Mac OS X cannot be installed on this computer

My dad is trying to install Mac OS 10.5.4 on his MacBook Pro pre-unibody with Mac OS 10.6.2 (Snow Leopard) installed.
Now, for some reason when booting from the store bought disk (not the grey ones that come with the computer), we get this error message "Mac OS X cannot be installed on this computer. See the Read Before You Install help file."
I read on some website that trying to install on a computer that didn't exist at the time the disk was made may cause trouble.
Is this correct or is there another reason it won't work?

I have seen that issue reported. No drivers for a portion of the hardware on his system.

I'm guessing he has lost his original Leopard discs that came with the computer?

Call Apple for a set of replacement discs. I've seen members report from free to $20 for a set.


(Why go back to 10.5, what piece of software does he require that is not yet compatible?)

I have seen that issue reported. No drivers for a portion of the hardware on his system.
That makes sense.

I'm guessing he has lost his original Leopard discs that came with the computer?
No, he has them, the problem is he wants to go the most recent 10.5. version. We have two 10.5 computer specific disks and one 10.5.4 store bought disk.
Come to think of it… I wonder why the disks that came with his computer (The 10.5 one) doesn't work, we tried it but it shows the same error.

Call Apple for a set of replacement discs. I've seen members report from free to $20 for a set.
Okay, will look into that.


(Why go back to 10.5, what piece of software does he require that is not yet compatible?)
I have no idea.

Thanks for the help

He may be having the issue because of attempting to install 10.5 while 10.6 is installed.

I wouldn't go back, but if he insists, you may need to erase the drive first.
This could be the case if he received the same error from his original discs.

Reboot to the disc, once you have the menu bar up, go into Utilities / Disk Utility ... erase the disk and reformat. Then give it a try.

It's quite possible what Bobtomay said in his last post is the issue. With the 10.5 install try from Options selecting Archive and Install. See if he gets the same message. One time that worked for me and I did not have to erase the drive.

The strange thing is that we don't even get to the choose type of install screen. It starts with the Choose Language window,after clicking then immediately gives an error message. I would think that it would at least would go to the choose installation disk screen. Where it would show all the drives that can be installed on.
Well see, maybe he decides not to do it. Maybe I can post some pics tomorrow.

If you're getting that error before even loading the menu bar - restart while holding down the 'C' key... with his original disc.

To get to the latest version from any install of 10.5, just download the 10.5.8 combo update and install it.

Thanks alot, we found out that we were using the wrong disk. The one for the other MacBook Pro.
He just reasoned that because both were MacBook Pros, the disks would be interchangeable.

Thanks,
You guys are +++