I have OS X 10.8 on a 2013 Macbook Air and have downloaded Mavericks. However I can't install it as it says cant be installed to Macintosh HD. I am not familiar with all the technical terms on this forum so coild somebody tell me in easy to understand language how to proceed!! Many thanks in anticipation.......
MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
Does it tell you why it can't be installed?
It says 'Mackintosh HD' ...this disk is used fior 'time machine backups '
Go to your hard drive where Applications, Library, System, and Users are. You will probably find a folder named Backups.Backupsdb (or similiar) - delete it and try the installation again.
Many thanks but I don't seem to have a 'back ups' folder - just the 'time machine'. I have searched 'System preferences' (think thats where to look). I have read the artice re 'can't install on volume used by Time machine. Does this mean that I have to get another disk for time machine?? Confused! Sorry!
You are welcome.
Is Time Machine backing up to an external drive? If so, you do not need to get another disk for Time machine.
Below is a screen shot of where you should look for the Backups.Backupsdb folder. If there, it should be listed in this row.
Thank you so much - however... I have an external hard drive from a macbook pro that I back up to. I found the 'backups folder on there but not on my macbook air that I currently use. I deleted the backups folder from the external drive and then had the option to install mavericks on there but not on my macbook air that I am using.
My question is now - should I install it on the external drive? Could I then copy it to my Air? I wonder if I have set it all up wrong initially? I connected the hard drive from my Mac myself and downloaded it all to my
new macbook air about a year ago and all has been well until now!
Disconnect the external drive for now. See the very last portion of this article about how to Check for Free Disk Space. See if your storage shows any backups.
Many thanks for your patience and help. I have now installed it successfully - much appreciated
You are welcome.
Can't install mavericks on Macintosh HD - I'm not very 'techy'!
