Which is the Start-Up disk when doing an 'Erase and Install'?

Basically I am doing the 'Erase and Install' process now and It says in the Support online that you need to erase the Start-Up disk on the left side. But I do not know which is the start-up disk? Is it the Macintosh HD option? or Disk 1 (that is a external hard-drive with all my back-up files on). Please Help!

The start up disk is the one with the OSX. Usually it is the internal HDD, gray in color, and usually called Macintosh HD.
Ciao.

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HT1436 I have two hard drives on my G5(2004). How do I get to choose which hard drive is the start up disk when I turn on the computer? Is it the shift key I hold down?

I have two hard drives on my G5(2004). How do I get to choose which hard drive is the start up disk when I turn on the computer? Is it the shift key I hold down?

depending on which model of G5 and OS installed will depend on whether a key command will work
alt at start up may work, if it does not, use the start up disc setting in;
apple menu > system preferences > system > start up disc
of course, the second drive must have a compatible OS installed for it to be able to boot.

I had to use the start up disk on my 2008 laptop and the Iphotos software is no longer. How can i get it back

I had to use the start up disk on my 2008 laptop and the Iphotos software is no longer. How can i get it back

Hello Mac4541,
It sounds like you may have reinstalled OS X on your 2008 MacBook and iPhoto didn't get installed.
Given the specifications of your unit, iPhoto may be on a separate install DVD.
MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) - Technical Specifications
(as an example, not quite sure of your model)
What’s in the box
MacBook
Display cleaning cloth
60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord
Lithium-polymer battery
Install/restore DVDs
Printed and electronic documentation
Installed software
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
iLife ’08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand)
See also:
Mac OS X 10.5.5 and later: Installing optional and bundled software - Apple Support
Disc 2 - "Applications Install DVD": Bootable disc that includes Apple Hardware Test, and lets you install other bundled software such as iLife
Hope that's it.
Nubz

Trouble doing an erase and install

ocquired the panther retail disks I need to do the erase and install. I have an ibook dual with os 2.8 in it. I do not know who the administrator is nor the password. I learned here that I could do an erase and install with the correct disks. I want to clean this baby out and call it my own, so to speak.
So...have the correct cd's however when I try to install disk 1 (restarting by holding "c" down) i I get asked for administrator name and password ( of which I don't have ) What am I doing wrong. Prior to getting the cd's which arrived today, I received lots of help from you all concerning how to clean this g3 out. Ibook has plenty of hard drive avail. ( 9 GB) and I maxed the ram to 640. HELP!
Thanks, Fran

Hi,
I've actually had this problem recently many times. If someone has set a login and password you can't boot from an installer disk.
Here's how I've gotten around it:
1)Hook the iBook to your iMac with a Firewire cable and boot the iBook into target mode. It will show up as an external drive and can be erased and reformated from the iMac. Once that is done you'll be able to boot the iBook from the CD assuming the drive is OK/bootable.
2) Pull the connector on the drive and boot into the CD reattaching the connector once you see the Apple. Hard to do since you have to have the iBook mostly apart.
< Edited by Host >
Richard

I want my first pin tab to be the start up page when I open Ff and not my first regular tab that opens. Any suggestions?

I have 2 pin tabs and 4 additional regular tabs that open when I start Ff. I want my start page to be the very first pin tab that I have, but instead Ff opens to the first regular tab and not the first pin tab. Any suggestions?

Ok, thanks. That's fine, but that also means if I do want Ff to open to one of my pinned tabs then I have to make sure that is the last page I was on before I exit out of Ff. Oh well. Do you know if pinned tabs will be able to open on start pages in the future? Thanks.

After erase and install, is the old data still recoverable?

Hello,
I'm doing an erase and install on a mini that I want to sell. Can I be sure that the old files are gone? After an erase and install can someone use a disk recovery program to get old files? Do I have to use Disk Utility to zero the drive?
Thanks
Bob

Here's a series of steps to prepare the computer for sale:
Follow these instructions step by step to prepare a Mac for sale:
First, back up the data:
1) Shut down all Virtual PCs. They cannot be in their "fast saved" state. They must be shut down from inside Windows.
2) Clone to an external drive using Carbon Copy Cloner.
Next, prepare the machine for the new buyer:
3) Deauthorize the computer in iTunes! Deauthorize both iTunes and Audible accounts.
4) Remove Open Firmware passwords
5) Turn the brightness full up and volume nearly so.
Install a fresh OS:
6) Insert the OS X install CD/DVD.
7) Restart the computer while holding down the C key to boot from the CD/DVD.
8) Run Disk Utility from the file menu and erase the internal hard drive (optionally zero all data).
9) Install OS X.
10) Reboot the computer.
11) From the welcome screen, you can skip the registration step by typing command-Q.
12) When prompted, create an account (it will be an admin account).
13) From your new admin account, configure networking.
14) Then use Software Update to bring your system and all of it's applications up to date.
15) From Disk Utility, repair permissions on the new volume.
Now delete the account you just created:
16) Boot from a different volume (e.g. a firewire drive, if available)
17) Clean up the image using the following terminal commands:
prompt> rm /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/BootCache.playlist
prompt> rm /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/volinfo.database
prompt> rm -r /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/vm/swap*
18) Now you can get rid of the admin account you used to set up the machine Use the terminal:
prompt> nicl -raw /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/netinfo/local.nidb -delete /users/<admin>
prompt> rm -r /Volumes/<imagevol>/Users/<admin>
prompt> rm /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/.AppleSetupDone
19) Shut down and ship it to your buyer. When they get it, it will boot to the Welcome screen just like a factory Mac, except that it's better because it's completely up to date.

When I click agree and install a blank box appears with a red X

Hi, ive been having a problem installing shockwave player for
IE recently.
The problem is that when i click "agree and install shockwave
player" the next page (where it is meant to show the installation
progress) comes up with a white box with a red X top left corner.
It seems when i try and re download shockwave off the shockwave
website, it goes straight to the installation page and doesn't show
the active X warning (I don't know if this is relevant). I can
however download it on download.com but then there it doesn't seem
to install!
The same red X comes up when trying to load games on internet
explorer that require shockwave.
I am running Windows XP SP3 with Kaspersky Internet Security
2009 (however, this problem was before i had KIS2009). All
suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Nick

quote:
Originally posted by:
0cco
Hi, ive been having a problem installing shockwave player for
IE recently.
The problem is that when i click "agree and install shockwave
player" the next page (where it is meant to show the installation
progress) comes up with a white box with a red X top left corner.
It seems when i try and re download shockwave off the shockwave
website, it goes straight to the installation page and doesn't show
the active X warning (I don't know if this is relevant). I can
however download it on download.com but then there it doesn't seem
to install!
The same red X comes up when trying to load games on internet
explorer that require shockwave.
I am running Windows XP SP3 with Kaspersky Internet Security
2009 (however, this problem was before i had KIS2009). All
suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Nick

When installing a new OS it does not recognize my HD as the start up disk

I am trying to upgrade from 10.6.8 to anything newer. When trying to install any of the newer OS when it prompts me to pick a HD and I pick my internal HD it says that this drive cannot start this computer. Therefore it will not allow me to install the OS. I have verified, repaired, repaired the permissions in the disk utility. I have verified that my internal HD is the start up disk. The computer starts up and

try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account. Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
Safe Mode
Safe Mode - About

HT201250 i am using for first time the time machine and an external hard drive because I want to erase my macbook and start from zero files. do i keep my files in the portable hard disk when I connect it again with the macbook or the time machine will era

i am using for first time the time machine and an external hard drive because I want to erase my macbook and start from zero files. Am i keeping my files in the portable hard disk when I will connect it again with the macbook or the time machine will erase all?
I would like to know if after I erase all my data, empy hard drive inside the macbook, the time machine will erase all my files that I have saved in my "WD "My passport" external hard drive

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Time Machine has to erase the external disk in order to make backups. Before setting Time Machine up, copy the files of your external disk to the hard disk of the Mac in order not to lose them, and then, set up Time Machine. The first backup will start automatically.
If you want more information about Time Machine, read the Pondini's site > http://pondini.org

When I bought my Mac Air OSX Version 10.9.2 my daughter helped me migrate the contents of my previous macbook. But in the process seems to have duplicated the iTunes library . The start up disk is almost full and plus it doesn't my iPhone. Please help!

When I bought my Mac Air OSX Version 10.9.2 my daughter helped me migrate the contents of my previous macbook. But in the process seems to have duplicated the iTunes library - How do I get rid of one. The start up disk is almost full and plus it doesn't synch properly with my iPhone 4S. Please help!

Hello nicky:
You should run repair disk from your software install DVD before you try anything else. The crash may have damaged some of your directories - and a possible cause of the "missing/not missing" tunes.
Barry

I have a G5 imac that is using Disk Warrior as the start up disk and can't change back.

I am using a G5 imac (OS 10.4.8 I think the last update is) and I was attempting to use Disk Warrior to recover a lost file. On my other Macs you made Disk Warrior the start up disk to use it, which I did here but I think that was a mistake. Now I can't change back to the regular start up disk.
I tried starting in safe mode but I think I'm getting kernel panic because it goes to a gray screen and tells me to restart.

I don't think Disk Warrior does file recovery. See:
Basics of File Recovery
Files in Trash
If you simply put files in the Trash you can restore them by opening the Trash (left-click on the Trash icon) and drag the files from the Trash to your Desktop or other desired location. OS X also provides a short-cut to undo the last item moved to the Trash -press COMMAND-Z.
If you empty the Trash the files are gone. If a program does an immediate delete rather than moving files to the Trash, then the files are gone. Recovery is possible but you must not allow any additional writes to the hard drive - shut it down. When files are deleted only the directory entries, not the files themselves, is modified. The space occupied by the files has been returned to the system as available for storage, but the files are still on the drive. Writing to the drive will then eventually overwrite the space once occupied by the deleted files in which case the files are lost permanently. Also if you save a file over an existing file of the same name, then the old file is overwritten and cannot be recovered.
General File Recovery
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

I have an iMac 5.1 with Mac OSX 10.6.8 and 2 GB memory and an L2 cache of 4 GB. lately I have been receiving error messages of " start up disk almost full; please delete files." is the start up disk the same thing as the hard drive?

I have an iMac 5.1 with Mac OSX 10.6.8 and 2 GB memory and an L2 cache of 4 GB. lately I have been receiving error messages of " start up disk almost full; please delete files." is the start up disk the same thing as the hard drive? I opened the hard drive and from the column on the left of the menu I've selected "search for" and under that " all images" then "all documents" I've deleted a few files from each. Are documents and images that I have deleted from here also deleted from the folders on my desktop?

You should never, EVER let a conputer hard drive get completely full, EVER!
With Macs and OS X, you shouldn't let the hard drive get below 15 GBs or less of free data space.
If it does, it's time for some hard drive housecleaning.
Follow some of my tips for cleaning out, deleting and archiving data from your Mac's internal hard drive.
Have you emptied your iMac's Trash icon in the Dock?
If you use iPhoto, iPhoto has its own trash that needs to be emptied, also.
If you store images in other locations other than iPhoto, then you will have to weed through these to determine what to archive and what to delete.
If you use Apple Mail app, Apple Mail also has its own trash area that needs to be emptied, too!
Delete any old or no longer needed emails and/or archive to disc, flash drives or external hard drive, older emails you want to save.
Delete any other mail in your Junk folders. Also, look through your Sent Mail to see if there is anything that can be deleted.
Other things you can do to gain space.
Once you have around 15 GBs regained, do a search, download and install OmniDisk Sweeper.
This app will help you locate files that you can move/archive and/or delete from your system.
STAY AWAY FROM DELETING ANY FILES FROM OS X SYSTEM FOLDER!
Look through your Documents folder and delete any type of old useless type files like "Read Me" type files.
Again, archive to disc, flash drives, ext. hard drives or delete any old documents you no longer use or immediately need.
Look in your Applications folder, if you have applications you haven't used in a long time, if the app doesn't have a dedicated uninstaller, then you can simply drag it into the OS X Trash icon. IF the application has an uninstaller app, then use it to completely delete the app from your Mac.
Download an app called OnyX for your version of OS X.
When you install and launch it, let it do its initial automatic tests, then go to the cleaning and maintenance tabs and run the maintenance tabs that let OnyX clean out all web browser cache files, web browser histories, system cache files, delete old error log files.
Typically, iTunes and iPhoto libraries are the biggest users of HD space.
move these files/data off of your internal drive to the external hard drive and deleted off of the internal hard drive.
If you have any other large folders of personal data or projects, these should be archived or moved, also, to the optical discs, flash drives or external hard drive and then either archived to disc and/or deleted off your internal hard drive.
Good Luck!

Imac will not see my hard drive on start up, wants to start from network start up disk that does not exist. How to get rid of it? So there is just one choice / my hard drive.

I have a Intel duo Imac. Everything has been running relatively smoothly for a few years now. All of a sudden my computer will not start. I get the flashing folder with a question mark.
When I go to Start up disk in my system perfernces while the computer is on. I see 2 possible choices. One is my hard drive with the operating system shown. The other is a non-existant Network Start up disk with a question mark in it ( looks like a hard drive with a question mark and it say's its a "network start up disk).
All I think I want to do is get rid of the Network startup with the question mark. I can not find anywhere how one can just remove an old or non existant start up disk without reformatting.
I believe this came from a clients hard drive who had a network system on it. We no longer have that drive. It no longer exists. But a latent icon shows up in start up disk.
When I go to change the start up disk. I can change it to either the hard drive or the network with the question mark. But when I select my hard drive and then got to restart the computer. I get the flashing folder with a question mark on start up. I have also seen the flashing globe a couple times.
When I attempt to run disk utility from may install disk ( holding down "C" on start-up ). Disk utility does not see my hard drive. Just the Apple install disk with the disk utility on it.
What can I do to remedy this short of re-installing? Will a program like Disk Warrior or Tech Tool help?

Thank you. That's what I thought will need to happen.
One more question. I tried using the Apple install disk that came with the computer. It's an OS 10.5.6 disk. It does not see my 10.6.8 system internal hard drive to repair. All it see's is itself 10.5.6 disk. Do you think I can use a 10.8+ disk utillity since that is a higher system it will see the 10.6.8. Where the 10.5.6 does not?
I don't want to turn the computer off for fear I'll get the question mark again. P-Ram got me going last time but for how long I don't know? It would be nice to be able to turn the computer off for the night and startup as usual to give it a rest and try to reset itself.
Thanks for your help, I know I will eventually need to re-install. But I am in the middle of a project with tight deadlines and all I can do right now is back-up. Trying to migrate to another computer temporarily to finish the job. That's a lot of extra work in the short time also.
Just trying to put a band-aid on it for another couple weeks.

If I can't find the start up disks, is there anyway to get iWork back after installing a new hard drive?

I had to install a new hard drive because my orginal one crashed. When I bought my macbook, iWork came pre-installed. Now with a new hard drive I would like iWork back on my computer, but can't find the start up disks, assuming I'd be able to do it that way. Is there anyway I can contact Apple and have them give me the iWork software?
(Overall, very upset about this since my macbook is only 2 years old and I lost everything. A friend of mine has been working on it for 3 weeks trying to recover some data.)

- Did you restore from a backup that contained the photos?
- The backup only contains photos in the iPod's Camera Roll album. It does not included photos synced to the iPod.
- All you can do is try restoring from backup again.

How can I reformat my hard drive if erase and partition don't work in disk utility and I get an error when I try to erase and install from the Leopard install disk? I have had several kernel panics, but the volume shows up in startup disk.

I have had several kernel panics on my iBook G4; the panic message shows up just after the desktop appears. Although the startup volume shows up in Startup Disk, the installation disk reports an error when I attempt an erase and install. Disk utility is unable either to erase or partition the hard drive. The hard drive shows up in disk utility, but the startup volume doesn’t HELP!!!

Do you have the original system discs that came with the iBook when it was new?
Which exact iBook model is it?
You can choose from this list:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/index-ibook.html
Erasing the disc and installing Mac OS X 10.5 will result in loss of the other applications (such as the iLife applications) which came pre-installed on the iBook.

Which is the Start-Up disk when doing an 'Erase and Install'?

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