Can't upgrade to 10.6.3

by josch111 Feb 11, 2011 8:53AM PST

MacBook Pro running 10.4.11. 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2 Gb RAM. 120 GB hard drive with plenty of free space + eDrive (TechTool)partition, both journalled. Bought 10.6.3. Removed start up log in items from account. Ran Disc Warrior for directory, permissions, files, and did permissions again with Disc Utility. Everything running fine. Restart from install disc, and after choosing English, agreeing to contract, and clicking on Continue, I get a screen with both MacBook Pro and eDrive icons. Both have an orange triangle with an exclamation mark on their icons. When I choose MacBook Pro, I get a message "Mac OS X cannot start up from this disc." I reran it starting up from the Install DVD using both C and option keys with the same result. I removed the eDrive and still had the same results. Never had a problem updating before. Running 10.6.6 on other computers without problems. Help appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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That usually means

by Jimmy Greystone Feb 11, 2011 11:22AM PST

That usually means that you're not using a GUID partition table, and are either using the older Apple Partition Map or Master Boot Record. Since 10.4 was the transition release between PPC (Apple Partition Map) and x86 (GUID) it's possible it was set up to use APM. Unfortunately, this will likely involve having to format the entire drive, so make sure to back up first.

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GUID ??

by josch111 Feb 11, 2011 2:36PM PST

I do know the MacBook Pro was shipped with OS 10.4.6. Is there a way to check what type of partition table was used?

And would it be possible to overcome this by installing from another computer of mine running 10.6.6 in Target mode?

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GUID not the problem

by josch111 Feb 11, 2011 4:03PM PST

I used Disk Utility and checked the info on the hard drive. It does use GUID_partition_scheme. Partition scheme is not the reason I cannot install OS 10.6.3 on my hard drive as an update from 10.4.11. Any other thoughts as to why I get the message "Mac OS X cannot start up from this disc."?

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There is a possibility that you have one of those machines

by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Feb 11, 2011 9:47PM PST

that will not accept the Snow Leopard upgrade, the $30(ish) one, because 10.5 is not installed.

This does not happen very often but occasionally I see questions about it.

8 out of 10 can get away with it, you may be one of the unlucky 2.

P

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All Intel Macs are partitioned using GUID

by ziptie Feb 12, 2011 7:00AM PST

APM was only for the PPC Macs.

I think all copies of Snow Leopard would copy over Tiger.

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6126_102-513223.html?tag=threadListing;forum-threads

I bought the cheap one, and had no problems upgrading from Tiger.

And would it be possible to overcome this by installing from another computer of mine running 10.6.6 in Target mode?

Yes, that would be very easy to do, using Carbon Copy Cloner, it's a free app.

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One reason your OSX Disk will not work

by ziptie Feb 12, 2011 10:29PM PST

For example, if the disk you are trying to use, come with an iMac, then it will only work with iMacs, not a laptop. A retail version will work with all Mac computers.

You can still use a clone to boot, as long as both machines are Intel, or both are PPC.

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Except

by Jimmy Greystone Feb 13, 2011 3:48AM PST

Except that they would never get as far as they did if they were trying to use specific restore media. You get an error message as soon as you make a language selection, and your only options are to shut down or reboot. You'll never get as far as being able to select which drive you want to install on.

Can't upgrade to 10.6.3

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