05-23-2008, 12:35 AM

I'm fairly new to the mac world, so take it easy on me..

I made the dumb mistake of formatting my macbook in hopes that I would then be able to use my parent's Leopard installation discs (10.5.2) on my newly formatted macbook (previously 10.5). I was getting the "This software cannot be installed on this computer" error before the format, and I am also getting it afterwards. I didn't know that you needed to have the same Leopard build version discs to reinstall... now that I have formatted I don't know how to find out which build I need.. can anybody give me any pointers?

I'd like to get my computer up and running soon, preferably without driving to the nearest Apple store (which is not very near at all).

thanks,
jrock

05-23-2008, 01:01 AM

Do you have the original discs that came with your macbook? That's the only thing that's going to help you. The grey discs that come with your computer are model specific, so your parent's discs won't work on your Mac. If you don't have the original discs you are going to have to get a retail copy of Leopard or take it to the apple store to restore it for you.

Did your MacBook come with 10.5? You can get the 10.5.2 update for free by using software update. (Click on the apple in the top left and choose software update)

As I'm typing this I reread what you wrote and am a little confused. What do you mean when you say you formated it? Did you erase the entire drive or do you still have 10.5 installed on it?

05-23-2008, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by AlyciaAnimation

Do you have the original discs that came with your macbook? That's the only thing that's going to help you. The grey discs that come with your computer are model specific, so your parent's discs won't work on your Mac. If you don't have the original discs you are going to have to get a retail copy of Leopard or take it to the apple store to restore it for you.

the laptop was given to me from me work, I don't think they have the original discs. would it cost me anything to take it over to the apple store and have them restore it for me?

Originally Posted by AlyciaAnimation

Did your MacBook come with 10.5? You can get the 10.5.2 update for free by using software update. (Click on the apple in the top left and choose software update)

I tried that, but whenever I opened the software update the laptop would crash. It was really messed up.

Originally Posted by AlyciaAnimation

As I'm typing this I reread what you wrote and am a little confused. What do you mean when you say you formated it? Did you erase the entire drive or do you still have 10.5 installed on it?

I erased the entire drive. I thought maybe then it would allow me to use my parent's install discs (remember, I'm new to the mac world ). is there any way I can figure out what build of Leopard I need to install?

05-23-2008, 01:37 AM

Honestly I'm not sure if the apple store would charge for something like that. You could call first to find out. Or maybe at your work the IT people have discs and can install it for you?

You can install any retail (black colored) leopard discs.

05-23-2008, 06:40 PM

Leopard will not install if it is a model specific DVD that came with their computer,. All models have system restore discs that work with that machine only, apart from the legal aspects.

Q. Why not go out and purchase your own Leopard DVD, the black colored retail version, boot from it and do an erase and install?