I can't get past the initial install test, because once long ago, I accidentally clicked time machine onto the HD, and even though it isn't in the list of time machine disks anymore, the install goes no further than disk selection.
Try a clean install, back up your data to an external drive first.
There is no way to change the status of a drive without a complete redo? Seems kind of excessive. I was hoping for some type of file mod that would change the hard drive from a backup, which it isn't and never has been, to a "normal" drive.
You can erase the TM partition, same as erasing the the, but from the left select the Time Machine volume and do the erase.
Still you want to have a back up, if there is a problem or something goes wrong you will lose your data.
Try holding the OPTION key when you boot up and selecting the Mac HD volume from the select screeen when it comes up. You may want to try it with TM turned off.
I still strongly suggest that you have an external drive for a back up before trying anything, if there is any king issue your data is at risk. It not question if your drive will fail, the question is when.
Also more on TM can be found here.
I don't understand your comment.
I have a backup, I just need to change HD so it isn't assumed to be a backup disk. I don't use it for that, and never have. The external HD is the only disk listed on TM list of backup destinations. Yet I can't start the install, because instalation still shows the HD as a backup disk.
Also go to disk utilities and do a permissions repair and a disk verification to see there are any errors.
Is your external drive connected when trying to do this? If so disconnect it, turn off TM in system prefs, and boot holdong the OPTION key then select your internal drive to boot from and try the install.
If it shows the same screen as you posted, then your best bet is to do a clean install, and retoring the data from your back up disk.
Piet Visser wrote:
once long ago, I accidentally clicked time machine onto the HD
I'm understanding that once you accidentally chose your inner disk as destination for Time Machine backups. That sounds strange to me: you shouldn't be allowed to do that. Let me ask a stupid question: do you happen to have a Backups.backupbd folder at the root directory of Macintosh HD?
Cant install snow leopard - time machine issue
