Installing Leopard to Target Disk

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Installing Leopard to Target Disk

My Macbook CD Drive is not work (which is a different story). I am trying to install Leopard to my Macbook while it is connected to my MacPro in Target disk mode. When I attempted to do this when it comes to the install destination option, the MacBook Target disk is greyed out with a red exclamation mark sign and the following error is posted

'You cannot install Mac OS X on this volume. To enable installation on this volume open disk utility from the utilities menu and repartition this disk as 'Apple Partition Map'
NOTE: You will loose all data on the disk by repartitioning it.

There is over 25GB available on the disk so space availability is not a issue. Any suggestions as to what the problem may be would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Posted on Jan 19, 2008 4:32 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 19, 2008 5:37 AM in response to Brian Duff

Hi Brian Duff-

How is the drive formatted?

Is your mode 'book on the list of upgradeable machines?

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

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Answer 2

Brian Duff Author

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Jan 19, 2008 8:09 AM in response to DaddyPaycheck

Thanks for the reply can you tell me how do I check how the drive is formatted and what mode it should be set at?

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Answer 3

Jan 19, 2008 8:27 AM in response to Brian Duff

Which machine do you have in target disk mode?

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Answer 4

Jan 19, 2008 8:46 AM in response to Brian Duff

Hi Brian Duff-

This document covers formatting and installation options: Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5: About installation options

This document addresses TDM: How to use FireWire target disk mode

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

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Answer 5

Brian Duff Author

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Jan 19, 2008 3:38 PM in response to eschw95458

I have the MacBook in Target disc mode.

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Answer 6

Brian Duff Author

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Jan 19, 2008 5:32 PM in response to Brian Duff

I am after repeating the same process of booting in target disk mode, which was not a problem as the screen shows the floating firewire icon. I reboot my MacPro using the Leopard install dvd as the startup disk. When I get to choose the destination of the install the target disk is still greyed out with a white exclamation mark on a red signpost.

I have checked the drive details through disk utility and the details of this are

Disk Description :TOSHIBA MK6034GSX Media
Total Capacity : 55.9 GB (60,011,642,880Bytes
Connection Bus : Serial ATA 2
Write Status : Read/Write
Connection Type : Internal
S.M.A.R.T. Status : Verified
Partition Scheme : GUID Partition Table
Mount Point : /
Capacity : 55.6 GB (59,667,668,992 Bytes)
Format : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Available : 24.2 GB (26,018,828,288 Bytes)
Owners Enabled : Yes
Used : 31.3 GB (33,648,840,704 Bytes)
Number of Folders : 101,621
Number of Files : 438,998

Could somesome advise if it might have to do with drive ownership and assistance is appreciated

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Answer 7

Jan 20, 2008 6:16 AM in response to Brian Duff

Your disk has the correct partioning scheme (GUID) for an Intel MacBook. The error you age getting (asking for Apple Partition Table) should not occur if the other computer is also Intel, such as a Mac Pro. It should happen only if the other computer is PPC, such as a G5 (which looks similar to a Mac Pro). Try putting the computer with the Leopard install DVD into Target Disk Mode, then boot the MacBook while pressing the Option key. When the arrow pointer appears, select the Leopard DVD, then click the straight, right-pointing, arrow. This method should work if the other computer is Intel or PPC.

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Answer 8

Brian Duff Author

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Jan 20, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Your suggestion worked a treat, you were correct in saying The Macpro is a G5 but non Intel, so I did exactly as you suggested and put the MacPro in Target mode and rebooted the Macbook while selecting Leopard install disk as the startup disk,and all worked a treat and now have 10.5 installed.

Thanks to all who have assisted me on my quest to solve this little issue

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