Reinstalling OSX on Mac - which version is supported?

[tfgtechnology]

Hi,

I need to reinstall OSX on my macbook because I can't boot up from the HDD anymore. I tried restoring using the install disk, but no luck.
My question is: which version do I install? I don't have the original install disk as I purchased it second hand. I do however have a 10.5.5 and a 10.4.9 install disk from my other Macbooks.
But when inserting the 10.4.9 disk and pressing option, the CD is not recognised; it only shows the Hard disk option to boot. (i tried to boot from it with another macbook, and on that one it did boot, so the disk is fine)
And when trying with the 10.5.5 install disk, i can boot from it, but after choosing the install language, it thinks for a minute and then tells me that OSX cannot be installed from this disk...

Does the macbook hardware only support certain versions of the software to install? If so, which version is the correct one for mine? I had a look on the apple support site, but cannot seem to find what my macbook model is, as it only seems to refer to them by year and color...

on the back of my macbook it says Model No: A1181, TM and copyright: Apple 2007. it is a white macbook.Apart form that i can't give you the exact specs, as I can't get boot from the HD.

Hoping anyone can help me... thanks,
Tim

[pigoo3]

I need to reinstall OSX on my macbook because I can't boot up from the HDD anymore. I tried restoring using the install disk, but no luck.
My question is: which version do I install? I don't have the original install disk as I purchased it second hand. I do however have a 10.5.5 and a 10.4.9 install disk from my other Macbooks.

Those won't work either...unless they are the exact same model MacBook.

Have you considered that maybe your MacBook's hard drive is dead...and thus could be the source of all these issues?

- Nick

[tfgtechnology]

The hard drive is fine, when I boot from the install disk, I can see the hard drive, and I formatted it using Disk Utility when it was clear that it was beyond recovery. I would just like to find out which version works for my macbook, or at least know where I can look this information up...

Thanks,
Tim

[tfgtechnology]

OK, it seems to be 10.4.6, I'm going to try and download a copy and reinstall it from there

thanks for your help

[dobby]

The disk did you get when you buy MAC ?
Or did you buy the disk separate from APPLE store ?

[pigoo3]

OK, it seems to be 10.4.6, I'm going to try and download a copy and reinstall it from there...

"Downloading a copy" really isn't a solution...since any downloaded copy of Mac OS 10.4.6 would be illegal. There are no legal "downloadable" copies of OS 10.4.6!

- Nick

[harryb2448]

Go out and purchase a OS X.6 Snow Leopard full retail install DVD, black colour and not a silver grey model specific disc as you found have they will not work. Set you back about the $60.00 mark, then repair the drive, format, and do a clean install.