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Level 1

29 points

Cannot install Snow Leopard over 10.5.8 because "can't boot from" boot disk

I closed all my apps.
I ran the installer.
I agreed the terms.
I am ask where to install Snow Leopard.
Only one disk is available - my boot disk.
It has a yellow triangle on it.

Selecting the disk tells me "Mac OS X cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD", because this disk cannot be used to start up your computer.".

Rebooting and attempting an install direct from CD yields the same results.

My machine is a six month old aluminium MacBook, and the only difference between it in the shop and today is that it has a customer-installed 500GB hard drive and ditto 4GB RAM in it.

Help.

Neil.

Aluminium Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 500GB customer installed HD and 4GB customer installed RAM

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 5:57 AM

143 replies

Aug 28, 2009 9:58 AM in response to redpola

The Intel installer for Mac OS X will not
allow you to install onto partitions that
do not have 128 MB of free space imme-
diately following a partition. However,
once installed, Mac OS X will work hap-
pily without this reserved space

Aug 28, 2009 10:11 AM in response to Anthony Cimino

For all affected users: Please open Disk Utility > Highlight the boot HD > click on the partition tab. Just move the partition size a bit and return to original value. Then hit apply. Then see if the install works. Thanks.

Group51

Level 1

23 points

Aug 28, 2009 10:31 AM in response to William Maxwell

I have the same problem.

http://gallery.me.com/chrismahon#100052/Picture%201&bgcolor=black

Eek! I have uninstalled PGP to no avail.

When I look at 'partition', I see that it is current, and it fill most but not all of the volume screen box. If I press plus, then I see Macintosh HD and MacintoshHD_2. Dunno what that is about? The Apply button is always dimmed unless I do this, so I can't change the number and change it back.

Message was edited by: Group51

Message was edited by: Group51

Aug 28, 2009 10:31 AM in response to Group51

Don't hit the plus button. Just grab the little handle at the bottom right of the partition table and drag it up a bit. Then drag it back down. Then hit apply. I want to see if this tickle of the partition table addresses the issue. Thanks.

Group51

Level 1

23 points

Aug 28, 2009 10:33 AM in response to William Maxwell

You are a Mac Genius. It worked!!!

KQM

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2009 10:34 AM in response to William Maxwell

I cant upgrade either 😟 I don't have any partitions -- I am running with 108 GB of free space and 8GB memory. I also see the yellow triangle when I try to select the Macintosh HD - cannot start from this disk.

Has anyone found a resolution yet?

Aug 28, 2009 10:36 AM in response to William Maxwell

Worked for me. Apple tech support wanted me to erase my disk and do a clean install. You saved me a WHOLE lot of time.

THANKS!!!!!

Aug 28, 2009 10:36 AM in response to KQM

read my above post. It looks like it has worked for one user. Thanks.

Aug 28, 2009 10:36 AM in response to William Maxwell

Yes, that worked for me, too!
Thanks.

aTrain78

Level 1

6 points

Aug 28, 2009 10:53 AM in response to William Maxwell

Sadly that did not change anything for me, still unable to load it.

Message was edited by: aTrain78

Aug 28, 2009 11:04 AM in response to aTrain78

I failed to mention that I tweaked Williams suggestion a bit. I reduced the size of my partition a small amount and applied it. I will resize to the max after the install completes. Taking the advice to reduce the size and then take it back to the original size before hitting apply did not work for me either.

Group51

Level 1

23 points

Aug 28, 2009 11:12 AM in response to MacDaddy-O

I actually dragged down into the free space (dunno
where that came from) and back again, then hit apply. It asked for my admin password twice to do something techie and the installer then worked.

redpola Author

Level 1

29 points

Aug 28, 2009 11:37 AM in response to William Maxwell

That worked for me. Thanks, William.

For the record, I selected the disk, grabbed the little resize gadget and moved it up then back down to the bottom. I then hit apply and OK on the warning. My Volume disappeared from Disk Utility (but was there when I restarted DU) and the installer now works (so far!).

Mulehill

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2009 1:10 PM in response to redpola

I did the resize gadget thing, up then down and apply and then restarted to be sure my old OS X install was still then -- nope. Flashing folder with question mark. But it was GUID now. A fresh install is always a good thing anyways;)

So be careful with these instructions if you can't loose stuff.

Aug 28, 2009 2:23 PM in response to Mulehill

PGP Desktop was the issue for me.

1. Open PGP Desktop
2. PGP -> Uninstall
3. Restart

Thanks for the tip!

Cannot install Snow Leopard over 10.5.8 because "can't boot from" boot disk