OS X Mavericks cannot be installed on Macintosh HD

Macbook - Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5
34.5 GB free out of 159.18GB
When I try and download Mavericks it says, "OS X cannot be installed on 'Macintosh HD'." I am unable to delete the backups.backupdb file as it says "...unexpected error occurred (error code - 8072)".
Suggestions? Thanks!

I'm not sure what would cause that error. You might want to post this question over in the OS X Mavericks forum: https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/os_x_mavericks?view=discussions.

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Yosemite cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD"

When trying to upgrade from Mavericks to Yosemite I get this:
Yosemite OS X cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD".
This is a late 2009 iMac with 4G RAM and 1TB of hard disk space.
Suggestions please.

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Select
/var/log ▹ install.log
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen. The contents of the log will appear on the right. Each log message begins with a timestamp. Select the messages from the time of the last installation or update attempt. If you're not sure when that was, click the Clear Display button in the toolbar of the Console window and then try the installation again. Select the new messages that appear. Copy the messages to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message (command-V).
☞ If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don’t post many repetitions of the same message.
☞ When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
☞ Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
☞ Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
☞ Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting. You may need to use a text editor with search and replace, such as TextEdit.

PLEASE HELP! OSX cannot be installed on Macintosh HD

PROBLEM
I'm trying to update from Snow Leopard 10.6.8 to Yosemite 10.10.2 and it's not working. I downloaded the installer file from the app store and it is in my applications folder. When prompted, I "Select the disc where I want to install OS X" and select Macintosh HD, causing a bubble to pop up saying "This disc cannot be used to start your computer". If I press the back button, then go back forward it simply says "OS X cannot be installed on Macintosh HD".
TROUBLESHOOTING ATTEMPTS
I have tried to repeat the process about ten times with the same results.
Reinstalling the installer doesn't help.
I ran Disc Utility, which claimed I had an error in the number of blocks in my volume, booted in Recovery Mode and repaired the disc. No change.
Other online threads told me to find and delete the file "backups.backupdb" on my HD, but I can't find that anywhere on my computer using the Finder Search function
SPECS
Late 2011 MacBook Pro
OS X 10.6.8
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 processor
4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 Memory
65GB available disc space

You must have a really fouled up Snow Leopard system. Please do this:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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.
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.
If you continue having errors reported, then you should backup your files, erase the drive and reinstall Snow Leopard. Be sure to backup the Yosemite installer you downloaded if you don't want to download it again. Otherwise, try the installer again.

Mac OS X cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD", because this disk cannot be used to start up your computer

I have a macbook pro with snow leopard on it. I am giving it away to a family members, but would like to erase the disk before giving it away. When I put my snow leopard dvd in, and click "install", I get a screen asking me to select the hard drive to install on. When I click the only one listed: "Macintosh HD", I get the message:
Mac OS X cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD", because this disk cannot be used to start your computer
If I try to boot from the dvd, my mac just hangs on the gray screen that shows the apple logo. Basically I put the dvd in, shut down the computer, when I turn it on, I hold the "C" key, and it just hangs.
How should I go about erasing everything on the computer, and re-installing the OS, I just want it to look like it did when it came from the factory. Any help would be much appreciated.
Note: I lost my original install dvd, so I called Apple and asked for a replacement, they charged me $20 and sent the Snow Leopard disk that I am using as my replacement.
Thanks.

It's possible you got a disk from Apple you can't use. What you should have gotten were gray disks based on the Mac's serial number so you would get disks which were identical to the ones it came with.
If the disk you received has a picture of a Snow Leopard on it, then they sent you a 10.6.3 retail disk, which will not have any of the bundled iLife apps on it.
Much more important is the point release. If your Mac originally came with 10.6.4 or some later point release of Snow Leopard, then 10.6.3 will not install on that Mac. The necessary hardware drivers are not on the retail disk.

Os x mounatin lion cannot be installed on Macintosh HD

Hello!
I just downloaded Mountain Lion from app store and ran it. After rebooting i have chosen install on my Macintosh HD and after about 5 mins i recieved a message "os x mounatin lion cannot be installed on Macintosh HD". what's the point??

we have a problem.....
another solution - buy a hard drive and a usb external enclosure (not an external hard drive).......
take your old hard drive out and install it in your usb external enclosure.
install your new hard drive in your macbook.
connect your usb external to your macbook's usb port.
power up your macbook and keep your finger in the option key until you see the apple logo....
you'll get a boot menu, choose your external drive as the boot drive - when ML installer pops up, direct it to install it in your new hard drive....
once the install is done, restart your macbook and open migration assistant and use that to bring your files and apps from your bad hard drive over...

I just purchased OS X Mountain Lion Upgrade. When I went to install it is says "Os X Mountain Lion cannot be installed on Macintosh HD" please help!

Just purchsed upgrade OSX Mountain Lion. Went to install and it says "OSX cannot be installed on Macintosh HD" Why?

Hi,
If you bought the iMac in 2010 it should be supported indeed, however be aware that the information refers to the manufaction date which might be different than the purchase date.
Please verify the following information:
Click the Apple icon.
Click About This Mac.
Click More Info.
What is the listed Model Identifier?
You may identify the exact model by comparing it with the Model Identifier below:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1758
Now go back to your Desktop, click the Go menu and select Utilities.
Open the Disk Utilitiy.
Select Macintosh HD from the left pane.
You may find the Available space listed in here.
As well, what it the listed Format within the same screen?
Shlomi

"Mac OS X cannot be installed on 'Macintosh HD'. This disk is used for Time Machine backups."

I am trying to upgrade our MacBook to Snow Leopard, but when prompted to select which hard drive to install on and "Macintosh HD" is selected, the following message generates: "Mac OS X cannot be instaled on 'Macintosh HD'. This disk is used for Time Machine backups."
I disabled Time Machine switched it "off," put it in the trash can, then "Secure Emptied" the trash can. I also rebooted. Then I connected an external hard drive thinking that might help, but for some reason I still cannot proceed with the Snow Leopard upgrade because "the disk is used for Time Machine backups."
WHAT is the DEAL!?

It doesn't sound like an upgrade would work very well anyway. Make sure you have a good backup and repartition the startup volume. Then install Snow Leopard onto the hard drive and migrate your old users and applications.

OSX Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer???? 2013 MacBook Pro Retina?

I need to re-install Mavericks on a the NEW MacBook Pro Retina - and I am getting the "OSX Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer" error.
What can I do to fix?

Shawn Rimmell wrote:
I need to re-install Mavericks on a the NEW MacBook Pro Retina - and I am getting the "OSX Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer" error.
What can I do to fix?
How are you trying to reinstall, from Recovery, or from the App Store?

OSX mavericks cannot be installed on this computer.

Imac running osx 10.6.8 after reformat of hard drive and reinstalling original OS 10.6.4. I then installed 10.6.8 combo upgrade. After downloading OS X 10.9.5 an alert appears and states "OS X mavericks cannot be installed on this computer." Prior to the reformat this imac was running the original mavericks. Doesn't make sense. Is there a way to access the original OS X 10.9 and attempt a download, then do a 10.9.5 combo upgrade?

"Prior to the reformat this imac was running the original mavericks"
You can reinstall Mavericks using OS X Recovery.
Startup your Mac while holding down the Command + R keys.
From there you should be able to access the built in utilities to reinstall OS X (Mavericks) using OS X Recovery

HT201364 Can't download Mavericks installer on recent Mac. "OS Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer", which is running 9.1.

I want to download the Mavericks installer so I have a backup installer that does not require the internet. Although, the App Store button allows me to download, I get a message that Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer.
Computer is late 2013 retina MBP 13" with lots of memory.
My OS is 10.9.1 (13B3116) currently running.
Is the App Store version of Mavericks too old (jan 16) for my rMBP?
Rick

Judging by the build number, it appears you have a special build of Mavericks installed and the App Store version (13B42) won't work with your computer.
Kappy - if I try to download Mavericks I get the message below, so apparently I can down load it again?
I also have a copy of the installer in my Applications folder, although it is in a folder.

"Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer," bs!

Please help. I am trying to install Mavericks on an iMac with a 6,1 identifier number and 10.6.8 installed and up-to-date. WHY does it say, "Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer," when I try to get it? I meet at least three specs to be able to download, so I cannot understand what the trouble is? Can anyone elighten me? It's pretty annoying. I'm trying to like Macs. I'm a PC girl, and this is the same BS I come to you with from PCs. I thought Macs were better? ;-)

Sorry, but your iMac is too old to install Mavericks.
iMac (Mid-2007 or later)
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later),
MacBook Pro (15-inch or 17-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or later)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
Xserve (Early 2009)
Your Mac also needs:
OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard v10.6.8 already installed
2 GB or more of memory
8 GB or more of available space
If you wish, you can upgrade to OS X 10.7 Lion
OS X Lion system requirements
To use Lion, make sure your computer has the following:
An Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
Mac OS X v10.6.6 or later to install via the Mac App Store (v10.6.8 recommended).
7 GB of available disk space
2 GB of RAM
Purchase an install code for OS X 10.7 Lion here.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion
It would be very prudent to create a backup of your system and important data before embarking on a major systems upgrade.
Good Luck!

Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer.

Just replaced internal hdd. All requirements are met running 10.6.8 but after download from App Store I get the alert message "Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer.help. iMac core2 3.06 1tb hdd 4gb ram.

Does your iMac meet the requirements (http://www.apple.com/osx/specs/ ):
iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
Click on the Apple Menu's, "About This Mac," press, " More Info," look for the Model Identifier. It must be 7.1 or higher to run Mavericks.

Snow Leopard to Mavericks: cannot be installed on this computer.

Hi all,
When I want to upgrade my snow leopard to mavericks the app store is telling me that Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer. So I've checked the System Requirements and I should be good.
Model Name:          MacBook
Model Identifier:          MacBook4,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors:          1
Total Number Of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          3 MB
Memory:          4 GB
Bus Speed:          800 MHz
Please let me know if you see in these info something that would explain why I cannot upgrade.
Cheers

As above
Pete
Message was edited by: petermac87

HT201364 MacBook Pro 2009 will not down OS X Mavericks -cannot be installed on this computer

I have an MacBook Pro 2009 running 10.6.8 with 3 GB memory and plenty of disk space.
So why the error message:
OS X Mavericks cannot be installed on this computer??

Lanny,
The model identifier is as follows:
Hardware Overview:
Model Name:          MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:          MacBookPro2,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors:          1
Total Number Of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          4 MB
Memory:          3 GB
Bus Speed:          667 MHz
So it seems that this maybe a late 2007 model. Does exclude this model from an OS upgrade?
Thanks.

OS Mavericks cannot be installed!

*os mavericks cannot be installed on this computer* - i have a macbook, version 10.6.8 and meet system requirements for installing mavericks, but keep getting this message! Can anyone tell me what the problem is?

Check the model number.
To check the model number hold down the option/alt key, go to the Apple menu and select System Information.
MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) model number 5,1 or higher
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) model number 3,1 or higher
Check to make sure your applications are compatible. PowerPC applications are no longer supported.
Application Compatibility
Applications Compatibility (2)

OS X Mavericks cannot be installed on Macintosh HD

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