Mac os x cannot be installed on this computer

Hi, I am looking to sell my iMac 2007 so I tried wiping everything off it,, I put the mac os x disk in to wipe it through that. So I used disk utility to wipe my hard drive. Then I restarted my computer but it comes up with a flashing folder with a question mark, so I put the mac os x disk back in and It says "this software cannot be installed on this computer, please help, thanks.

Matt1515 said:

Hi, I am looking to sell my iMac 2007 so I tried wiping everything off it,, I put the mac os x disk in to wipe it through that. So I used disk utility to wipe my hard drive. Then I restarted my computer but it comes up with a flashing folder with a question mark, so I put the mac os x disk back in and It says "this software cannot be installed on this computer, please help, thanks.

Click to expand...

It sounds like you don't have a valid OS disk for the machine.

You have to either have a retail copy (generally Black) or if one of the Gray OS disks it has to be the same model as these are machine specific.

make sure the partition you are trying to install to is in good shape with Disk Utility

I have checked that I have got the right disk and I think it is, it is version 10.5.2 and the apple website says that's the right one for iMac 2007, and it is a grey cD

Thanks for the quick replies, and how do I make sure that the partition is good??

Matt1515 said:

I have checked that I have got the right disk and I think it is, it is version 10.5.2 and the apple website says that's the right one for iMac 2007, and it is a grey cD

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Did this gray/silver Mac OS disk come with this computer originally (when new)? If not...then it won't work...the gray disks are model specific.

- Nick

I bought it off a top rated seller on eBay and the cDs came with it, is there no other way of getting it working then, other than getting another mac os x cd

Matt1515 said:

I bought it off a top rated seller on eBay and the cDs came with it, is there no other way of getting it working then, other than getting another mac os x cd

Click to expand...

It means nothing that you purchased this computer from a "top rated seller on e-Bay"...in fact (since you didn't buy this computer brand new)...this makes it even more possible that the gray disks you have are NOT for your computer.

If you inserted the gray disk into your computer...held down the "C" key to get the computer to boot from the disk...and the computer says that it can't boot from this CD/DVD...then it's the wrong disk for this computer...or the disk is damaged in some way.

Your best bet...and least expense...is to purchase a retail Mac OS 10.6 install DVD:

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.)

HTH,

- Nick

Thanks nick but don't It need to be 10.4.10 version as my computer is a 2007 version like it says on the apple store??

Matt1515 said:

I have checked that I have got the right disk and I think it is, it is version 10.5.2 and the apple website says that's the right one for iMac 2007, and it is a grey cD

Click to expand...

By the way...I just checked...and 2007 iMac's DID NOT ship with OS 10.5.2...they shipped with an OS version between 10.4.7 - 10.4.10 (depending on the model).

This verify's that the gray 10.5.2 disk you have is NOT for your computer.

- Nick

p.s. This assumes that you are correctly identifying your computer as a "2007 iMac". OS 10.5.2 did ship with early 2008 model iMacs.

Also my mac does boot with the CD in it and it asks me to select a language but then it says it cannot be installed on this computer

But where can I buy a 10.4.7 disk?

Matt1515 said:

Thanks nick but don't It need to be 10.4.10 version as my computer is a 2007 version like it says on the apple store??

Click to expand...

Nope. OS 10.4.10 may have been the OS version that originally shipped with your computer...but haven't you ever heard of folks upgrading their OS to a newer version??

If your iMac has a core 2 duo processor (which I think it does)...it can run the latest Mac OS version...10.7.2 "Lion".

So you can run any OS version from 10.4.10 and beyond (10.5.x, 10.6.x, 10.7.x)...your choice.

- Nick

Matt1515 said:

But where can I buy a 10.4.7 disk?

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Why would you want to purchase an OS 10.4.7 disk...when you just said that the Apple website says that it needs OS 10.4.10???

Getting an older OS version (10.4.7) than your Mac requires (10.4.10) won't work!!!

You haven't told us the exact model iMac you have...so there's no point in going futher until we know.

- Nick

Okay sorry, but I thort I need mac os x before installing lion because I have a snow leopard CD and that says that I need to have mac os x installed before installing leopard, and my iMac model is A1224, thanks again for all your help guys.

Matt1515 said:

Okay sorry, but I thort I need mac os x before installing lion because I have a snow leopard CD and that says that I need to have mac os x installed before installing leopard, and my iMac model is A1224, thanks again for all your help guys.

Click to expand...

If you have the retail (white disk) Snow Leopard you should be able to install that with no problems.
If not, Snow Leopard is still available direct from Apple for $29.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA

Matt1515 said:

Thanks for the quick replies, and how do I make sure that the partition is good??

Click to expand...

Since your Mac boots from the CD run Disk Utility once it's booted.

Select the drive and run verify then repair if indicated.

I have done the verify and repair permissions but no luck , and when I put my snow leopard CD in it says I need to have mac os x 10.5 or later installed first

Matt1515 said:

I have done the verify and repair permissions but no luck , and when I put my snow leopard CD in it says I need to have mac os x 10.5 or later installed first

Click to expand...

I have seen the error you mentioned at the beginning of the thread when there was a problem with the partition.

If you don't have anything of value on it then you might consider deleting it and creating a new one.


Partition Map Scheme : GUID Partition Table
Format : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

I have just tried both these things and it still says that it cannot be installed on this computer,, I think my best bet is to buy a copy of a mac os x 10.4.8 as that is what my iMac was suppose to come with,, anyone agree? Thanks again guys