Not In The First 8GB

Hi

I'm trying to install OSX on an iMac I've had for a few years. I've completely reformatted the hards disk in Extended format with only 1 partition on the disk. When I try to install OSX only the one drive appears in the 'volume choice' panel; but it says I can't install the software because the volume is not in the first 8GB of the hard disk. Can someone tell me how this can be, and how I can get around it?

eMac & iMac, Mac OS X (10.3)

Posted on Feb 18, 2007 11:16 AM

Reply
2 replies

Feb 18, 2007 12:04 PM in response to Andrew Morton

It means the model you have requires OS X be installed only on a drive or partition on a drive that is less than 8 GBs. You need to partition your drive into at least two volumes. The first one must be less than 8 GBs (7.85 GBs is best.) The second volume can be the remainder of the drive. You then must install OS X into the first partition.

Extended Hard Drive Preparation

1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disk. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.)

2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 2 partition unless you wish to make more.) Make the first (top) partition 7.85 GBs and the second one the remainder of the drive. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.

4. Select the first volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size. Repeat Steps 4-6 for the second volume.

Quit DU and return to the installer. Now install OS X being sure to choose the first volume as the destination volume.



Why reward points?(Quoted from Discussions Terms of Use.)
The reward system helps to increase community participation. When a community member gives you (or another member) a reward for providing helpful advice or a solution to their question, your accumulated points will increase your status level within the community.
Members may reward you with 5 points if they deem that your reply is helpful and 10 points if you post a solution to their issue. Likewise, when you mark a reply as Helpful or Solved in your own created topic, you will be awarding the respondent with the same point values.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Not In The First 8GB

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.