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Question

Helpless newbie can't install snow leopard box set

Sep 15, 2011 6:06AM PDT

I have 10.4.11 on my iMac. Was told that if I purchased/installed the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Box Set I will be updated enough to link my iPad (once I updated iTunes). So...I bought it and attempted to install.

I inserted the first disk, chose English, chose my HD (not my Lacie backup drive) for installation and left for a bit after the timer said it would take 44 minutes to install. When I came back, I got a 'Failed, would you like to try, again?'. I did. This time, when I am offered both drives, there is a warning sign on my HD and the note on the screen says, 'The contents of this disk can't be changed'. HUH?

I'd appreciate someone explaining to me what I'm doing wrong and more importantly, what I need to do to get this thing going!

Many thanks in advance for advice.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Generally speaking
Sep 15, 2011 10:37AM PDT

Generally speaking, if you're trying to go from 10.4 to 10.6 you will fall into one of two categories. It will either work perfectly, or it will fail miserably. You landed in the latter category. So, the only way you're going to do this is to format your existing drive and install a fresh copy of 10.6, unless you want to spend maybe another 150USD more to try and find a copy of 10.5 for the sole purpose of upgrading to 10.5 before going to 10.6.

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Answer
Not quite sure what is going on but,
Sep 15, 2011 10:40AM PDT

You really didn't need the boxed set to install Snow Leopard, just Snow Leopard would have done.

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I considered that
Sep 15, 2011 11:33AM PDT

I considered that too, but the SL installer wouldn't have booted on a PPC unit, so this would have to be one of the older white iMacs, circa 2006, to come with 10.4.

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Answer
It almost worked but didn't.......
Sep 15, 2011 12:13PM PDT

The computer definitely has an Intel processor.
Thanks for the suggestions.

I got as far as clicking 'Repair Disk' but it stopped 'doing its thing' and this popped up:

"Error: Disk Utility. Can't repair this disk....Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk and restore your backup files".

I assume this means I need to try to move all of my photos from iPhoto onto a backup? Same with everything in iTunes, etc, etc???? EEK!!

However, even if I can get most of it done (or not!), what next? How do I reformat the disk? What about my applications? Do I back them up, too, and if so, how?

This was supposed to be easy!

Thanks, once, again, for all advice!

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Problem disk,
Sep 15, 2011 9:50PM PDT

you mentioned earlier about your "backup disk"
I suggest that you run a complete backup of your internal hard drive and save all your music, photo's, documents, etc. before you do the next step.

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Backing up
Sep 16, 2011 12:20AM PDT

The drive I have is a lacie hard drive and I generally use it to store large files or ones I don't need on a regular basis.

To be perfectly blunt, I am not sure how to use it as a backup and am not even sure if it has enough space for everything on my computer HD. Hey, I did tell you I was clueless!

How would I drag every file onto there? Is there a relatively easy way or do I go item by item?

Please don't give up on me now! All of my friends with any know how have PCs and they are as clueless as I am.

Once, again, your advice and patience are appreciated.

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backing up your internal
Sep 16, 2011 4:43AM PDT

First let's find out how big the external drive is.
With the drive connected, go to the Apple menu, About this Mac, more.
If your external is USB, choose the USB line from the left hand column. In the right hand column, find the name of your drive. It should tell you the capacity and available space. Write them both down.
If your external if Firewire, choose the Firewire line, and repeat the above.

There is no need to copy the entire contents of the internal HD, just stuff from your Home folder.

Double click the HD and choose Users. Find you name and RIGHT click it (Control + Click if using a single button mouse)
Choose Get Info. Write down the size of the folder in GB or MB.
If the size you wrote down is LESS than the size of the external drive or LESS than the available space, we're golden.
If not, we'll have to be selective.

let's start there

P

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unfortunately....
Sep 20, 2011 1:21PM PDT

First of all, I have to thank you for the step by step instructions. I'd be lost w/o them!

Secondly, unfortunately, assuming I did it correctly, my Lacie hard drive has only 21.92gb remaining available space and my folder has 142.77gb on it.

I can try eliminating a heckuva lot of stuff from the lacie because I'm sure I've got items that can be jettisoned. I haven't cleaned it out in, oh, forever.

Shall I give that a try and see where we are before looking into another drive?

Thanks, again, and apologies for taking so long to reply to your last message. RL sometimes has a sharp bite!

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New back up drive
Sep 26, 2011 12:20AM PDT

I have given up hope of making enough room on my LaCie drive. HOWEVER, I'd forgotten that I have an unopened Seagate 500gb that I can use instead.

Assuming that I install that, how do I then proceed?

Thank you.

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Attach the Seagate,
Sep 26, 2011 7:37AM PDT

then, using Disk Utility, create one (1) partition and format it as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled).