufacturers, components are third party.
A big difference is the ROM and drivers.
ROM is Mac specific, and in the majority of cases, only Mac ROM containing devices are compatible.
Drivers are very tightly controlled by Apple, and typically, unlike Windows machines, manufacturer firmware updates often times cannot be applied, or require hacks to perform.
Generally speaking, if Apple hasn't issued a firmware update for a device, there may not be one.
Of course, there are exceptions to this "rule of thumb" for aftermarket third party devices.
Once I have an Apple Keyboard, how do I access the "BIOS" on the PowerMac?
Unlike a Windows machine, this is not a necessary measure to use the Unix based OS X.
The only thing close to BIOS is Open Firmware.
Accessing OF is typically unnecessary.
Since it appears that the PowerMac recognizes the CD-DVD player should I still get the OS X CD's or am I okay with getting the OS X DVD's?
I'd get DVD, unless the CD set is a real buy.
I have some extra SDRAM I can scavenge if it's the right kind of SDRAM.
Biggest issue, besides SPD in the EEPROM is density. Macs need low density RAM, and will usually not recognize high density RAM.
Firmware parameters are strict, and OS parameters for RAM tighten with each later version. RAM must be of the proper specification, or it will be incompatible.
There is no user controlled timing adjustment, etc. done in a BIOS. It is all set "in stone" and a user is always best to use only RAM that is "Guaranteed Mac Compatible".

Just installed Mac OS X 10.8.5 on a Mac Pro 2010 platform. The App Store shows there is an upgrade, so I click the download button. After about 2 hrs the process stops and an Error (102) appears on the screen. Any idea what goes wrong? THX

Just installed Mac OS X 10.8.5 on a Mac Pro 2010 platform.
The App Store shows there is an upgrade, so I click the download button.
After about 2 hrs the process stops and an Error (102) appears on the screen.
Any idea what goes wrong?
THX

ahstephen wrote:
Thank you for the response.
The upgrade I'm interested is for OS X v.10.8.5...
...The App Store page shows 2 different upgrades:
Mountain Lion (10.8.5) Software Upgrade, and
Yosemite FREE upgrade
If the App Store is showing 10.8.5 as an update, what do you currently have installed? The final update to Mountain Lion was 10.8.5, and since the basic OS installation of Mountain Lion is no longer offered in the App Store, that would suggest you're currently at an earlier version of Mountain Lion - 10.8.x where x=less than 5. If that's the case, I'd suggest getting the 10.8.5 update. There is also a Supplemental Update for 10.8.5 and that may be what the App Store is offering.

HT1338 Have a macbook pro 2009 currently at version 10.5.8 need to install new version for i phone 5 but will not let me until I install MAC OS X Version 10.6 cant find this anywhere! Any ideas thanks

Have a macbook pro 2009 currently at version 10.5.8 need to install new version for i phone 5 but will not let me until I install MAC OS X Version 10.6 cant find this anywhere! Any ideas thanks

Click here.
(75139)

Trouble clean installing Mac OS 10.5.6

I am using a MacBook 3.1 Intel Core 2 Duo.
The install disc I am using came with this MacBook and it is for Mac OS 10.5.6
I have formatted and re-partitioned the drive with no luck. Everytime I try to install I get to the language selection and then I get the error message saying that I can't install Mac OSX on this computer.
Any ideas why the install isn't working?
EDIT:
When I look at the installation log it says...
Installation checks failed
Installation check failures

We have the same problem. The user rights under Leopard are not interpreted correctly while the Tiger clients show the correct entries. I´ve posted another topic to that thing...

Installing mac OS X leopard 10.5 version on my ibook

i'm trying to install mac OS X leopard 10.5 version on my ibook and it's not mounting on the desk top...it tries to read the DVD disc for 2-4 seconds then spits it out.
My Mac machine is described as follows:
1) machine name: iBook G4
2) machine model: PowerBook 6,7
3) running: Mac OS X Tiger version 10.4.11
4) Processor: 1.33 GHZ
5) PowerPC G4
6) memory: 1.5 GB
7) lots of hard drive memory 70 GB
ATA bus model number of DVD drive is:
MATSHITACD-RW CW-8124
Revision: DBOD
Detachable drive: no
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit number: 0
Socket type: internal
apparently this mac OS X leopard disc is a DVD dual layer format and my drive reads only DVD single layer DVD's....is this in fact true?
I thought i did my due diligence properly before buying this OS X but i guess not.
Your help, ideas and guidance is much appreciated.
thanks and sincerely,
g.
victoria, bc, canada

Is this the retail version of Mac OS X 10.5 you have?
If so, it should work. If it is a gray Install disc that came with another Mac, it won't work.

My files are all there and open in Preview but in Numbers they come up blank. Same in Pages. Any ideas please? My Mac was stopped suddenly by a power cut. Could this be relevant? Help please. Jon Sims

My files are all there and open in Preview but in Numbers they come up blank. Same in Pages. Any ideas please? My Mac was stopped suddenly by a power cut. Could this be relevant? Help please. Jon Sims

"My Mac was stopped suddenly by a power cut. Could this be relevant?"
Sounds very relevant.
Do you have access to another computer with Numbers installed?
If so, do your files open properly on that computer?
If so, then the problem is your computer itself, which is best posted in a different forum.

Can't install Mac OS X.4.5

Hello everybody.
I have a problem. i wanted to install Mac OS X on my hard drive again, because i wanted to install the newest firmware update, which isn't possible under linux.
I have the following disk setup:
Disk /dev/sda: 80,0GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 20,5kB 210MB 210MB fat32 primär boot
2 210MB 1210MB 1000MB ext3 primär
3 1210MB 17,0GB 15,8GB ext3 primär
4 17,0GB 24,0GB 7000MB ext3 primär
5 24,0GB 32,0GB 8000MB ext3 primär
6 32,0GB 55,0GB 23,0GB primär
7 66,0GB 76,0GB 10,0GB hfs+ primär
8 76,0GB 78,0GB 2000MB ext3 primär
9 78,0GB 80,0GB 2026MB primär
As far as you can see i want to install Mac OS X on disk0s7. But the installation program refuses to install Mac Os X. It stops after the "Prepare Disk" (German text is "Festplatte vorbereiten" phase. No logs, nothing. I use the original CD/DVDs, that where delivered with the MacBook Pro (Label say 10.4.5)
Any ideas?

Hi.
I found the installation protocol:
"Nov 16 13:14:19 localhost : Starting installation:
Nov 16 13:14:19 localhost : Preparing volume "Mac-OS" for installation
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : Erasing volume for OS Install
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : Original Disk Layout
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : partition map from /dev/disk0:
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : #: type name size identifier mountpoint
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 0: GUIDpartitionscheme *74,5 GB disk0
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 1: EFI 200 MB disk0s1
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 2: Microsoft Basic Data 953 MB disk0s2
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 3: Microsoft Basic Data 14,7 GB disk0s3
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 4: Microsoft Basic Data 6,5 GB disk0s4
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 5: Microsoft Basic Data 7,5 GB disk0s5
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 6: Microsoft Basic Data 21,4 GB disk0s6
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 7: Apple_HFS Mac-OS 9,3 GB disk0s7 /Volumes/Mac-OS
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 8: Microsoft Basic Data 1,9 GB disk0s8
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : 9: Linux Swap 1,9 GB disk0s9
Nov 16 13:14:20 localhost : Preparing disk for erase
Nov 16 13:14:22 localhost : Erasing volume.
Nov 16 13:14:22 localhost : Erasing
Nov 16 13:14:23 localhost : Initialized /dev/rdisk0s7 as a 9537 MB HFS Plus volume with a 8192k journal\n
Nov 16 13:14:24 localhost : Mounting Disk
Nov 16 13:14:24 localhost : Done erasing volume.
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Final Disk Layout
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : partition map from /dev/disk0:
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : #: type name size identifier mountpoint
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 0: GUIDpartitionscheme *74,5 GB disk0
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 1: EFI 200 MB disk0s1
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 2: Microsoft Basic Data 953 MB disk0s2
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 3: Microsoft Basic Data 14,7 GB disk0s3
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 4: Microsoft Basic Data 6,5 GB disk0s4
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 5: Microsoft Basic Data 7,5 GB disk0s5
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 6: Microsoft Basic Data 21,4 GB disk0s6
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 7: Apple_HFS Mac-OS 9,3 GB disk0s7 /Volumes/Mac-OS
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 8: Microsoft Basic Data 1,9 GB disk0s8
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 9: Linux Swap 1,9 GB disk0s9
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Waiting for volume...
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Configuring volume "Mac-OS"
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Preparing Disk for OS Install
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Cannot make disk bootable at this stage.
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : partition map from /dev/disk0:
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : #: type name size identifier mountpoint
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 0: GUIDpartitionscheme *74,5 GB disk0
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 1: EFI 200 MB disk0s1
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 2: Microsoft Basic Data 953 MB disk0s2
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 3: Microsoft Basic Data 14,7 GB disk0s3
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 4: Microsoft Basic Data 6,5 GB disk0s4
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 5: Microsoft Basic Data 7,5 GB disk0s5
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 6: Microsoft Basic Data 21,4 GB disk0s6
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 7: Apple_HFS Mac-OS 9,3 GB disk0s7 /Volumes/Mac-OS
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 8: Microsoft Basic Data 1,9 GB disk0s8
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : 9: Linux Swap 1,9 GB disk0s9
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Install failed: Das Volume konnte nicht fÃ¼r die Installation vorbereitet werden.
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Entering Zusammenfassung section
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Physical Memory Allocation: 73 MB wired, 41 MB active, 77 MB inactive, 191 MB used, 828 MB free, 1024 MB total
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : Private/Total = (5,6 MB, 33,0 MB), Heap/Total = (3,3 MB, 18,6 MB), Regions(malloc, private) = (47, 29)
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : It took 6.395254 seconds to unsuccessfully install "Mac OS X" (21 pkg(s))
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : It took 6.342220 seconds to Prepare volume "Mac-OS" (dm -prepareDisk:withType:)
Nov 16 13:14:26 localhost : It took 0.052953 seconds to Configuring volume "Mac-OS" (dm prepare*disk)
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : Summary Information
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : Type Elapsed time (sec)
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : script 0.000000
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : zero 0.000081
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : receipt 0.000000
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : disk 6.395173
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost : install 0.000000
Nov 16 13:14:27 localhost :
any ideas why the installer fails? Why cant the installer make the disk bootable?
Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Problem of SATA burner blu-ray drive vs IDE ribbon in the mac. Would all I need is a SATA to IDE/IDE adaptor?

I purchased an MCE blu-ray burner a while back in 2010 and am only now installing it, and am running into the problem of SATA drive vs IDE ribbon in the mac.
Would all I need is a SATA to IDE/IDE adaptor? Are there any details I need to know?

that one will definetly not work, notice how theres no place for you to hook your power connector in there? going IDE to SATA is something I am yet to find an adaptor that really works well yet( that being said i only tried once.) that being said, you can definetly use somethign like the thing i link to below assuming you have a free HDD bay. you can use it to bring one of your HDD sata ports AND power, up to your optical drive bay. That way, theres no convertion, only a quick little extention. They come in varying lengths from 3", (prob too short), to 8" (the one i linked to, might just barely be long enough, maybe still too short) to 20", more than long enough.
Good luck
http://www.ebay.com/itm/22-Pin-Male-22-Pin-Female-SATA-Extender-Cable-8-Inch-/27 0651981600?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f041d7f20#ht_500wt_1039

Installing Mac OS X on a 2nd internal Hard Drive

I just purchased a 2nd hard drive for my PowerMac G5 2.5 GHz machine. I want to install Mac OS X on the new drive and use it as the main drive. However, when I try booting from the Mac OS X (Black dvd disc) my machine won't boot. The screen crashes and I have to hold down the power button until the machine turns off. When I boot from my regular hard drive, I can insert the Mac OS X disc and it operates fine. It just doesn't boot my machine.
Any ideas????

Hello Again! If your goal is to use the new disk as the main disk and the current system boot drive is "stable" and is not experiencing any problems then you can clone the old drive to the new one using Kappy's process for making a bootable external since the steps are the same whether it's an internal or external drive. Be sure the drive has been formatted as Mac in disk utility and it's always good to use the zero data option when installing a new drive. Once you have cloned the drive boot from the new one and run it a few days to be sure it's working ok before erasing the old one or deleting all the files on it. You can also use SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner to clone with instead of the disk utility. Tom
Kappy's Steps to Produce a bootable clone
Prep external FW drive:
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
4. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
5. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the startup or source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
8. Select the destination drive on the Desktop and press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. At the bottom in the Ownership and Permissions section be sure the box labeled "Ignore Permissions on this Volume" is unchecked. Verify the settings for Ownership and Permissions as follows: Owner=system with read/write; Group=admin with read/write; Other with read-only. If they are not correct then reset them.
For added precaution you can boot into safe mode before doing the clone.
Message was edited by: Thomas Bryant

CS3 InDesign won't install, Mac OS 10.5

I've just received CS3 Design premium, and InDesign won't install. There is no reason given, just that it won't install. Shared components and Version Cue Server won't install either. I just upgraded to Leopard on a g5 Intel system. Any ideas on what to do next?
Thanks,
jan

For your protection, this mailing list does not allow unauthenticated posts by
email. Please re-post through the Web. Go to
<
Darlene Long, "CS3 InDesign won't install, Mac OS 10.5" #5, 13 Jan 2008 6:23 pm>. Then you can copy/paste this
message into your Web browser.
CS3 InDesign won't install, Mac OS 10.5
Hi Darlene,
I think I just got lucky - it hesitated a few times then finally clicked.
One of the previous posters suggested to not install Version Cue, so I
clicked that one off. Did you repair the permissions and restart before
installing? Spin around 3 times clicking your heels saying, there's no
program like InDesign?
If you can stay in InD 2 I would suggest that, expecially if you use a lot
of clipping paths. InD3 has a bug there that won't see interior paths, so
you have to go back into Photoshop to rework the image. If I had only know
that before.....
Good luck!
jan

Installing Mac OS X Lion on a new drive fails

I got a new SSD to replace my HDD with. I followed the directions on apple's website: I erased and formatted my usb drive, I downloaded and installed Lion Recovery Assistant on it, then I put the SSD in.
Then I boot up holding the option key and I connect to my wi-fi and select "Recovery HD". Then I make sure the SSD is formatted properly (GUID, etc) and create a new partition. I name it, exit disk utility and select Reinstall Lion.
I follow the directions, but it doesn't ask for my Apple ID, weird. It starts reinstalling telling me 1:35 hours left, which increases to about 7 hours left and then I get this error: "Cannot download the addition components needed to instal Mac OS X Lion"
I am mentioning that the usb drive I used for the recovery assistant was formatted correctly as well.
Any ideas why this happens?
I also tried using Internet Recovery but after 4-5 minutes I get a weird error: I get a triangle on the world map and the text bellow says something like: "apple.com/support - 501 OF [11 ]"

I got a new SSD to replace my HDD with. I followed the directions on apple's website: I erased and formatted my usb drive, I downloaded and installed Lion Recovery Assistant on it, then I put the SSD in.
Then I boot up holding the option key and I connect to my wi-fi and select "Recovery HD". Then I make sure the SSD is formatted properly (GUID, etc) and create a new partition. I name it, exit disk utility and select Reinstall Lion.
I follow the directions, but it doesn't ask for my Apple ID, weird. It starts reinstalling telling me 1:35 hours left, which increases to about 7 hours left and then I get this error: "Cannot download the addition components needed to instal Mac OS X Lion"
I am mentioning that the usb drive I used for the recovery assistant was formatted correctly as well.
Any ideas why this happens?
I also tried using Internet Recovery but after 4-5 minutes I get a weird error: I get a triangle on the world map and the text bellow says something like: "apple.com/support - 501 OF [11 ]"

You cannot install Mac OS X Server Update on this volume. (10.5.6)

I hope someone can help!
I started with 10.5.5, but was having lots of problems with MobileMe. I have downloaded 10.5.6 which I have heard is more stable but it won't allow me to install it with the following error message "You cannot install Mac OS X Server Update on this volume. This volume does not meet the requirements for this update." I have then downloaded 10.5.7 which installs fine but does not fix my original problem and I know it is less stable that 10.5.6. I have tried to install 10.5.6 again but same problem. Any ideas of what I have to do to my HD to make it happen?
The main problems I am having with MobileMe is registering the computer (it wont happen), syncing (it wont happen because the computer isn't registered), and publishing iweb updates.
Thanks, J

You downloaded the wrong updater version. You downloaded an updater for OS X Server but do not have OS X Server installed, hence the error. The 10.5.6 Combo Updater is here.
You will have to provide more information about the problem you are having with MobileMe. And, you should login to your MM account online so you can post your problem in their specific forums.
Before you install a system update I suggest you see the following:
How to Install OS X Updates Successfully
A. Repair the hard drive and permissions:
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. Then 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 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/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.
B. Make a bootable backup of your current working system:
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
4. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
5. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the startup or source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
C. Important: Please read before installing
1. If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it. Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've restarted.
2. You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
3. The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update. While the installation is in progress do not use the computer.
D. Download and install update(s):
1. Use Software Update, or
2. Download standalone updater(s).

Ideas On Re-Installing Mac OS X

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