Can't install MAC OS X Lion - Macintosh HD "This disk cannot be used to start up your computer."

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.

Hello,

I have additionally Ubuntu installed on my hard drive. So there are additionally 4 partitions (boot, root, home, swap) and rEFI as bootloader on my hard drive. Is andrew167's solution also capable for me? Do I need to delete all these partitions?

Thanks

andrew167 wrote:

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.

Tried hitting apply and got this:

I deleted rEFit completely (search google and you will find detailed information on their own website), backed up all my important files in ubuntu and then erased ubuntu partition and linux swap partition. Then I did a repair disk permission on the only partition ( mac os x) left, and now I can install lion.

I guess you may try delete rEFit only and see if it works?

Hey I've been having this problem as well, what I did was find Backups.backupdb file in finder of my Macintosh HD and dragged it to the trash then did empty trash, then went back and checked browse other time machine disks and it was gone, I then opened up the osx lion install app and it finally recognised my Macintosh HD to install to. Hope that sorts it for you like it has done for me.

Thanks. No I didn't try to delete rEFI, I'm toooo scared to delete a bootloader ^^. Can I delete it without problems? I don't find the instructions on their homepage...

How can I delete a partition using disk utility?

Thanks

That's what worked for me! Thanks! It's installing now.

OK, now installing.

Deleted rEFIt and my linux swap and linux partitions in order to get it to work. Pretty miffed I had to do this. Will try out Lion for a while but then probably switch over to Linux entirely as a sole OS. Far too many problems with Apple in recent months and have lost confidence. Who's with me in moving completely to Linux?

For those with the "this disk is a timemachine disk" problem:

Do a search on your HD for "Backups.backupdb"

Delete it and empty trash, you should be good to go (thanks Harvey)

Excellent solution Harvey 55. I was about to explode. Working with Lion now but find it dissappointingly slow and sluggish. I've no idea what all the fuss is about. Leopard - faster, cooler and reliable.

I've tried every method here and I still get the "This disk cannot be used to start up your computer." Any ideas? I've looked for the Backups.backupdb file, and it doesn't exist on my computer, or if it does spotlight can't find it. I've also changed the size of my disk partition using disk utility and it still will not install. Would love some help on this issue.

I too could not install because my HD "was used for Time Machine." In fact, I had used it to back up my laptop. I located the "Backups.backupdb" file, and moved it to the trash. (There was nothing in it I couldn't afford not to lose.) Then I used the terminal to delete the large file (1. Open terminal 2.Type sudo rm -rf (type a space after "-rf" otherwise it doesn't work). Do not hit return yet. 3. Open trash. Select "Backups.backupdb" file and move it to the terminal window. 4. Then press return.) This should delete the ""Backups.backupdb" file. After completing this, I tried the Lion install again. It presented me with the HD target disc, without the previous "used for Time Machine" message. The install then completed without problems.

Thank you so much David! I didn't need to go into terminal but instead I just delete the file from the trash. Then I did a restart and it showed my selected disk and started the install

Your the Man!!

same here on imac. fixed by reducing macintosh hd partition by 10 gb and restarting installer.