Installer won't install OS X on new hard drive

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Jim Ramus - 15 Jun 2007 05:27 GMT

I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
initialize a new HD) and partitioned it also. Now when I select a
partition to install as a "destination", it says "You cannot install Mac
OS X on this volume. You cannot start up your computer using this
volume." Great, so I go to "Change startup disk" and it doesn't give the
hard drive as an option because it doesn't have any OS on it! This is
crazy. Thanks much for any help.
Jim

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Andreas Rutishauser - 15 Jun 2007 06:04 GMT

Salut Jim

> I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
> erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> hard drive as an option because it doesn't have any OS on it! This is
> crazy. Thanks much for any help.

did you partition the drive as Nigel suggested?
Is the OS X CD/DVD you are using a retail version?
Or the one thast came with that PowerBook?
Or one that came with another Mac?

Cheers
Andreas

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MacAndreas Rutishauser, <http://www.MacAndreas.ch>
EDV-Dienstleistungen, Hard- und Software, Internet und Netzwerk
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Jim Ramus - 15 Jun 2007 13:30 GMT

Answers to your questions below.

> Salut Jim
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> did you partition the drive as Nigel suggested?

Yes, in 2.

> Is the OS X CD/DVD you are using a retail version?

> Or the one that came with that PowerBook?

Yes

> Or one that came with another Mac?
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Beratung, Unterstuetzung und Schulung
> <mailto:andreas@MacAndreas.ch>, Fon: 044 / 721 36 47

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Andreas Rutishauser - 15 Jun 2007 17:53 GMT

Salut Jim

> > > I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
> > > erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> > did you partition the drive as Nigel suggested?
> Yes, in 2.

> > Is the OS X CD/DVD you are using a retail version?
> No
> > Or the one that came with that PowerBook?
> Yes

fine.

What sort of G4 PowerBook is it (Processor speed, size, or serial
number). If you don't know, you might find the info on a label inside
the battery compartment.

What version of MacOS X are you trying to install?

Cheers
Andreas

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Shawn Hirn - 15 Jun 2007 13:15 GMT

> I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
> erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> crazy. Thanks much for any help.
> Jim

Make sure the partition where you want to install Mac OS X is formatted
for HFS+ Journaled.

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Jim Ramus - 15 Jun 2007 13:41 GMT

> > I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
> > erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Make sure the partition where you want to install Mac OS X is formatted
> for HFS+ Journaled.

There is no option for "HFS+ Journaled". Only "Mac OS Extended
(Journaled)" and "Mac OS Extended", and Unix and MS-DOS. This is in Disk
Utility in the "Erase" or "Partition" mode.

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Shawn Hirn - 16 Jun 2007 01:30 GMT

> > > I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
> > > erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> (Journaled)" and "Mac OS Extended", and Unix and MS-DOS. This is in Disk
> Utility in the "Erase" or "Partition" mode.

Try "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

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Jim Ramus - 16 Jun 2007 14:59 GMT

I got a different error all of a sudden that made me realize that I
forgot that the OS X Panther disks I was using was not the software that
came with the computer but an upgrade to it. The error said something
like "you can't install this on a volume that has no Mac OS on it". Why
it didn't say that before I don't know. Why it doesn't allow Panther
alone to be installed was surprising also. Found my other 10.2.7 disk in
a box since I've moved a lot lately. I'm now up and running. Thanks
anyway, appreciate it. Sorry to waste your time, I guess I lost a few
too many memory cells in my party days.

> > > > I have a new hard drive installed in my G4 Powerbook. I went through the
> > > > erase process with Disk Utility (which I guess is the way to format or
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Try "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

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Mac Forum / General / Portable Macs / June 2007

Installer won't install OS X on new hard drive