A1181 MacBook does not recognize HDD as correct size. Will not Install OS. IO Error

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Yeah, I do not have a retail disk . . . . I never needed one. I guess I can download one?

Don't know if this will help, but Apple is giving away 10.6 to Mobile Me users to boost icloud migration.

 

[PCX]

Alright, so I have tried the same process again with a retail disk. Just to clarify, this is what I have done.

1. Install 10.4.9 from OEM disk (as that is what was on their originally) onto 160gb HDD

2. Upgrade or restore onto larger hard drive (I have tried both a WDBlack 500gb and WDBlue 750gb) Using an OSX 10.6.3 retail disk.

 

[14049752]

Why not just install from the retail disk? This seems like it's getting overly complicated. Install, tell them there's a bug in their discs with larger drives, have them pay the $30 to upgrade to 10.6 to address the compatibility issues.

Simple.

 

[PCX]

Why not just install from the retail disk? This seems like it's getting overly complicated. Install, tell them there's a bug in their discs with larger drives, have them pay the $30 to upgrade to 10.6 to address the compatibility issues.

Simple.

Because they never purchased the software and wouldn't that be against Apple's EULA? Am I not legally bound to install the software that came installed on their computer unless they purchased the upgraded software?

 

[14049752]

You missed the part where I said "Have them pay the $30 to upgrade"

 

[PCX]

You missed the part where I said "Have them pay the $30 to upgrade"

It's only $30 to upgrade to OXS 10.6? Can you give me some more information on this? While I do repair Macs, most of what I do is hardware related.

 

[14049752]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A

 

[PCX]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A

I think I am still missing something. He has Tiger installed, not Leopard. I am not seeing an upgrade option for Tiger to Lion or to Leopard

 

[14049752]

I think I am still missing something. He has Tiger installed, not Leopard. I am not seeing an upgrade option for Tiger to Lion or to Leopard

Tiger to Snow Leopard works fine. Apple sells it as a Leopard upgrade, but they admitted that Tiger to Snow Leopard works, too. Unfortunately, the EULA does say you must have Leopard...so...if you want to stick that, you'd have to get them Leopard (which is over $100 or more for the upgrade).

 

[PCX]

Tiger to Snow Leopard works fine. Apple sells it as a Leopard upgrade, but they admitted that Tiger to Snow Leopard works, too. Unfortunately, the EULA does say you must have Leopard...so...if you want to stick that, you'd have to get them Leopard (which is over $100 or more for the upgrade).

So can I upgrade from Tiger to Lion so that I can stay within EULA?

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

So can I upgrade from Tiger to Lion so that I can stay within EULA?

You would have to go Tiger to Snow Leopard to Lion. but I would stay away from Lion as the machine might run like a dog. Minimum RAM for Lion is 2GB where Snow Leopard is only 1GB is runs really well on lower end Intel Macs.

You can just install a $30 10.6.3 install and be well within EULA, but they will have to come up with iLife software separately. If you really insist on them having 10.4.x on that machine, either they are going to have to come up with the installers for that machine or you can try calling Apple and they will send some replacements (for a fee).