Won't reboot from install disk

i can't boot from a bootable disk (my install disk or norton).
i'll hold down the c button just like i've always been able to do before, but it goes straight to the login page, instead of starting up from the disk.
if i try and go into account setting/startup disk it doesn't even list my bootable disk as an option...
anyone ever heard of this?
imac 2 Ghz Intel Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.9)

just a silly question - because I've done this.
Is it the right disk? The one that came with your intel?
I tried my G4 disk by mistake and it won't work.

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Ibook g4 won't boot from install disks

Got an ibook g4 1.33 ghz combo drive from original owner w/install disks. I want to reinstall original system but it won't boot from install disk 1. Tried starting holding down c but ignores disk. Holding down option just gives me the HD. Install disk shows up on desktop and opens. Tried disk utility from install disk but it doesn't allow me to erase the hd. Is there anything else I can do? Thanks.

OK, so let us suppose that you have the correct disk, the possibilities are:
• the optical drive is not functioning properly. However, since the disk shows up on the desktop the drive is apparently reading it.
• the disk itself is the issue. It could the wrong disk, but let us assume it is not. It could be damaged so that it is no longer bootable, or it could dirty. I would begin by giving the disk a good buffing and see if that will encourage it to boot the computer.
Good luck.
cornelius

Older mac mini won't reboot from Install DVD?

I've passed on my 2006 era mac mini to my daughter. We can't seem to get to a factory settings because it won't reboot from the install DVD. It keeps cycling through to the normal reboot.

Could be damaged disks.
BestBuy sells disk repair kits.
But for about the same price as disk repair kit, you could call 1-800-676-2775 and give them the unit serial number and pay shipping/handling fee for replacement.
Assuming it is bad disks.

Pismo won't boot from install disks

Hi! I've looked to find the answer elsewhere, but no luck... apologies if this has already been answered.
I have a Powerbook G3 Pismo which I now need to use to run Hypercard. (Yes!)
It has been sitting unused for over a year.
It didn't start up.
I found an article that explained how to remove the PRAM battery. I did so. It starts up fine when connected to power.
I have ordered a new PRAM battery, but it hasn't arrived yet. I decided to go ahead and try to get it to boot.
When I powered up, I got the alternating icon saying it couldn't find an installed system.
I guessed that the hard drive had become corrupt, so I rebooted into Target Disk mode. It worked!
I connected it via FireWire to a MacBook Pro. The Pismo did show up as an external firewire hard drive. Good!
Using OS X Disk Utility, I erased the Pismo drive.
I couldn't decide whether to use OS X Extended, or OS X Extended (Journaled).
I didn't know about any options to install drivers for OS 9, so I probably did the wrong thing. (Pismo can boot into either OS 9 or OS X, I think.)
I tried to fix this later (see below).
I disconnected the Firewire and shut down.
I finally got the Pismo to boot up from a MacWarrior CD (a 3rd-party disk utility that fixes directory problems). I used it to fix the directory.
It still wouldn't boot from the original disks that came with the Pismo. The optical reader whirred away, I got a blank gray screen, it whirred again, I got another blank gray screen, but the cursor never showed up in the upper left corner. After half an hour, it had made no progress.
I reconnected the Pismo to the Macbook Pro using Firewire.
I tried to install Tiger on the Pismo using my officially purchased, large-box Tiger software. The Macbook Pro mounted the disk, but when I ran the installer, it told me I couldn't install Tiger on this machine (the Macbook Pro, duh!) and only gave me the option to quit.I thought that I could use an all-model install disk to install OS X on ANY external hard drive! What gives???!???
I tried to boot from the AppleCare Protection Plan's TechTool Deluxe.
It seemed to be booting fine into 9.1. Yippee!
It halted with a System Error (address error) telling me to restart holding down the Shift key.
I do so. It seemed to be booting fine into 9.1 again, Extensions Off.
But it halted with the same System Error.
I read about OS 9 drivers and went back into Disk Utility using the Macbook Pro.
Using Firewire to access my Pismo hard drive, I re-erased everything and made the partition have an Apple Partition Map.
I did not see any option to check or uncheck that mentioned installing OS 9 drivers. Did I miss it? Was it not there because I'm using a recent version of Disk Utility?
Same problems. Can't boot from the original Pismo "Software Restore" or "Software Install" disks, nor the TechTool Deluxe...
VERY FRUSTRATING! Have I tried everything? Has the hard drive gone bad?
Any help would be appreciated.

My new PRAM battery has been installed. I reset PRAM by doing a command-option-P-R.
The problem remains, but it's getting more consistent, which I guess is progress. With the Pismo connected to AC power (all my batteries are, of course, dead by now), the following has happened:
When I start up with the Tiger installation disk, everything goes smoothly, the gray Apple logo appears, and then, suddenly, a flurry of white text on an irregular black background floods the screen. Darwin says there's a kernel panic and they're in a loop ("we are hanging here").
When I start up with the original Software Restore disk, the blank gray screen blinks, turns a different shade of gray, the cursor arrow shows up in the upper left-hand corner, and it hangs. The cursor arrow doesn't respond to the trackpad; it's frozen.
When I start with the original Software Install disk, the same sequence takes place, but there is no cursor arrow that shows up. It just has the gray screen, a blink with a slightly different shade of gray, then it hangs.
The behavior is exactly the same for all 3 disks (respectively) when I use the MacBook Pro to start up:
Insert Pismo or Tiger disk into MacBook Pro (counterintuitively).
Start up the Pro in Target mode. Connect to Pismo using Firewire cable.
Start up Pismo. Pismo takes awhile to notice the Firewire disk, but eventually does.
Then it tries to use the disk in the Pro, but ends up acting case-by-case as it did when each disk was in the Pismo's drive (kernel panic hanging, gray screen with arrow, gray screen without arrow).
Helllllp!
My last chance will be to take a hard drive from a defunct ice iBook (dual USB) and use it to replace the factory-supplied Pismo drive. That iBook was a G4; the Pismo is a G3 (I believe). If there has developed a deep, difficult problem with the Pismo's hard drive, hopefully this will solve it:
I will try to boot from the iBook-drive-in-the-Pismo. I doubt this will work. If it does, great! If not...
I will try to boot from the Tiger installation disk, and if that works, try to install the Tiger software on it.
If that doesn't work, I will try to boot from the Software Restore and the Software Install disks.
If that doesn't work, I give up!!!! Unless someone here has a better idea.

IBook on 10.4 won't boot from Install Disk

Hi - Somewhere along the line I lost DiskUtility from my iBook running 10.4.11. I thought I could run it from the Install Disc but I find the iBook won't boot from the Disc and DU won't run from the Disc (when I do manage to track it down there).
I have install discs from a G4 Powerbook and a MacBookPro Unibody but I'm concerned about repairing permissions from the wrong version of DU (even if I could get the iBook to boot from those discs). Is a newer disc OK? I want to run or install DiskUtility. What are my options??
How can I get the iBook to boot from its install disc?
TIA your expertise...
j2

The installers are machine-series specific. And the Intel disc won't work
in the PPC Mac, additionally. If you have the correct disc for that iBook,
then you can boot the computer with the disc inside the optical drive
and hold the C key down, until Installer appears on the screen; a second
screen after the initial language screen has a full menu bar and Installer
in the header; options appear in the drop-down menu lists, Disk Utility is
among utility and other features listed in there.
If you do not have an iBook G4 disc or an OS X disc retail version capable
of doing the job, you really should get the correct disc. In a few instances,
another path may work, but is not recommended. And you could lose the
content of the hard drive in the computer you are hoping to save.
However, you may be able to use Pacifist to get Disk Utility from the PB G4
installer disc to be made available on the desktop of the iBook, and use
Pacifist to install that extracted package item from the other PPC install disc.
This does not use the installers on the disc media, so Pacifist is used to do
the process. The iBook ideally needs a replacement disc set, and that may
be available from Apple online store's sales support (see online phone#)
and the product would be matched by serial number. A fee is involved.
The original software disc set would have the correct Apple Hardware Test
and the software kit as included when the computer was new.
If Tiger did not ship with the computer in question, then a full retail disc 10.4
installer could probably be used; since it would be newer than, say 10.3.9.
In natural progression, the newer disc of correct kind & type supported by
the computer is a possible path; however a Leopard disc won't help fix Tiger.
You could also use Disk Utility in one PPC Mac, via FireWire Target Disk
mode, to repair the drive of the iBook. It would only appear as a hard drive.
So, repairing disk permissions would not be possible, on a non-boot volume.
This, only within limits; differences in build versions of OS and custom installs
done to a computer configuration may make doing so very limited. I would
not expect an Intel-Mac's version of the same OS to help a PPC in any way.
Good luck & happy computing!
{ edited 2x }

Macbook won't boot from install disks

I have tried to boot my sisters macbook the other day from her install disks so I could use disk utility to repair her disks (I think there is a problem with the block count) so I inserted the CD and held 'C' on startup and I got to the grey screen for about 10 seconds but then the computer went black, chimed again and gave me the same screen and kept repeating until I let go of 'C' where it booted from the hard drive. The problem is not the CD as I tried to boot from another leopard install disk. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

Reboot holding down the shift key until you see the spinning cog. When the desktop finally appears (it will take a good while) launch DU and Repair Disk. Then empty the Trash. Then reboot. Then try again to boot from the (correct) OS installer DVD (not a CD).

MBA won't reboot from remote disk to reach Disk Utility and repair the disk

After a routine disk repair session, it advised me that I need to repair the disk on my MBA. A few months ago it was the same, and I did it quite successfully without any problems, according to instructions: inserted the MacOS 10.6 DVD into the iMac optical drive, launched Remote Install OS, and so on. However, now my MacBook Air refuses to boot from the remote disk, so that I can reach the Disk Utility and proceed to repair disk. It sees the remote DVD Installer disk, I connect to my home WiFi, and I choose reboot from the Install DVD disk. An Apple logo appears on a grey screen with a small globe spinning below, but after a some lengthy minutes it always reboots normally!!! It seems I tried everything many times to no avail.
Any solutions???

Nope. Waiting for 10.6.4 update, which is hopefully next week and may change the situation for better.

MacBook with new HD won't boot from Install Disk

Hi there,
My MacBook's HD went on me the other day - froze computer, grey screen, flashing question mark, loud beep, etc. I bought a new HD, installed it without any problems (I thought!), but now I can't get the computer to start with the original Install Disk. On start-up, I have a light grey screen, and can hear the fan running, but that's it. At one point, on start-up while holding down the D key, I got the Language selection menu, but my cursor was frozen in the left hand corner and I couldn't do anything but restart. Now nothing comes up or else I get the "You need to restart your computer...." message on a grey screen.
Any ideas how I can get the Install Disk with Disk Utilities to work?
Thanks .....
Message was edited by: jomimata
Message was edited by: jomimata

Unfortunately, it sounds like you have a hardware problem beyond the hard drive. Even if there was no hard drive installed at all, you should still be able to startup from the the original install disk. Do you hear a "chime" at startup? If not, then you definitely have a hardware problem. You should take your MacBook into a local Apple store and make an appointment with the Mac Genius (or another local Apple Authorized Service provider). If you can't startup from the original install disk by holding down on the "c" key or holding down on the "option" key and then selecting the install disk, you have a hardware problem that can't be resolved with troubleshooting here.
-Doug

Can't repair disk/Won't boot from install disk

Apologies in advance for how not-tech savvy I am.
I was trying to create a partition using bootcamp but the partition failed and it told me to repair disk using disk utility.
When I try to boot from the install dvd by holding down C the computer just gets stuck in a loop. It turns on, chimes, makes a whurring noise and then restarts again. I can select the install disk by holding down the option key but it does the same thing. If I try to safe boot it comes up with a flashing folder and a question mark.
(Also, the install disk I'm using is not the one that came with this computer, but a OS X 10.5.4 that came with our iMac. Don't know if that would make a difference?)
I downloaded the techtool deluxe that comes with applecare, and it says there's a problem with the volume structure, but when I try to repair using techtool it says the disk cannot be repaired and only gives me the option to start over.
Message was edited by: lizrd91

You would have to be booting from either a newer version retail OS X 10 install DVD
than whatever your computer shipped with, or that original specific disc set it first had.
No other computer's model/build specific restore-install disc set can do this job, since
it would not be correct and can't boot the computer. The wrong software set is on it.
There may be some way to attempt to boot into Single User mode and try fsck...
• Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417
• OSXFAQ - Technical stuff for OS X: how to use 'fsck'
http://www.osxfaq.com/dailytips/07-2002/07-31.ws
There are odd instances where users have applied incorrect use of Boot Camp
to install a Windows version in their Mac, and in so doing, erased or damaged
the OS X partition on their computer's hard disk drive. This is why it is a great
idea to perform maintenance and also keep a complete bootable OS X clone
on an externally enclosed hard disk drive, of the Mac's system & apps.
If you had a current version of DiskWarrior on its own disc media, that may be
able to help fix or restore some file system issues in a hard disk drive.
Perhaps there is more you can do, but frankly if I wanted Windows, there are
tons of old PCs out there awaiting recycle from which to choose. (Not 4 me!)
Good luck & happy computing!
+{PS: Hi there in the down-under ... from here, in the up-over!}+

Upgrading to Leopard, won't start from Install disk?? Even with 'C' held

Hello, I'm trying to upgrade to Leopard and then Snow Leopard. My DVD drive works, as in I can read DVDs, burn discs etc. When I insert the Leopard upgrade disk (genuine, bought from Apple and already exchanged once) it asks me to restart to get to the Installer - so far so good.
But it just won't get to the Installer stage, I only get the circle wheel, no matter how long I leave it on for. The DVD makes some noise, it is being read but it doesn't boot. I have tried holding the 'C' key and selecting the disk as startup via system preferences, to no avail. I exchanged the disk at the Apple store just in case it was faulty, but I'm still having the same problem.
Is this a hardware problem? Is there any way I could get round it?
Thanks i advance!
Julie

Do you know of a way to 'bypass' the restart to get straight to the Installer?
Do you have a second Mac around? You can "borrow" the optical drive in another Mac by starting it in Firewire Target Disk mode.
There are other ways, but they are pretty involved and require a bootable hard drive you are willing to erase.
And I heard that I'd have to erase my hard drive to upgrade to snow leopard directly, is this right?
No, you do not have to erase the drive.
The only thing I can think it perhaps your optical drive is going bad. I believe that drives have to meet more stringent requirements when called upon to boot from a disc than when just playing a DVD when they can skip minor errors.

G5 gets grey screen with logo then goes black, won't boot from any disk

Won't boot from any disk, already changed VRAM battery, no success. tried hardware disk once and ran a full scan, said error with Video, but now won't boot at all with any disk. Screen is choppy also(have pic). Thinking video graphics card? Not sure. Need help!

Hi bribiel, and a warm welcome to the forums!
It certainly sounds like the Video card from the little info we have, & that can certainly cause it to fail to bootup.

I can't boot from instalation disk need help

can anyone tell me why i can't boot from instalation disk
i burn a DVD with verified iso with MD5 with Nero Express

i use burn image , of course and
i have a Sempron +2400 with asus a7s8x mainboard
and i download all 5 file for DVD x86 and then i copy /b all this files.
when computer boot from cd the screen is bleu with Solaris ................ v.20 message and after 1 second message became
Aolaris ..................v.20 and computer remain in this position

New HDD installed in PowerBook G3, won't boot from installation disk.

I just installed a new hard drive in my G3 Wallstreet and I can't get it to boot from the original Apple CD.
I've tried holding the C key as well as +⌥+⇧+⌫, but to no avail.
The CD tests fine in my old iMac G4, so maybe the culprit is the optical drive, but then again, I'm not so sure.
Is there a way to either boot my PowerBook or install OSX from my iMac G4?
Message was edited by: rick268 Also, I can boot into Open Firmware just fine.

Thanks for your help.
WeLoveMacs wanted $50, but I just scored an entire topcase on eBay for $15, shipped. We'll see what happens.
Allan Jones wrote:
I maintatined three Wallstreets for a friend for years. They stayed in regular service from new until he replaced them with MacBook Pros last summer!
In the years of keeping the old soldiers almost relavent, I ran into a "won't boot from a system disk" issue on two of them. In both cases, replacing a dead PRAM battery fixed the issue. Don't ask me why but that was the only thing that fixed them.
When I was supporting those, you could still get new Wallstreet batteries from Other World Computing. Today they no longer show them. I'm not sure where to steer your for a new one. USed batteries are like used chewing gum, IMHO.
You can try disconecting the wire from the PRAM battery to the logic board. That might help. Requires some take-down:
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/PowerBook_G3_Wallstreet

Why won't my iMac start up from install disk?

I get a gray screen, apple logo in the center with a spinning gear underneath it. I have started my computer holding the c key, the option key selecting the install disk and startup disk in system preferences. The iMac hangs every time. The hard drive is in need of repair.
thanks in advance
bradley

Funny you should mention that, as that happened a few months ago. When it did, I could still start up from the install disk, there was just no destination for the software to be installed. I am currently running the iMac off an external drive via firewire. Disk utility informs me that disk is now in need of repair, even though it seems to be functioning fine, I can't start my machine from the install disk without it hanging up.

Hi guys I'm really in need of some help. I have an IMac I3 for a while now I've been having a problem of my machine refusing it shut down , it goes to a blue screen with a spinning wheel but doesn't shut down. And now won't boot from install DvD

Please some one help me ...
A) my mac won't shut down with external HD connected (if it's been used)
B) there are disk permissions that can't be fixed SUID stuff ..
C) I have now verified the Mac HD and it tells me it's corrupt in bold red writing and to start up from install DVD
D) it won't boot from DVD so I cannot run the repair , initially the machine was spitting it out on start up , now it appears to be attempting to boot off DVD , well it sounds like it is .... BUT it's hanging with the Mac Logo and a wheel ... For um .... 30min now...
E) weirdly when OSX is booted off the hard drive , it won't recognise the Install DvD or the applications one... It just spits them out....
I had an old PPC 17" and it was a beaut .... Never had a single problem with it ...
I bought this one December 2010 and it's been nothing but issues for a computer in excess of £1000 I'm extremely disappointed ... And weirdly the shutting down issue started when it was a week out of warrantee ... I feel conned and am almost at the point of throwing it at a wall and buying a PC

Ok so I've done what you said and this is what it's come back ....
I don't know that these are the errors , but they're the things which don't look right ...
Throughout the shut down there is a recurring line ;
It says ;
Com.apple.launchd 1 0x100600e70.anonymous.unmount 301 PID still valid
Then there are 2 more which I think are related ;
Com.apple.securityd 29 PID job has I overstayed its welcome , forcing removal.
Then the same with fseventd 48 and diskarbitrationd 13
Oh and on Launchd1 : System : stray anonymous job at shut down : PID 301 PPID13 PGID 13 unmount...
Then the last process says "about to call: reboot (RB_AUTOBOOT).
Continuing...
And stops ...
Hope this means something to you ... Thanks again for your help so far :-)

Won't reboot from install disk

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