Unable to boot from CD/DVD

SAHafeez,

1. I have tried the retail release as well as 2 sets of the DVDs shipped with a Macbook Pro. They boot on other systems

Your new Macbook Pro will only boot from the "Software Restore" disk #1 that shipped with it. It will not boot to a "retail" version of OS X, nor will it boot to a disk shipped with any other computer (Macbook Pro or otherwise). If you are attempting to boot to the disk that came with your computer, the disk itself may simply be a bad one. In this case, you'll need to contact Apple for a replacement.

Scott

Hi, Sean. Scott thought you might have tried to boot your MBP to a disc that came with an older MBP model. If you were using a disc that came with another MBP identical to yours, and you've tried several such discs without success, then it would seem that your MBP's optical drive probably has a problem and needs repair or replacement. You can confirm this by making sure some of your ten other MBPs will start up OK from the same disc(s) that won't boot the MBP in question.

It is NOT necessary to use the exact disc that was packaged with the machine. Any disc that came with an identical MBP should work fine.

Will it boot from a retail disk with an OS the same or newer than what came with the computer?

If not ... How would you upgrade from Tiger to Leopard?

Thanks ... Ken

Sean,

Eww is correct; I was referring to the disks from some "other" machine that may have been an earlier model, not the disks that came with an identical machine. If all of your Macbook Pros are the same model, purchased at the same time (more accurately, manufactured at the same time), then the "Software Restore" disks should all be identical. What is important is the specific build of OS X that is being used. With most newly released machines- and this would definitely include the current unibody Macbook Pros- the only build of OS X that can be booted is the build present on the bundled Software Restore disk. This is also the only build that can be installed.

If none of the identical Software Restore disks will boot this machine, Eww may be right, and something may be wrong with the optical drive. However, there are a few things that you might try before calling the game on this one... First, reset the PRAM. Start (or restart) the machine, and immediately hold down Command-Option-P-R. Continue to hold this combination until you hear a total of four startup chimes. Upon hearing the fourth chime, quickly switch to holding down the "C" key, and simultaneously insert an appropriate Software Restore disk #1 (if one is not already in the drive).

If this still doesn't work, you'll need to try resetting the SMC. On any Macbook Pro model except the new 17", shut it down, then disconnect the power adapter and remove the battery. Hold the power button in for at least 5 seconds, then release it. Replace the battery, connect the power adapter, then start it up again. On the new unibody 17", shut it down, connect the power adapter, then press (left) Shift-Control-Option-Power once.

If none of these methods work, seek additional help.

Scott

Ken,

See my new reply to the OP. Each "retail" release of OS X is capable of booting and being installed on any machines previously released. If a model "Y" is released in July, for example, and a new "reference release" of OS X comes out in August, that version of OS X will boot model "Y," and any previous models. And, as long as model "Y" is being manufactured with no modifications, the reference release of OS X will tend to continue working with that model, even if purchased after August.

The machine-specific builds of OS X that come on "Software Restore" media are a different story. These builds are only meant for the specific machine with which they shipped. In many (maybe most) cases, they either lack the necessary drivers for another model, or they have modified versions of some drivers that may or may not work correctly on other models. Sometimes they will boot other machines, but cannot be installed. Other times, they can be installed, but that installation will not work properly or completely. And, sometimes these disks just won't boot another machine. Generally speaking, any attempt to use these disks with another machine is a roll of the dice at best, and to be avoided.

So, no problems going from Tiger to Leopard. Any intel machine that can boot Tiger can also boot (retail) Leopard, and the same holds true for PPC machines that meet the minimum specs.

Scott

Thanks for the great explanation.
I understand it now.

ken