Installing Lion through Recovery

Hi all. I received this Macbook Pro 2,2 from a friend of mine who didn't use it anymore. Lion was already installed by the previous owner, but obviously I wanted to wipe it and make it new. I access the recovery and erase the Macintosh HD, everything's fine. Now I'm trying installing the OS again selecting the option in the Recovery menu but it's not working. I agree to the terms, insert my Apple Store credentials and after a couple of seconds it says "The item is temporarily unavailable. Please try again."
What do I do? With my friend we tried to make a USB that apparently had Lion on it but it's not working. He used Lion DiskMaker X and a DMG file found on the internet. Basically it's not bootable (but the file works fine if you start it from the desktop).
It's my first experience with an Apple product, so try to explain me like I'm five.
Thank you.

I do not have FileVault enabled. My problem is that I cannot upgrade to Mavericks as the installer is telling me that I do not have a Recovery Partition. But this is simply wrong.
EDIT:
This is the related article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4649
But neither my disk is a Raid volume nor I have a Bootcamp partion.

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HT4718 infinite loop error installing lion internet recovery "Install Mac OS X" window. " Install Failed Mac OS X could not be installed on your computer - Restart"

Hi all,
my macbook pro became extermily slow for some reason, I rebooted it many times and same problem so I decided to reinstall the Mac OS X lion from the internet.
I tried installing lion internet recovery, it downloaded it and restarted. I got the "Install Mac OS X" window. then while installing I got the sad message " Install Failed Mac OS X could not be installed on your computer" and the only botton is "restart". Everytime I restart I gor the same message. Now I am trying to start from the harddisk but I does not show when you start the pc, keep clicking the "alt" botton. It only shows "Mac OS X Installer" and "Recovery HD". What Should I do?
I appreciate your help. Thanks.

Thanks Baltwo.
I could format it and get the back up from time machine but it is not up to date so I want to leave it at last.
I tried to back it up on external hard drive and got an error, tried CCC for back up and error again.
Just wanted to do an update on the subject. Still trying to get it back.

Can't install Lion from Recovery partition

Trying to install from the Recovery HD and run the installer, connect to the App Store, and then get to this
It's been sitting there for a couple of hours. I can use other computers to access the Internet so it's not a web connection problem. This is not good. Always hated the idea that you need a net connection to install the OS, and now it's coming to bite me. This is truly, appalling abysmal. This installation method should be an embarrassment to Apple.
Any suggestions to get around this mess would be greatly appreciated.

Tom,
When you get the installer downloaded please do not click on the Install button. Make a copy and save it in your Downloads folder. Later you can make a bootable USB flash installer:
Make Your Own Mountain/Lion Installer
1. After downloading Mountain/Lion you must first save the Install Mac OS X Mountain/
    Lion application. After Mountain/Lion downloads DO NOT click on the Install button.
    Go to your Applications folder and make a copy of the Mountain/Lion installer. Move
    the copy into your Downloads folder. Now you can click on the Install button. You
    must do this because the installer deletes itself automatically when it finishes
    installing.
2. Get a USB flash drive that is at least 8 GBs. Prep this flash drive as follows:
a. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
b. After DU loads select your flash 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.
c. 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.
d. 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.
e. 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.
f. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to an hour depending upon the flash
     drive size.
3. Locate the saved Mountain/Lion installer in your Downloads folder. CTRL- or RIGHT-click on the installer and select Show Package Contents from the contextual menu. Double-click on the Contents folder to open it. Double-click on the SharedSupport folder. In this folder you will see a disc image named InstallESD.dmg.
4. Plug in your freshly prepared USB flash drive. You are going to clone the content of the InstallESD.dmg disc image to the flash drive as follows:
a. Double-click on the InstallESD.dmg file to mount it on your Desktop.
b. Open Disk Utility.
c. Select the USB flash drive from the left side list.
d. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
e. Select the USB flash drive volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
f. Drag the mounted disc icon from the Desktop into the Source entry field.
g. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
When the clone is completed you have a fully bootable installer that you can use without having to re-download Mountain/Lion.
Note: The term Mountain/Lion used above means Lion or Mountain Lion.
As an alternative to the above (you still have to do your own download of Lion/Mountain Lion) you can try using Lion DiskMaker 2.0 that automates the process of Steps 2 through 4.

Can't Re-Install Lion from Recovery HD - Internal Drive Locked and Grayed Out

I can't boot into Lion on my Macbook Pro. I can boot into Bootcamp. When I'm in Bootcamp, using MacDrive, I can access all my files on my main Lion partition. I can also boot into the Recovery HD. From there I can get to Disk Utility which tells me that I need to repair my Lion partition. When I run the repair, it tells me it can't be repaired.
Given that I can still access all my files from Bootcamp, I tried to re-install Lion using that selection from the Recovery HD menu. It verifies my Lion copy over the internet. But when it asks me to designate the drive that I want to re-install Lion on, the drives (Bootcamp, Recovery and Mac) are all grayed out and all say "Disk is Locked". I'd rather not reinstall from my Time Capsule back up because of the time involved, the fact that the backup is a week old and because I dropped the !@#$ external drive with the back up on it yesterday and I don't trust it (it's making weird noises).
I've tried booting up in safe mode and ctrl-sys-r-p but all that happens is hours of watching the wheel spin. I had not set up File Vault so it shouldn't be for want of a File Vault password.
Any idea how I can unlock the drive to at least try to re-install Lion?

Thanks for the idea. I do have another Macbook at home although it's quite a bit older and I've only upgraded it to Snow Leopard, but I'll certainly give it a try. I've already tried what would seem to be about the same thing with, unfortunatley, no luck. I have an old hard drive (running Snow Leopard) that used to be the internal drive in my Macbook Pro. When I pulled it out, I stuck it in an enclosure. When this problem cropped up, I plugged it into the Macbook Pro that's giving me grief (via USB), booted up on the enclosed drive, and ran the disk utility off of that drive against the current internal HD of the Macbook Pro. All I got was the "can't be repaired" message.

Installed Lion - no Recovery Partition on either MP or MBP

I installed Lion a couple of weeks ago. Today I decided to test the Recovery only to discover it is not available.
I have read http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4649 but none of those solutions appliy to my Macs.
I have repaired permission and verified my system disk without finding any errors.
In desperation, I repaired the system disk with DiskWarrior only to discover a couple of trival errors.
I then reinstalled Lion again.
Still no Recovery Partition.
Here is something I found in Console which seems to say a Recovery Partition was created but I can't find it.
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Creating recovery volume.
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: donor disk's storage system is simple so it itself will be the donor
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: normalized donor: logical=0x7fec5fb00518=disk0s2=Macintosh HD=(iflvuuid=(null)) physical=0x10714bcb0=disk0s2=Macintosh HD=disk0s2 storage=(null)
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: ensured donor is slice and on GPT
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: donor's whole-disk=0x10714bc10=disk0
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: ensured target and donor are reasonable sizes (>2GB) to support a full OS installation
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking target disk
Aug 11 10:00:27 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: doing fsck of simple donor slice=0x10714bcb0=disk0s2=Macintosh HD
Aug 11 10:00:28 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking file system
Aug 11 10:00:28 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Aug 11 10:00:28 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking extents overflow file.
Aug 11 10:00:28 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking catalog file.
Aug 11 10:01:02 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking multi-linked files.
Aug 11 10:01:03 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking catalog hierarchy.
Aug 11 10:01:34 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking extended attributes file.
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking volume bitmap.
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Checking volume information.
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost OSInstaller[388]: The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK.
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: done fsck of donor slice; err=0
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: doing check if there is a WindowsOS at part#4 on phy's whole=0x10714bc10=disk0
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: if WINOS on partID=4 then caution; isWindowsOSonPart4=0
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: at DoneCheckingDontPushWindowsOSPast4
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: doing test of boot.ini file(s) updatability on phy's whole=0x10714bc10=disk0
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: done test boot.ini updatability; err=ShouldAbort=0
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: was .dmg already attached/mounted = 0
Aug 11 10:01:46 localhost OSInstaller[388]: Attaching disk image /Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/BaseSystem.dmg
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: done attach; err=0
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: got VolMP=/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System 1 VolUDS=0x10714ba10=disk18s3=Mac OS X Base System WholeUDS=0x10714bab0=disk18
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: ensured img's attached vol is an OSX system
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: calc requiredFileSpaceForRecoveryFilesULL from file sizes, also is further preflight that files exist
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: start with 0 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: peek src=/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System 1/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi err=(null)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 858800 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: peek src=/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System 1/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kext.caches/Startup/kernelcache err=(null)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 23992189 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: peek src=/Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/BaseSystem.dmg err=(null)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 451307798 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: allocating kEstimatedBootDotPList_LogicalSizeULL
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 16384 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: peek src=/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System 1/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist err=(null)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 475 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: peek src=/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System 1/System/Library/CoreServices/com.apple.recovery.boot/PlatformSupport.plist err=(null)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 2245 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: doing BaseSystem.dmg's ChunkList
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: peek src=/Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/BaseSystem.chunklist err=(null)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add 1876 B
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 1 (after adding up logical file sizes in dmg + expected to create ourselves) requiredFileSpaceForRecoveryFilesULL=476179767 =Sbydiv=930038 =Mbydiv=454
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add no provision for existing files in booter (will only be adding fixed iomedia-alloc-for-BootRoot later below)
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 2 (after considering ExistingIfAny booter volume files with physical on-disk rounded up to alloc block sizes) requiredFileSpaceForAllFilesULL=476179767 =Sbydiv=930038 =Mbydiv=454
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: create desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL; start with requiredFileSpaceForAllFilesULL
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: add kConvertFromLogicalSizeToIOMediaSize_ULL=16777216
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 3 (converted to iomedia desired size) desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=492956983 =Sbydiv=962806 =Mbydiv=470
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: after adding allowance for BootRoot kBootRootEtc_IOMediaSizeULL=134217728 desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=627174711
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 4 (after adding BootRoot iomedia allocation) desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=627174711 =Sbydiv=1224950 =Mbydiv=598
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: after applying kIfNewRecoverySystemMakeEntireBooterAtLeast_IOMediaSizeULL=650000000
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 5 (after applying minimum) desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=650000000 =Sbydiv=1269531 =Mbydiv=619
Aug 11 10:01:49 localhost diskmanagementd[392]: DM ..T-[DMToolBootPreference ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: doing find/create/resize recoveryDisk
Any suggestions greatfully accepted. Thanks.
Allan

Allan,
1. Do you have a Boot Camp partition on the drive?
2. Do you have any additional partitions on the drive?
In some cases either of the above can result in the Recovery HD partition failing to install. Something to do with not being able to resize the last partition on the drive.
I think that if the drive has been fairly full then there could be some fragmented files that result in the partitioner failing to find a contiguous block for the recovery partition. Sort of the same problem that can arise when trying to create a Boot Camp partition.
In any event you can create your Recovery partition by resizing the drive on your own using Disk Utility. Make a 1.2 GB partition at the end of the drive by shrinking the last partition by that amount then adding a new partition. Download the Lion Recovery Disk Assistant 1.0 and use it to create the Recovery HD in the newly added partition. You can actually use the Recovery Disk Assistant to create a Recovery HD on any device including a small USB flash drive.

Cannot sign in to apple ID when installing Lion from recovery

I cannot seem to be able to sign into my Apple ID when trying to restore my MacBook pro from a recovery pen drive created by the new software that creates such things. What I suspect is happening is that my apple ID is a UK App store account and I am trying to reinstall here in my home in Germany, but there is no way to specify what country I bought the Lion OS from and it will detect I'm in Germany and try to log into the German store. If this is the case then how bloody silly, if not then why can I not sign in. Wifi is working fine and it does connect when it's in the installer so connection to the Internet is not the problem. Please help as I now have no OS on my laptop only a recovery partition and this pen drive.

I have the same issues, but not on my iphone, but on my laptop. My phone works fine, though. I have 7.0.4 as well.

Installing Lion on an SSD in MacBook Pro?

I'm a newbee to the SSD world, and I want to replace my HD in my MBP 13" with a SSD (without losing my data). But I am having trouble figuring out how to install Snow Leopard onto the SSD. I know once I install Snow Leopard, I can go ahead and install Lion through the app store. What is the best way to go about this? Step by step instructions would be very helpful! Thank you very much!

Whenever I change system disks, I always using cloning software, such as CCC or SuperDuper, to move everything over. Seeing as how an SSD is another form of drive, I don't see why you can't do that instaled of reinstalling everything.
Allan.

How do I install Lion on external hard drive? I have purchased and downloaded through App Store but do not know where the download is located so I can install.

I want to install Lion on an external hard drive. The OS was purchased and downloaded through the App Store but I do not know where the file is.

If you downloaded the installer it will be in your applications folder. Failing that use spotlight start typing Install and it should show up.
This is assuming you downloaded the installer from the app store, and didn't just install it onto your mac. If all you have done is install it on your mac. Go to your purchases Lion should show up. Then click download.
Here is the Support page for installing osx on an external drive.
OS X: Installing OS X on an external volume - Apple Support
Hope this helps.
PJRS

I am trying to install Lion on my imac and it says it can't make a recovery disk

I am trying to install lion and receive a message saying it can't make a recovery disk. I am using a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac. I do have bootcamp on it, but was never able to install Windows.

What happens when Lion installs is it creates a Lion Recovery Partition at the very bottom area of the drive, this is used to Command R boot into and perform Disk Utility Repairs and reinstall Lion from Apple's servers much like a 10.6 disk will.
So when you ran the Lion installer, it couldn't create this small partiiton, either because the GUID partition table (the map of your paartitions on the drive) is borked or there is data all the way to the bottom of the drive or OS X thinks there is.
You set up the bootcamp parittion, so run that and delete the Bootcamp partition as your not using it or Windows, once it's finished reboot and try installing Lion again.
I should warn you, Lion will not run your Rosetta based software or hardware drivers for external hardware, you may have to purchase all new versions. Not only that, hardware drivers may not be available for 10.7 thus rendering your third party printers, scanners etc useless.
Before you install Lion, you should consult this web page
http://roaringapps.com/apps:table
to see if your current programs will break and when to expect a new version (likely paid)
Also you shoudl check your hardware and the makers site if there is a 10.7 compatible driver/software for them.
And once you think your ready to go to Lion, get a blank external powered drive and a free/donationware copy of Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your present (non-Filevault) 10.6 boot drive to the external drive.
Later if 10.7 doesn't work for you, simply hold the option key and boot off the 10.6 clone, use Disk Utility to Erase the entire drive (the whole drive!) and reverse clone 10.6 back onto the internal drive.
http://www.bombich.com/get_ready_for_lion.html

Unable to install Lion Recovery Update v1.0 on Mac OS 10.8.2

Hi to anyone who can help,
As the "Find My Mac" option is greyed out, I followed all the instructions on the support forums on how to get this feature, such as Verify/Repair Machintosh HD using Disk Ultilty from the Recovery partition.
Subsequently I tried to install Lion Recovery Update v1.0 from the Apple Support link below:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1464
However, while attempting to install, it says "This update can only be installed on OS 10.7". How do I get this fixed?
Some background info, my MacBook Pro 15" (early 2011) had a replacement Hard Disk Drive and Logic Board.
1. The replacement drive had 10.7.4 installed, and I used the recovery partition to restore to a Time Machine Backup (which was 10.8.2).
2. Do I need to "download" the Mountain Lion package in the app store again? I see it as an available to download instead of saying "Installed".

Exit Code 6 is a generic error that indicates that the installation was not successful.
Have a look at the following document: http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/errors-exit-code-6-exit.html
A quick look at the error log, indicates a permission issues. Are you logged in with an Administrator account and have sufficient privileges to install software?

After upgrading to 10.7.2, my iMac works fine for 40-50 minutes, then slows to a crawl. Restart gets back to normal, then 40 minutes later need to restart again. Thought about reinstalling Lion through Lion Recovery, but says my hard disk is locked?

After upgrading to 10.7.2, my iMac works fine for 40-50 minutes, then slows to a crawl. Restart gets back to normal, then 40 minutes later need to restart again. Thought about reinstalling Lion through Lion Recovery, but won't let me, says my hard disk is locked? Any suggestions?

Launch the Terminal app in /Utilities/, run these two commands (copy & paste each one separately and hit the return key):
sudo chflags 0 /volumes/*
sudo chmod a+rx /volumes/*
at the Password: prompt, type in your admin password, carefully since nothing displays on the screen, and hit the return key. These should unlock your drives. You might have to restart.

Installed Lion on external drive per apple support, now won't install on Mac HD, because can't create recovery disc, does not give option besides restart to old OS

On the noecovery page I followed instructions to install Lion of external drive, which I did. Then tried to install on HD, but got same message as no recovery disc could be made and only option was to restart to back Leopard. Don't want to take to geniuses since there must be a simple answer.

On the noecovery page I followed instructions to install Lion of external drive, which I did. Then tried to install on HD, but got same message as no recovery disc could be made and only option was to restart to back Leopard. Don't want to take to geniuses since there must be a simple answer.

HT4904 Help. I have an older 20 inch iMac and had Lion running on it but the internal hard drive died. I'm trying to install Lion on an external drive but it doesn't look like Lion Recovery is supported. I have Leopard installed but am stuck.

Hello,
My 20inch iMac's internal drive died and I'm trying to re-install Lion on an external drive. If I could get the Lion DMG file I think I'd be all set but am not sure how to do this. It doesn't look like the Lion Recovery feature is supported in my older iMac. And I have Leopard installed on the external drive but there's no AppStore to download the Lion DMG file.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
-Lee

Without a bootable backup/clone or a Time Machine backup of your previous Snow Leopard installation or a saved copy of Lion's install app, you'll have to upgrade your Leopard volume to Snow Leopard (10.6.6+) so you can waste another hour or more DLing the Lion thing again.

How do I install Lion on my new iMac from a recovery thumb drive?

Anyone know how to install Lion from a recovery copy? It's made from the copy on my MacBook Pro on a thumb drive.

Are you saying that you copied your system or installer from your laptop onto a thumb drive?
Please be specific: you really can't copy the recovery partition by itself because it's hidden - you can use Apple's recovery assistant to create a bootable startup on a thumb drive with which you can boot your system and then download/install. But, I believe that method requires the same machine ID to work.
IF you have the full installer, you need to boot up from another drive (the installer may not be bootable) and then direct it to another Mac.
So where do you want to install it? And exactly what is it that you have on that thumb drive?
If you just want to install Lion on another Mac, you can simply download a fresh copy from MAS.

Since installing Lion, no Finder window will open on the desktop. I can see them through "Quick Look" and "View all Windows" in the contextual menu for Finder in the

Since installing Lion, no Finder window will open on the desktop. I can see them through "Quick Look" and "View all Windows" in the contextual menu for Finder in the dock.

Help please!

Installing Lion through Recovery

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