Alert - This Software Cannot Be Installed On This Computer

Hi there, good info so far! 🙂

The Drop in Discs are for Macs that came with an earlier version of OSX but were sold close to the introduction of a later OS, & require the earlier OS is installed before it'll upgrade it.

This software cannot be installed on this computer.

This is likely in your case because the Computer has a later OSX version already installed, to get it installed you'd have to erase the Disk first... is there any data on it you need?

Why do you want/need to Install, does it not boot, or are there other problems?

Hmm, what is the 2z691-**-A number on the Black Disc?

That is an upgrade disc & requires 10.3 be installed...

Upgrade 10.3 to 10.4 Drop-in Install...

2Z691-5341-A

You must already have Mac OS X 10.3.x Panther installed on your Mac to use this 10.4 Tiger upgrade. Your Mac must also meet the system requirements (detailed below) for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

Compatibility 
eMac (2005), iBook G4 (Late 2004), iBook G4 (Mid 2005), iMac G5 17-inch (ALS), iMac G5 20-inch (ALS), iMac G5 (17-inch iSight), iMac G5 (20-inch iSight), iMac (Early 2006 17-inch), iMac (Early 2006 20-inch), Mac mini, Mac mini (Late 2005), Mac mini (Early 2006), MacBook Pro, Power Mac G5 (Early 2005), Power Mac G5 (Late 2005), PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD), PowerBook G4 (17-inch Double-Layer SD)

http://www.welovemacs.com/m9639za.html

Hi,

I have all of the cds it came with...
I have 2 gray CDs - it says it's iMac G5 Mac OS X Install Disc 1, *Mac OS version 10.4*, AHT version 2.5.1.
I also have another disc that will go further along in the installation
process but stops because I do not have OS 10.3 installed. This CD is black with an
X and says *Mac OS X Tiger* Includes Xcode 2,

Something is not right -
If gray discs marked 10.4 really did ship (or were supposed to ship) with your computer, then you would *already have* a Tiger version, and there would be no role for the Tiger upgrade DVD. In fact if your computer really is a model that came with Tiger originally, then you couldn't now install Panther on it even if you had Panther install discs.

I believe that the iMac G5 model that came with grey 10.4 Tiger discs was the 2005 "Ambient Light Sensor" (ALS) model. To be sure you have that model, you can obtain its serial number from the base of the computer as shown on [this page|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1749] and then plug the last 3 characters into the identifier box on [this page|http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup].

What model did it report? If your iMac is not an "ALS" model, then you probably have the wrong original install discs. If you do have that model, then perhaps the HD was not formatted correctly before you tried the install. Let us know.

Your iMac came with Pre-Installed MacOS: X 10.3.5 (7P35)...

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imacg5_1.617.html

Apparently whoever packaged the Mac for your dad sent it with the wrong set of install discs. I would call Apple and tell them what happened, and tell them that you need a replacement set of original Panther discs. They will ask for your serial number. If your father did buy the refurbished iMac from Apple, they might waive their usual small charge for replacement discs.