Macbook MA699LL/A or MA700LL/A

I have a macbook2.1 according to the identifier, with a 1.83 GHz intel core 2 duo processor. (MA699LL/A or MA700LL/A) I recently had to replace the hard drive, and because I didn't have the grey disks that came with the unit, I ordered a copy of Snow Leopard, and tried running the install. It told me to create a partition, which I did, but it won't continue past that point. I created a partition using Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and when I try to select it to continue loading the OS, it has an exclamation point. It won't allow me to continue, and says i need to repartition the disk using disk utilities. Should I have chose a different format?

When you booted your MacBook with the Snow Leopard DVD, did you enter Disk Utility from the top menu "Utilities"? It's from there that you can partition the disk and format it. However, a brand new disk should be partitioned as a single partition. In other words, the entire disk. Then it can be formatted and named.

Format it as Mac OS Extended Journaled. The GUID scheme is automatically selected for you. At the same time, name it "MacIntosh HD". After that is completed you can proceed with installing the operating system.

Is formatting different than erasing? I saw an option to erase the disk, but I didn't see an option to format. Feeling a bit ignorant right now

Yes, formatting is different although Disk Utility handles both at the same time.

Here's a brief overview:

1. From Disk Utility, click on your drive on the left side. Click on the line that shows the capacity of the drive.

2. Click erase at the top of the screen.

3. Select format as Mac OS Extended Journaled.

4. Name your drive. (MacIntosh HD) or whatever you wish.

5. Click erase at the bottom of the screen, then click erase again on the second window. The drive will be formatted. (May take awhile depending on size.)

After finishing the formatting, you can escape out of Disk Utility and proceed with installing OS X and applications.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Just that one little piece (GUID scheme in the options) during the partitioning made all the difference. Much appreciated.