10.3 Reinstall Error

invaderkitty

invaderkitty

Registered
Aloha,

This is my first post/attempt at reaching out for some kind help. Hope it's not too silly a question and is simple in solution.

I'm fairly new to the Mac world and have had my G5 for over a year. The time's come where I need to wipe my hd clean and do a fresh installation of OSX Panther 10.3. Well I read up on how to do it, and it seemed very easy: Insert Install Disc 1, double click on icon, follow on screen instructions and select (by choice) either a) Archive and Install or b) Erase and Install.

Well I did -just- that; up to the "follow on screen instructions part", then I got lost.

I get all the way up to the "Select Destination" area where you are then suppose to click/highlight the hd you want to make the installation on. Well the only hd/choice I have available has a big fat red error on/next to it that say's something of this nature,

"Can't install OSX because an earlier version has not been installed."

In, basics I was suppose to be able to click on the hd with no problem and then click the "options" button/tab below to further my procedure/installation. I can't do that. It's greyed out and is not an option.

~

I've gone into Disk Utility, erased the hd and have tried unmounting it and remounting it to see if it fixed my error. Nothing. Tried quiting installation and startup disk; nothing.

So my question is: How do I fix that error? (procede to installation.)

Please Help! And much thanks in advance!
I just want my OSX.

Much <3,
invaderkitty
 
if erase and install is what you would enjoy, booted from installer CD / DVD > go to
Installer > Disk Utility
in disk utility, choose the Partition. if you do partition your drive, after that you will lose all the data you have there, and thus will be able to do a clean install. but just need to have everything backed up elsewehere before selecting that option.
 
Aloha Giaguara,

Thank you, I tried what you told me. I partitioned my hd (1 partition), and I still have the red error appearing on my hd.

The total capacity of the hd is 74.5GB and I have 74.4GB Free. There are 2 files on my hd that I can't seem able to remove. That's the partition I would imagine?

The exact error message that I recieve is this:

"You cannot install Mac OS X on this volume. An earlier version of Mac OS X is not installed."

Thank you for any help,
invaderkitty
<3
 
Using Disk Utility try erasing the partition you want to install on, That should remove everything, though I am surprised partitioning did not. What are the two files/directories that are still on the disk ?
 
The error message implies that you got your G5 with 10.2.x and just got the 10.3 update disks for free later on. Sadly means you'll have to reinstall 10.2.x before applying the update.
 
I didn't think any G5s shipped with 10.2.* my early dual 1.8Ghz won't boot from a 10.2 CD though if I install a 10.2 image it works.
 
Yeah, I guess that particular G5 came either with 10.2.7 or 10.2.8 on the installation media. You'd have to use the media that came with the Mac, earlier 10.2 builds won't install cleanly.
 
fryke said:
The error message implies that you got your G5 with 10.2.x and just got the 10.3 update disks for free later on. Sadly means you'll have to reinstall 10.2.x before applying the update.
Click to expand...
Aloha fryke,

If that is the case: me having purchased a G5 with 10.2.x on it, I am going to SCREAM at Apple. :| (since they didn't TELL me that)

It's been so long since I installed OS X 10.3.3 on here, that I don't remember if the G5 came partly installed and I just had to finish (upgrade it) OR, if it was a completely blank computer when I go it and did an installation from scratch. But the way you speak, it was probably the premier. (Grrr)

I didn't get the 10.3 update disks later. They were given to me when and -with- the G5 the same day I purchased it and took it home.

So basically, I didn't get something I was suppose to, and or someone didn't tell me something in which I further needed to know when I purchased my Mac. *peeved*

I'm going to call Apple, and worse case - take it to the Apple store.

Thank you very much for your thoughts,
invaderkitty
<3
 
Tommo said:
Using Disk Utility try erasing the partition you want to install on, That should remove everything, though I am surprised partitioning did not. What are the two files/directories that are still on the disk ?
Click to expand...
Aloha Tommo,

Yah, surprises me too. :> I have no clue what the 2 files/directories are that are remained on the computer. I'm not quite sure how to tell either. I just know that they don't go away when I erase and partition the drive.

invaderkitty,
<3
 
The boxes that the machines come in are usually marked with the system included.
 
bobw said:
The boxes that the machines come in are usually marked with the system included.
Click to expand...

I = silly silly girl (as the story of my life goes) ::blusch::

Well the -box- didn't have any providing information of what OS is included.

I called Apple Care. Boy on phone helped me shutdown the computer and eject Disc 1 out of the disc drive. Disk 1 is the *only* disc (and place) that read:

Mac OS X Panther
Version 10.3
Install Disc 1
Upgrade Disc

I about wanted to stub my toe, when I read that. Why, Why didn't I see that before? I missed it completely the first time. And I hadn't thought to eject the the disc out of the drive and check. Though, I -did- try quitting the install a good few times and it would just reboot my computer which, I didn't quite understand why.

Well the boy asked me to search for a grey disc. I grabbed and inserted the disc, into the drive and shut down the computer. Restarted and held down the "c" button. I followed the on screen instructions to the point of "Select Destination" again. This time, the hd did -not- have a red error mark on it!

It allowed me to select the hd, click on "options" and select the option I wanted (erase and install) and is now installing 10.2.

After it installs 10.2 I will take the 'original' disc I was/had been inserting, Disc 1 Upgrade Disc, and follow the same on screen instructions to install 10.3.

Voila. Silly girl, happy. =)

~

Thank you *ALL* very much for d help! Thank you fryke for hitting the nail right on the head about having 10.2.x installation media.

Aloha's,
invaderkitty
<3
 
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