MacBook (2006) does not read OSX SL install disk

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Level 1

140 points

MacBook (2006) does not read OSX SL install disk

I have MacBook running 10.5.8 and want to install 10.6. I have two other MacBooks that did this without a problem, but this one tries read the disk and just ejects it after 3 spin ups. I have the HD partitions with Win XP on one of the partitions. This is the only difference between the 2 MBs that worked and this one that did not.

The drive can read DVDs without a problem. I put in a movie and DVD Player opened right away.

Do I need to get rid of the Win XP partition? I don't use it anyway, so it is not a big loss.

Posted on Sep 13, 2012 7:43 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 13, 2012 8:18 PM in response to Patrick Lewis

is it a retail disk or a grey one that came with a mac? If the latter, those are machine specific and cant be used with different macs.

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Answer 2

Patrick Lewis Author

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Sep 14, 2012 1:27 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

It is a retail disk (family pack). I have used on 3 machines so far, 2 MacBooks and 1 iMac. I did have to blow out the DVD slot on one of the MacBooks before it could read the disk. I tried this on the last MacBook, but that did not work. The MB can read regular DVDs with no problem.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

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Sep 14, 2012 3:54 PM in response to Patrick Lewis

Zap the PRAM and Reset the SMC, then try again.

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Answer 4

Patrick Lewis Author

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140 points

Sep 15, 2012 8:03 AM in response to baltwo

Tried both ideas and neither would let the MB read the install disk.

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 15, 2012 11:24 AM in response to Patrick Lewis

Try it on the other machines. If it works there, then you might try a CD/DVD lens cleaner.

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Answer 6

Patrick Lewis Author

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Sep 15, 2012 11:24 AM in response to Patrick Lewis

Also, I was trying to use the Remote OSX instal from my iMac. On the MB, when I reboot and try to select a startup disk, I can never get the Network option to show. (step 5 from here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2129)

The instructions are a little confusing in the Remote Install app.

Any suggestions?

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Answer 7

Patrick Lewis Author

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140 points

Sep 15, 2012 11:54 AM in response to baltwo

Tried that, too. No luck. The drive will read regular movie DVDs, it just keeps ejecting the snow leopard install disk.

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Answer 8

Patrick Lewis Author

Level 1

140 points

Sep 15, 2012 12:07 PM in response to Patrick Lewis

I tried Target Disk Mode with one of the other MBs. I see the disk and run the Install OS X app, but I get an error that says: "the Install Mac OSX cannot be run from this device".

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