Mountain Lion refusing to install on 2011 MBA

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Mountain Lion refusing to install on 2011 MBA

Just downloaded ML to my mid 2011 MacBook Air and have tried to install it (after backing up my system on Time Machine first, naturally). I accept to the license agreement, and am then asked to choose a disk to install on. However, the installer is not letting me choose Macintosh HD, with the message “The disk cannot be used to start the computer.” Obviously this confuses me, as it’s the original disk, built in (can’t change the disk on airs), and there’s 40GB of free space on there. Tried rebooting but no luck. Any suggestions?

MacBook Air (13-INCH, MID 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 27, 2012 3:47 AM

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Answer 1

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Shootist007

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16,703 points

Jul 27, 2012 3:51 AM in response to Samdeebee

Try make more room on the drive then if that doesn't work go into Disk Utility and shrink the drive by a small amount. Drag the partition up from the bottom right hand corner then select Apply. Then try the install.

There is an Apple KB article on this although I don't have a link to it.

EDIT:

Here it is.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3926

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Answer 2

Jul 27, 2012 3:51 AM in response to Samdeebee

Instructions here > OS X Lion: Installer reports "This disk cannot be used to start up your computer"

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Answer 3

Jul 27, 2012 3:52 AM in response to Shootist007

NIce going. You posted the link after you saw mine. Not cool.

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Answer 4

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jul 27, 2012 3:56 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

No I was looking it up while you were posting and never refreshed the window or left the thread and returned. Had no idea you had even posted until I Edited my post with the link.

EDIT:

Not cool how. See if there is another post by you blow this edited post I have no idea you made a post.

PLEASE.

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Answer 5

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jul 27, 2012 3:57 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Carolyn Samit wrote:

NIce going. You posted the link after you saw mine. Not cool.

Check your reason for being here. It is to help people with problems.

Thanks.

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Answer 6

Samdeebee Author

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Jul 27, 2012 4:00 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks for the link. It's not worked though unfortunatley. Tried it a couple of times and tried rebooting. The disk volume given by the installer changed to reflect the changes, but it's still saying that it cant be used. 😟

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Answer 7

Jul 27, 2012 4:04 AM in response to Samdeebee

The startup disk may need repairing before you can upgrade to Mountain Lion.

Use Lion Recovery

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Answer 8

Samdeebee Author

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Jul 27, 2012 4:09 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks, I'll try that.

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Answer 9

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jul 27, 2012 4:12 AM in response to Samdeebee

I suggest you also make a USB thumb drive of the Lion recovery HD partition using this program.

Lion Recovery Disk Assistant

Before you start fooling around with your drive and also make Time Machine backup of your system so you can restore back to Lion if something get screwed up.

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Answer 10

Aug 14, 2012 11:21 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

I tried this before, but they say veryfication failed something like that, I can't remember. But the procedure failed and it wasn't partitioned. Please help me!!

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