Won't reinstall OS. Ejecting Disks.

Hey everyone! I've been stumped on this question for a few months now and am dying to get my computer up and running again!
My 4 year old Powerbook wasn't booting and disk utility kept finding problems. Luckily I backed up my hard drive a few weeks earlier and thought it best to wipe my hard drive and reinstall the OS that came bundled with my Powerbook. It installed fine past the first disk but when I got to the second disk, it either kept ejecting it or would get to about 1% and keep restarting.
So I installed a new hard drive thinking that was the problem, and ran a disk utility on it and it's clean, fine, and ready to go and it's still doing the same thing! Ejecting the second disk!
The install disks are the same ones that came bundled with my laptop (OS X 10.4), so I'm completely confused and very frustrated as to why this isn't working. Should I get new install disk? Something up with my combo drive? Help!

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
So the installation goes perfectly well with the first disc, but has problems with the second one? It sounds like there may be a problem with the second disc. You might try cleaning it or checking it carefully for scratches or defects. It might help to use a cleaning disc on the optical drive too. If no joy, you could probably get a replacement second disc from Apple for a fee.
Good luck!

Similar Messages

Both Windows and Mac OSX won't read/keep ejecting disks

I erased my harddrive and reinstalled Snow Leopard this way I could get Bootcamp up and running. After I reformatted the computer, I have been having serious issues with it reading any Windows CDs. The first issue was with the installation CD. My computer would take it in and spit it back out, it did this over and over. It was a Windows XP full installation CD. The same CD I have used when installing Bootcamp in the past. I also tried a Windows 7 full install CD and had the same issue. After many attempts, it finally read the XP CD and I had XP running. I installed the drivers and went about using XP. For the most part things felt alright, but I was still having issues with CDs. I would put most CDs in and it would just eject them, or sometimes eat them, and not eject them at all. Other times it told me some software CDs were blank, when I knew they weren't. The CDs worked in every other computer, but not in my machine. I figured I would get around it by using disk images all the time, but this has proven complicated and annoying.
Today I finally got the Vista upgrade CD to work. When in Vista I was still having CD problems, but then things got worse. Daemon Tools wouldn't work anymore and neither would Alcohol 120%. It seems like things just stopped working all of a sudden. The Windows 7 CD wouldn't read eother so I was stuck with a pretty useless partition and operating system.
I just erased my drive again and reinstalled OS X 10.6. I am still having the problem with CDs. It keeps spitting out the Windows CDs/Programs designed for Windows CDs or is telling me they are blank media. I am at a brick wall here. I really would like to get Windows up and running so I can run my important software. Does anyone know what could be the problem? I appreciate the help.

So, if he has a OS 9 bootable G4, do you think the external USB floppy would work under OS 9?
Also, if he upgrades the 7200 to OS 9, do you think he could install that drive into the G4 and boot from it? I think there were some options in earlier OS <9 that let you do a custom install for all computers, not just the target one, which is handy for an external drive that you might use to boot more than one comptuer from, but I guess that depends on the installation disk?
Networking is a good way to migrate the files over, but if you plan on retiring the 7200, why not take the hard drive out and put it in the G4, at least temporarily to copy stuff over.

DVD studio pro won't finish and eject disk

I have been having a problen with dvdsp. it will write the disk and then it hangs up on writing lead out. I actually have to re start the computer to get the disk out. The disk plays but why will it not finish?

Last night I tried to just burn the video_ts file with toast and it did the same thing. I actually had to shut down the computer and restart to get the disk to stop and eject. Today I tried toast again but this time I slowed the burn speed to 8x (was at 16x, using mamorex 16x disks) and it worked. I don't know if the disks are crap or not. I have had good luck with them but I have only burned 160 of them and had probally 5 coasters which is good right? Is there a way to slow the speed down in dvdsp?

Acrobat Pro 9 for mac won't launch, reloaded from disk when hard drive needed to be replace. It's in applications folder but there is an X on the Acrobat Reinstall icon. What should I do.

Acrobat Pro 9 for mac won't launch, reloaded from disk when hard drive needed to be replace. It's in applications folder but there is an X on the Acrobat Reinstall icon. What should I do.

Hi Janice,
What version of Mac OS are you using?
Adobe does not recommend migrating the software from one disk to the other.
Please run the setup file for Acrobat and reinstall the software. You might want to delete the existing version of Acrobat installed before reinstalling it.
Regards,
Rave

MacBook won't eject disk during multi-disk installs, or after an install

Oy, will the problems never stop?
I have a dual-core MB 2.66 machine. I just put a fresh 500 gig drive and installed a retail copy of Snow Leopard. That seemed to go fine. Now I'm installing apps. And what's cropped up is that the machine refuses to eject disks after the install is complete.
I had to run the Adobe CS5 install twice because of this problem; luckily it ejected disks as it was supposed to the second time around. However, with iLife, iWork, Quicken, etc., after the install was done the disk refused to eject, and I had to hard-quit and eject the disk during next startup. And now Final Cut Pro is acting the same way...I use the install disk, then put Audio Content 1 disk in...it churns for two hours adding those files, then asks for Audio Content disk 2...but WON'T eject Disk 1!
I'm at my wits end. I never had these problems with Tiger...

If I understand you correctly, you have two disks with Tiger and you installed a new disk on which you install Snow Leopard & apps.
Personally I would not have done this project that way. I would have used CCC or SuperDuper to clone one of the Tiger disks on to the new disk and then test to be sure the disk is working correctly first. A clone is a bootable copy of a system disk that contains everything from where the device used to make it.
Then and then I would install Snow Leopard. After installing Snow Leopard, you could use Setup Manager to copy over your data from the Tiger disk.
With the problemas you are currently having it might be easier to start over this way.
Allan

How do I force reinstall my install disk when OS won't startup.

I have an iMac (Intel) that won't complete the startup. I.e. It's stuck at the beginning with the grey screen, with grey apple, and spinning dashes. I went to Genius Bar, where, after much investigation, they said I should reinstall the OS - i.e. reinstall my install disks.
Problem is that even when I put in my install disk, the computer ignores it. What do I do to force the computer to startup using the disks, not the hard drive? I know there must be a button on the keyboard to force this. Thanks for your help.
-Bruno

Put the original Install Disc that came with the computer in the SuperDrive then start the computer while holding down the Option key on your keyboard. Continue holding the Option key down until the system asks you which start up volume you want, choose the Install Disc and it will begin the install.
To do a clean install (wipe the whole HD clean) after choosing the language click the *Utility Menu*, *Disk Utility*, highlight your *HD on the left* and then click the *Erase Tab*, then *Format (make sure it's set to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)*, after that is done (less than 30 seconds usually) then exit Disk Utility and continue with the install following the on-screen instructions.
*NOTE: I hope you have been backing up the system, if not Erasing will delete everything. If you have not backed up then I'd recommend trying to reinstall without Erasing which may work.*

Iphoto continually quit on MBP and Air, now won't reinstall on Air

I have a MBP and Air with ilife 08 and all the latest apple software updates on each.
For about three weeks iphoto has been shutting down on either computer whenever i email a photo, or download and save a photo from the internet.
Today i removed iphoto from both computers and reinstalled.
After reinstalling my MBP it seemed to work fine, only shutting down once in about 15 emailed photos (as compared to every time previosuly). Thinking all was well (or at least acceptible) I went ahead and installed the three updates from apple via the software updater in system preferences. After i installed the automatic updates and used iphoto again, it shut down every time i emailed a photo. At that point I uninstalled the iphoto and reinstalled it without the latest apple updates. It seems to work fine now.
So, I tried doing the same thing on my air, but now iphoto won't reinstall, even though each time at the end of the process it tells me the install was successful. The first two times I only uninstalled (dragged to trash) iphoto, but the next two times i also dumped garageband, iweb, and idvd. Each time these programs were reinstalled, but not iphoto. When I search on iphoto no results.
Any ideas on how to get iphoto back on my air? I am using remote disk and have never had any previous problems with it, and obviously the other programs reinstalled fine.
Thoughts on why iphoto won't work with the latest apple updates installed?

fishbio:
Before reinstalling iPhoto make sure you've deleted all files with iPhoto in the file name that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder. Otherwise the installer will think that iPhoto already exists and doesn't need to install.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

My external LaCie drive gets an error message "the disc you inserted was not readable by this computer." The only options offered are "ignore" or "eject" Disk Utility sees the disc but does not give a repair option. What can I do?

When I plug in my external LaCie drive I get an error message "the disc you inserted was not readable by this computer."
The only options offered are "ignore" or "eject"
Disk Utility sees the disc but does not give a repair option.
What can I do?

The good thing about mac-centric resellers such as OWC, is they have people on staff that can answer questions without you buying things first. They also have how-to information, and instructions are included in many of their products. I saw a link to watch a DIY video in one of their pages; an example of a RAID (with its own power supply) is shown on their drives page. Also a few in there, with no power supplies, for less money.
If I were looking to backup and perhaps also have a partition for a system clone, I'd consider something like one of these: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
Some ideas on the RAID backup methods appear in google search, some of the pages are ideas and concepts; and the better ones also warn about using RAID for the only backup plan.
Oh, OWC has live chat. Haven't tried it, nor have I bought anything from them. I have what appears to be two products from them, but have not used either. One is in a box as-new, but has only USB2.0 ports & my Macs needed FW400/800. It has been said their RAM is a good way to upgrade, too. But I can't confirm!
A 'RAID-ready' unit for backup may be more versatile for just that, but I have not checked into these details. I use single HDDs in powered enclosures, and usually manually make backup clones to FW drives, of bootable OS X systems. Some of the OWC raid-ready use eSATA ports so that may not be viable for a computer without them.
The unused in-box external drive I have is like the base model in the link above. However mine is USB2.0 (maybe) and won't boot my older Macs due to hardware variance; and my preference would be for FireWire options, these models do offer that. But the one I have does not. Dual 500GB HDDs, and they could be used in tandem as a RAID. That would be a choice set up in software. I'm not sure and not interested enough to read up just now.
My backup method is not automatic, or a moving backup plan, if I don't get a move-on and make full system clones. I do make copies of photos and documents the manual way, to USB external drives; and occasionally backup to DVD or CD media. And USB flash, that helps to move files between computers without need to use file sharing via wi-fi. {Like Why fly? Walking is better exercise unless one is a bird. Squawk!}
https://www.google.com/#q=raid+backup+mac
Depending on the ports in your Mac, you may be able to use other cables to attach between a backup or externally enclosed hard disk drive with multiple partition and bootable clone in one of them. Not sure about the Thunderbolt, and where that is the main port, adapters are required to access other devices, as allowed.
Anyway, I am going on and on, yet not really saying anything.
My ideas would not be all that interesting to follow as a backup
plan when matching available newer hardware to task, but you
can get some into better ideas if you are not in a rush. Get a
good setup and then look into more an betterer stuff.
Good luck & happy computing!

Consistent OS bug when ejecting disks (Mac OS 7.5.5 to 10.4.9)

I have a problem and a complaint about a bug in every Mac OS since 7.5.5, up to and including 10.4.9, and it is about disk images and ejecting disks. It has already happened to me twice tonight, and I hate rebooting my macintosh so frequently.
The problem has been both highly repeatable and extremely annoying because I have to reboot the computer every time it happens.
Its simple to repeat, just put a cdrom in the drive--I'm using an imac G4 USB with OS 10.4.9 at the moment but I've verified a similar problem occurs with floppy disks in various OS versions back to 7.5.5 on a Mac SE 30.
Next use Disk Utility to make a copy of the disk. I make a copy on the desktop and keep the same name as the original disk because I want to use them for archives. Now open the disk image to inspect its contents and make sure it looks right. Once the disk image opens on the Desktop it becomes impossible to eject the cdrom.
I've tried:
- the media eject key--graphic flashes but nothing happens
- dragging the icon to the trash can--icon disappears but the disk doesn't eject
- remounting the disk in Disk Utility and then using 1) the eject command, 2) the media eject key, 3) dragging the disk icon to the trash can.
Since I have an iMac G4 USB (the flat panel) the computer doesn't have a manual cdrom eject. The only way I've found to change cds is to reboot the computer and hold down the mouse button. Every single time I copy a disk I have to reboot--I hate that.
This bug is really overdue to be squashed. Until then, is there a way to force the cdrom to eject without either 1) damaging the drive or 2) rebooting the computer?
I don't want to damage the computer by forcing the cdrom drive open. Nor do I want to keep rebooting every time I make a disk image.
Thanks,
- Mike

Can you eject the disk after unmounting the .dmg file? Can you eject the disk if you change the .dmg's name slightly? BTW, my mate has a 17" 1GHz G4 iMac and her keyboard has an eject button.
If none of those work, the file a bug with Apple through their BugReporter system. Go to https://connect.apple.com/MemberSite and join the Apple Developer Connection (ADC)—it's free and available for all Mac users and gets you a look at some development software. Then, go to https://bugreport.apple.com/, click on the Login to the Apple BugReporter link (using your Apple ID username and password), and file your bug report/enhancement request. The nice thing with this procedure is that you get a response and a follow-up number; thus, starting a dialog with engineering.
Posting here won't get you any action from Apple engineering.

Macbook Pro won't read windows OS disk?

Upgraded my MBP to a 500gig HD, Imaged the old to the new with carbon copy clone, everything work fine on Mac side, but when I try to reinstall windows VIA bootcamp it won't recognize the windows disk. Like it won't recognize the windows OS disk at all (no matter when I put it in). It's an OEM disk 32 bit vista or 7 (i have 2). The disks work in other machines and my MBP can see them from an external disk drive, but then bootcamp won't install them... I get a screen that goes from the apple, to a folder, to a circle with a line through it... The laptop read the Mac OS disk fine, other dvds, and cds fine. Any takers???

Hi,
first: put your XP 64-bit CD as far away from your Mac as you can. Apples BootCamp does not support it
Second: I assume corectly that these are Retail or SystemBuilder XP discs, not some Recovery CDs or manufacturere-branded ones, right ?
Third: insert the 32-bit XP CD while in OSX and check with the Finder if it can be read there (checking for the 'usual' folders on it: i386, Support, etc and files: winip51.sp2 etc.).
Fourth: some people round here have successfully used a 'standard' DVD/CD-cleaner disc with their Macs.
Fifth: try making a 1:1-copy of your XP disc. You can use SimplyBurns in OSX for this.
Regards
Stefan

Will reinstalling from setup disk delete my data files?

I can't do a thing with my MacBook. The cursor drags phantom selections, the track pad won't work properly and it takes ages for typed words to display. I have lost my applications in Finder and the disk utility is telling me there is a bad file. I've deleted the cache and done the PRAM thing to no avail. It is fully charged. If I reinstall the original disk, will I lose my data files and pictures, etc.?
Elaine

Hi, Elaine.
Go to Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility) and check on the S.M.A.R.T. status of your hard disk. Also, while there, select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless you've renamed it). What is the hard drive capacity? Please let us know how much space remains available on it. Repair permissions on it.
There is a way to reinstall without losing your files, but it may not help if your drive is failing, so we need to determine its condition before proceeding.

Script to unmount or eject disk images

Is there a way to unmount disk images wiuth an automator or applescript? I have such a script to eject all disks, but this won't unmount disk images. I would like something that unmounts everything, except of course the startup disk etc.

Andrew Gara wrote:
That works!
However, I still have the problem that it will only eject 1 of 2 or 2 of 3 or 3 of 4 etc. I always have to run the script again to eject the remaining disk or image.
It says: Applescript error Finder got an error. Can't get disk 3 (or whatever is remaining.)
I really appreciate your help btw.
this of course makes sense because once a disk is ejected it's not counted among the remaining disks. we should start ejecting from the last disk (see the script below). Also, as i found out, Finder's eject command in apple script doesn't unmount internal drives. At least it didn't for me. I' not sure what the story here is.
One can circumvent this by calling a shell script command.
Something along the following lines.
tell application "Finder"
set nmd to number of disks
--this ejects externals and disk images
if nmd > 1 then
repeat with i from 2 to nmd
eject disk (nmd - i + 2)
end repeat
end if
--this ejects internals except for the start up
set nmd to number of disks
if nmd > 1 then
repeat with i from 2 to nmd
do shell script "diskutil unmount /Volumes/\"" & (name of disk (nmd - i + 2)) & "\"> /dev/null &"
end repeat
end if
end tell
I tested it on my computer and it ejects 10 disks and disk images well so I think it should work ok most of the times but there are probably situations when it will fail. I'm not sufficiently motivated to refine it.

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

HT201250 My 10.7.3 Time Machine won't work with external disks. Worked fine with Snow Leopard, and even Lion 10.7.1

My 10.7.3 Time Machine won't work with external disks. Worked fine with Snow Leopard, and even Lion 10.7.1
I have tried everything, even buy new external disk from different manufacture.
If I cant get a fix soon, I am downgrading back to SnowL.

Still no luck. I tried all the tricks, reconfiguring TM (remove selected disk option, and re-setting it, and trying different disks). Tried new combo updater, and the newer TM update after that. Tired two different disks too (one is my older firewire WD MyBook 1TB, and my brand new 3tb Seagate GoFlex USB... either one plugged into back of computer - no intermediary devices). I did get the TM buddy wiget and it produced the following log, from the last attempt, where I setup lots of exclusions so that backup quantity was small (under 10gb). Still it failed to complete. Here is that log, for what it is worth:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/TM-Disk/Backups.backupdb
9.56 GB required (including padding), 911.15 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (101)
Copied 0 files (0 bytes) from volume Mac HD.
Backup canceled.
To prove a point, I will take these disks are run them on my other Tiger and Snow Leopard laptops to prove TM works fine on those with these disks. But I fear the only options are to either have my tech re-install LION... or just have him reinstall SL instead. Im at wits end.

My usb superdrive won't let me eject a disc

I recently purchased a usb superdrive so I could watch dvds on my macbook air. I watched one movie and went to watch another one which was a pirated copy of a movie! Once I put the movie in it didn't work and every time I try to eject the disc the cursor turns into that rainbow spinning circle. As well as my computer stuffing up and I have to shut it down to get it back to functionality again! I also tired command E and that didn't work either someone please help?

DavidMacApr 4, 2015 12:49 PM Re: My USB SuperDrive won't recognize or eject a disc. What can I do?
Re: My USB SuperDrive won't recognize or eject a disc. What can I do?in response to GR Red Wings Fan
I too had a major problem with the Apple External Superdrive not ejection many of my DVD and CD disks. I would have to turn the dive upside down to get it to eject the disk in it …. completely unacceptable coming from Apple. You would have thought they would have bench tested the current Superdrive design, and fixed this issue before releasing it for sale.
Well, it looks like they may have tried to make a fix on some of the more recently produced Superdrives, I'll explain ….
If you are able to open the bottom plate of the Superdrive, take it off, you'll see that Apple has placed a small black foam square pad (about 1/2" square), at the top of the internal unit (at the top near the entrance slot). This small square foam rubber pad is not evident on some earlier Apple Superdrive units, indicating that Apple had figured out the internal unit was "hanging up" some disks inside by not being aligned with the slot properly (the tolerances were obviously designed very tight by Apple. So what they did was a "fix" where a piece of rubber was added to the internal component, that raise the internal drive better to allow the disc to eject better.
Here's the problem though, I my case, I had that small rubber piece in my Superdrive …. but it was still not ejecting discs like it should.
So after looking around youtube, I got an idea from a youtube video (thanks to "TheHobbieCollector"), and did it one better.
What needs to be done is just to follow-up on Apple's "fix" effort, but one better. The small rubber pad just needs to be "boosted" by placing another small rubber/foam pad (the same thickness), on top of the existing one (or a double thickness pad if your unit has no small rubber pad in the first place).
I hope the following photos are self-explaining as to what has to be done to "fix" the Apple Superdrive "ejecting" issue. I immediately noticed I had practically no more "eject" issues after having performed this single "fix" … but yes, I still have that rear occasion to have to turn the drive upside down to eject a stubborn disc … but this is very very rear for me after the "fix".
Hope this helps all with the same Superdrive "eject" issue
1. Before opening the bottom plate, protect it from scratching …. open with a thin dinner knife or putty blade.
2. This is what the bottom plate looks like, taken off, Note where the metal clips are located
   3. Note the two small locator pins in the front of the bottom plate. It's important these are put in first
        and correctly located when putting the bottom plate back on.
4. This is a close-up of what the bottom plate clips look like. They are metal and pretty strong.
5. This is the small rubber pad I mentioned, Some early Superdrives may not have this.
    6. Another angle view of the "original Apple pad applied to the inside unit.
7. The FIX … Applied another (same thickness as original), over the Apple original pad. This gave enough
        of a "boost in internal drive "alignment-to-eject slot" … without affecting the dive performance!
    Use cut thin rubber strip, or foam (same thickness as Apple original pad) …. and double-sided tape, or
    glue to affix on top of the existing Apple rubber pad.

I put a VCD in the drive. Won't play or eject. Help!

I put a VCD in the disk drive. Won't play or eject. Any ideas?

Use VLC to play it.
Hold down the eject button to eject it. (Top right on keyboard)
If it still doesn't eject, restart & hold the trackpad button while restarting.

Won't reinstall OS. Ejecting Disks.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for