upgrading late from 10.6

[evilgrimace]

helping my sister upgrade her iMac OS from 10.6, she downloaded the current version 10.8 and the Install program tells us the HD isn't formatted correctly...

is this because she attempted to skip 10.7? that's my thought...so I hit the App Store and cannot find OS 10.7 to download...

Thoughts Please?

 

[dtravis7]

That is a strange one as with 10.6 it should be formatted correctly when 10.6 was installed. Have you tried in 10.8 from the tools or utilities menu up top when the installer first opens running Disk Utility? Have it check and repair the hard drive. See if that helps.

Also what Mac model is this? 10.8 won't install on everything 10.6 did.

 

[bobtomay]

Just to add - 10.7 is no longer being sold and would have nothing to do with installing 10.8

 

[Slydude]

What is the exact wording of any error messages you received? Not being picky here. I don't think the installer lets you choose a drive that is not formatted properly. They either don't appear at all or are grated out.

 

[evilgrimace]

The message I get when OS X Installer asked me to "select the disk where you want to install OS X" is:

This disk is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (journaled). Use Disk Utility to enable

I'm very hesitant to allow Disk Utility to do anything with the HD...

 

[evilgrimace]

this is an iMac from '07

I agree with the comment that the installer program shouldn't allow you to select a drive that isn't formatted correctly...there is but ONE drive in this machine and it isn't grayed out, the message I quoted appears when I select the onboard drive...

 

[Slydude]

Go into the Finder, select (single click) the hard drive, and choose Get Info (Command I). When the Info window appears look at the "General" section and see what it says for Format. Let us know the result.

If it says Extended Journaled (Case Sensitive) that may be the issue.

 

[evilgrimace]

Format: Mac OS Extended

 

[Slydude]

I think we have found the problem. It needs to be both extended and journaled. Fortunately you can enable journaling without formatting the drive. Try the following:

1. Boot your computer from the Snow Leopard DVD.
2. If it asks you to do so select a language.
3. Instead of repeating the installation launch Disk Utility from the menu bar.
Select the hard drive you want to install the software on and choose Enable journaling in the toolbar at the top of the Disk Utility window. How to Enable Disk Journaling in Mac OS X

Once that is completed the installer should allow you to perform the upgrade.

 

[evilgrimace]

thank you...what if the Snow Leopard DVD is MIA?

 

[pigoo3]

thank you...what if the Snow Leopard DVD is MIA?

Time to purchase another.

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

Can he not just launch the 10.8 installer and from the Utilities menu run Disk Utility and do the same thing? I have never had to enable journaling but I can not see why SL is needed as DU is DU.

 

[dtravis7]

I just booted from my 10.8 Flash drive and launched Disk Utility and the option is there but grayed out as all my drives are Journal ed
.

 

[Slydude]

It's worth a try. I hadn't tried it. Didn't remember till just now that I should have the installer lying around somewhere. I know it can't be done from the boot disk but it might work from the installer.

 

[harryb2448]

May well pay to check the precise model of iMac you have. The 2006 iMac, model A1200, was sold new until August 2007, and will not run Mountain Lion. You hopefully have A1224 which will run ML.

 

[Slydude]

Good idea Harry. I didn't think of that. I think the error you get in that case is different from the error the OP is seeing but I'm not sure.