SOS! My computer seems dead in the water and I can't get to an Apple Store!

Question

Level 1

0 points

SOS! My computer seems dead in the water and I can't get to an Apple Store!

I'm a Soldier in Iraq, so getting to the nearest Apple store is not an option. Even calling from here is a challenge. I tried to install Bootcamp but came up with a message that several files couldn't be moved and I needed to re-install my OS. I backed up everything on my USB drive, loaded my OS disk 1, and erased the HD. I turned it back on and a message came up staying that this disk couldn't be used to reload the OS. I have a MacBook Pro with the latest firmware and software updates. I don't even know how to get the disk out of the HD if necessary. Please help! Thanks in advance.

macbookpro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 19, 2006 5:38 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 19, 2006 5:51 AM in response to paul.graves

First of all . . . thank you for your Service to our country.

To eject your disk try rebooting while holding down the mouse button. The disk should eject after boot up.

If your hard disk has been reformated then you should be able to boot to your system disk by holding down the "C" key, then you can do a clean install of the operating system. If none of this works let us know.

Good luck.

Reply

Answer 2

paul.graves Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2006 10:34 AM in response to Richard Platt

Your tip on the disk eject worked perfectly. Thank you. I tried all the above and I continue to get the following message "Alert...This software cannot be installed on this computer". This happens after I select the language as Installer is getting ready to install. I went back to disk utility and erased again, but to no avail. I appreciate all of your suggestions. Thanks again.
Thanks for your kind words about our service over here. It makes a world of difference that Americans are so supportive!

Reply

Answer 3

NickFro

Level 2

295 points

Nov 19, 2006 10:49 AM in response to paul.graves

Are you using the CDs that came with your computer? Or is it possible that they were swapped with someone with a non-Intel-based Mac?

Reply

Answer 4

paul.graves Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2006 10:11 PM in response to NickFro

I forgot my CD's in the rear. I'm using my wife's macbook cd. Would this make a difference?

Reply

Answer 5

paul.graves Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 21, 2006 9:18 PM in response to Richard Platt

Richard,
I'm still very lost and I'm hoping you have a couple more ideas. That being said, I have a firewire cable coming in the mail and my wife's macbook here. What do you think about using her macbook as a target HD and booting off that? I made a complete backup on my USB HD. I though once I was up on her HD I could open my USB and drag the backup onto the macbook pro.

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 21, 2006 9:42 PM in response to paul.graves

Here's an idea.

You won't be able to restore a Mac Book Pro whatsoever from a MacBook software because the files are just different. What I would suggest now that you have a firewire cable is that yo do the following.

1. Make sure your computer is shut down
2. Being your wife's computer on plug the firewire cable to both computers
3. Start up yours holding the "t" key (that is for firewire targetting mode)
4. Once you've done this you'll see your computer displaying a firewire symbol and it will appear as an external HD on your wife's computer
5. Open Macintosh HD>Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility
6. Select your computer's HD on the application (it'll be an orange icon)
7. Once selected, run the verify and repair disk permissions

Hopefully after this process your files will corrected and your computer can come out of the water.

Good Luck from Mexico

Reply