Can't restart computer from start up disk

There are two icons on display.

The Hitachi device GUID partition table ???

the volume called HD Mac OS Extended (Journaled) < this has been shown to be the case.

You have not shown me any information regading the Hitachi device, only the indented icon HD.

Click on the Hitachi icon, and report whether it is GUID.

refer to my image I posted to be clear of the icon I want you to click on.

I'm assuming your MacBook came with 10.5 and this disk you are using is the retail 10.6 DVD that looks like this.

If it is not this and is instead the grey one from your Desktop computer, then that would explain why it can't install on your MacBook Pro, because the hardware is different to your Desktop model.

No problem.

Roam...I need help with a similar issue please. In an effort to upgrade my sister in law's computer to 10.6, I have completely wrecked it. I think it was having issues before I touched it. I followed your post all the way until Mary realized the discs were different. I do have a copy of OS 10.6 but not the original. Any ideas??? My Partition Map Scheme is GUID, and my Mount Point is /.

1kteacher writes;

I do have a copy of OS 10.6 but not the original.

Obtain an original 10.6 DVD, They are not expensive at $20. Here is a U.S. link; other countries, similar.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

In the meantime you could reinstall your sister in law's 10.5 OS using the backup copy you made, 😀 or from her original 10.5 install DVD, just to get her computer back to a working order.

In an effort to upgrade (her) computer to 10.6, I have completely wrecked it.

If you have doubts about the condition of the disk's format, you could run repair disk on the drive before you reinstall 10.5 or equally before you install 10.6.

To do this,

Insert the Install DVD into the drive and then select Restart; when you hear the chime hold down C key until the apple logo appears.

This will take you to the installation software, but you do not want to install.

Select your language, then go up to the top menu bar where it says Utilities and navigate to the Disk Utility application.

Select your hard drive on the left, then go to the First Aid pane where you can click on Repair Disk.

If it finds errors, repeat the process until it reports no errors.

After these repairs, quit the Installer, and restart again when you hear the chime hold down C key until the apple logo appears and proceed to Install.

I was not able to back up anything on her computer because the dock kept shutting down unexpectedly. I couldn't get to the places that other tech people in various forums recommended to complete any various tasks because of this. (Also, the applications never would open for me. That's why I think it was sick when I got it.) My sister in law received the computer as a gift from someone who no longer needed it. She was not given any paperwork or discs. They couldn't even remember the password. Not knowing that there was a difference between the disc that came with my laptop, I erased her machine and tried to use my startup disc to start hers. Then I had a lovely flashing gray folder with a ? You helped me get around that today. I have done a Verify Disk. Repair Disk does not seem to be an option for me. I have used Macs for years. I have never encountered these kinds of problems. I teach kindergarten and my little ones have never even gotten a computer in this bad of shape before. I can't return it to her in worse shape than it was in. If I need to buy the $20 disc, I will. I was hoping to get it fixed this weekend with the one in my possession. I do have a machine with 10.6.8 if it would be possible to migrate from mine to hers.

Thank you so much!

You cannot use another installation of 10.6 from one computer to another because during the installation, different drivers are installed for different hardware, and these are not universal, and apply only to the first instance and will not work on another. Therefore I emphasise you need to obtain the 10.6 DVD disk pictured above.

Remember also 10.6 requires an Intel CPU based machine. Mac OS 10.5 was universal in that it could run on the older PPC Macs as well as the newer Intel models. You sister in law's machine needs to be Intel with a minimum of 1GB of RAM to run Mac OS 10.6. 2GB RAM would be preferred but it will work with one.

There is little you can do now, just wait for a disk to be delivered by post. From my experience the service is fairly quick. Just tell her it will be one week before it is good, besides a Mac without disks or a known Admin password is pretty useless to her anyway.

Check if it is an Intel Mac, before you order the DVD.