Cuss_Cuss_Cuss! (Novice, with installation nightmare.)

gbsothere · #1 December 28th, 2006, 09:09 PM

First, guys, I'm not Mac-smart like you are. I'm just a girl, trying to use a Mac, and that's about it. Here's today's nightmare: I have an iBook G4. It's used so it was all full of gunk. I thought I'd just clean-install the system software, no worries about saving stuff, it was all crap. So I started up from the DVD (10.4 Disk one of two) and clicked on options and asked for a clean-install. Away we went, and it was going great until I suddenly got "There was an error installing software. Please restart." Restart from what? The hard drive isn't even showing up in Startup Disk. All I can do is to keep restarting from the DVD and trying to get past the error and restart and, guys, it "ain't gonna happen". I've been at it all day. The weird thing is that when it's time to select a destination disk, it shows my hard drive as if it's still there although, as I mentioned, it's not appearing in Startup Disk. It begins installing, it looks as if everything's going great and then bam! - another error message. I have another Mac sitting here, a G3 (10.3.9). If I could make it talk to the iBook, then maybe I could do something but I don't even know how to do that, especially since the iBook will only start up on the installation DVD. I'm cooked. *sigh* (By the 'bye, the iMac G3 only has a CD drive, not a DVD.)

symphonix · #2 December 28th, 2006, 09:44 PM

Firstly, check to see if the DVD appears scratched or damaged. If it is, your first option is to get someone to run it through a CD/DVD scratch repair system; many movie hire places and computer stores offer this service. If its still no good, Apple will probably be willing to exchange the damaged disc for you.

The next thing is to try booting from the Installer CD, and when the installer loads up you will notice a menu bar at the top of screen. In here, you will find utilities, including the Disc Utility. Use it to format your hard drive (Mac OS format) and then run a verify/repair on it. That may fix the problem for you.

gbsothere · #3 December 28th, 2006, 10:16 PM

Hi and thanks for posting to me. Just a question, though, when you say use Disk Repair to format my hard drive, how is that done? I see First Aid, Erase, RAID, and Restore in the menu, but nothing about formatting. (See how correctly I identified myself as a novice?) So sorry to have to ask.

simbalala · #4 December 28th, 2006, 10:29 PM

It’s Erase.

Pro Grape · #5 December 28th, 2006, 11:42 PM

When you click on Erase, you'll probably wonder wonder which format to use. I think the name is Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), if it's not it's something close, and you'll know the one.

SatCure · #6 December 29th, 2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbsothere

First, guys, I'm not Mac-smart like you are. I'm just a girl, trying to use a Mac, and that's about it.

At least you can type in English. That has to be 90% of the battle!

(Sorry, not much help but credit where credit's due. With well over half of the population unable to communicate effectively, it's refreshing to find someone who can).

gbsothere · #7 December 29th, 2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SatCure

At least you can type in English. That has to be 90% of the battle!

(Sorry, not much help but credit where credit's due. With well over half of the population unable to communicate effectively, it's refreshing to find someone who can).

Well, I've spent a sad majority of my life mucking about in Douglas Adams paperbacks and online crossword puzzles. It helps me to effectively string words together, but I'm afraid I don't have an original thought in my head. Thanks for the kudos, though. I'll remember them when I mutter incoherent, grammatically incorrect insults at the television during the NFL playoffs.

gbsothere · #8 December 29th, 2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro Grape

When you click on Erase, you'll probably wonder wonder which format to use. I think the name is Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), if it's not it's something close, and you'll know the one.

Thanks, guys, for educating me. I'll give it a try and see how it goes.