"You cannot install Mac OS X on this volume" Installation Problems

I had this. My internal hard disk was formatted with an Apple Partition Table, not a GUID Partition Table, so Leopard refused to do an upgrade.

To check whether this is the case for you, launch Disk Utility, select the internal hard disk in the list of disks on the left hand side and look at the bottom right corner: if you've got the same problem I had, the 'Partition Map Scheme' field will say 'Apple Partition Table'.

I had backed up with SuperDuper, so booted from the SuperDuper disk and repartitioned and reformatted the internal hard disk, and then restored from the SuperDuper disk to the internal disk using Disk Utility.

After that, I rebooted with the Leopard install DVD and a simple upgrade install went fine.

I just installed on my Macbook. When the dvd boots up look up at the top and there is a menu. Choose utilities then disk utility from there. You will have to erase your current partition then create a guid partition. Then you can install just fine.

Having the same issue here . I am cloning to a external than format the drive than start all over again. I screwed up when I installed this HD in my MPB I used Apple instead of Guid

Just a pain now

I'm having the same problem. What is a guid partition?

That's just insane. I installed on my MacBook Pro and no problem. Will not install on iMac because of the disk format -- I was never aware either were formatted differently, but guess so. I have never had to erase and reformat a HD to install an OSX update before. What a hassle.

I don't think Apple pointed out in their system requirements that the disk format had to be anything special.
Here's what they say:

General requirements
Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor

Nothing about HD format.

Thanks for the heads-up, Tony. I'm glad I wasn't one of the early adopters this time!

I'm having the same issue but in a G5 Power Mac. I am running a two disk Raid 0 (striped) I don't see the partition table info you were talking about.

This is what I do see.

Disk Description : Apple RAID
Total Capacity : 596.2 GB (640,144,703,488 Bytes)
Set Name : raid0
RAID Status : Running
Type : Stripe
Number of Slices : 2

Or

Mount Point : /
Capacity : 596.2 GB (640,144,703,488 Bytes)
Format : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Available : 574.4 GB (616,804,159,488 Bytes)
Permissions Enabled : Yes
Used : 21.7 GB (23,340,544,000 Bytes)
Number of Folders : 49,452
Number of Files : 188,241

I tried all three install options and even the erase failed. Ran the disk repair multiple times - all OK. The message I am getting says that it can't make my volume bootable. I have a ticket open with Apple support but 1st couldn't solve it. I have to talk to 2nd level tomorrow to see if we can get anywhere.

Some Name wrote:
I'm having the same issue but in a G5 Power Mac. I am running a two disk Raid 0 (striped) I don't see the partition table info you were talking about.

Which RAID version do you have? My G5 was a striped RAID version 1 and Leopard would not install. I backed it up, erased it and remade it with the latest Disk Utility. It now shows up as Apple RAID version 2 and Leopard is installing as we speak.

Could Carbon Copy Cloner be used for the same purpose--i.e., has anyone used it to backup a drive and restore it to a different partition in order to meet the (unpublished) partition requirements?

I'd like to avoid purchasing an additional license (for Super Duper) to complete my upgrade if it can be avoided.

Carbon Copy Cloner is often mentioned in the same sentence as Super Duper, though I've not used it... the good news is that Super Duper has a 'free' mode, which will be more than adequate for cloning your internal disk and then restoring it after you've repartitioned...

I can't find it now but I am pretty sure it is Apple RAID 1. I suspect I will have to wipe to be able to install at this point. Fun I did list last weekend because of a bad HD.

I had a problem with the RAID being an issue as well. I had to actually take the RAID out of my system (take the drives out) to get a successful install on a NON-raid drive. I just remade the RAID with Leopard and I'm cloning my single-drive version back onto the RAID to see if it works. Will update.

Had to boot off of my 10.3 CD then erase and destroy my old volume. Then booted off of 10.5 dvd and made new raid volume. All good now.

Make sure to back your stuff up.

I successfully updated a single-drive backup, recreated my RAID with the newer Disk Utility, and restored onto the RAID using Carbon Copy Cloner. Looks like the old version RAID is the problem.