I've deleted something - HELP! « macmend.com

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I've deleted something - HELP!

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stitchy

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I've just joined here as you guys look like you may be able to help an inexperienced Mac user. I have an intel Mac that was happily running 10.4, and as I was given a set of 10.5 disks, I just had to mess about with it didn't I? I was getting messages telling me it wasn't possible to install, but I messed even further, using the disk utility to erase (yes I know how mad it sounds now) and then repair/verify. I'm not concerned about any lost personal data as there wasn't anything important on there, but I just can't re-install an OS at all. I don't have the original disks, but have os9, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 disks - none of these will install - I get the folder icon with the question mark in the middle of the screen.
I tried the startup manager and it says there is no hard drive, but it's there when I use disk utility - what the heck have I done?
Posted 1 month ago #
macmend

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Apple Guru
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In disk utility what is the format the disk that you can see there but not when you try to install?

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Posted 1 month ago #
stitchy

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OK, in disk utility, if I highlight the mac HD (I only have one HD), then where it says volume format, I've been choosing mac os extended (journaled), and then clicking on erase. I've tried writing zeroes too in security options. When I click erase, it says preparing to erase, then mounting disk. This takes about 3 seconds, but it never says "formatting"
I was wondering whether all this was because none of the mac os disks are the ones that came with the machine?
Maybe I need to go out and buy a retail version. I see that 10.5 is around £100, but 10.6 is only about £30 - is that just an upgrade, and will my mac take 10.6?

Thanks for your reply

Posted 1 month ago #
macmend

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Apple Guru
Reputation:149

if you write zeros this should take quite a while before remounting, please use the startup disks and run disk first aid to see what this says, it would be useful to have techtool 5

"TechTool Pro 5 (Mac DVD)" (MicroMat)

OR Diskwarrior

"Diskwarrior 4.1 (Intel Mac/Leopard)" (Alsoft)

as both of these will help determine damage to your disk and repair if possible way beyond what the built in apple disk utility/disk first aid

Posted 1 month ago #