Right, I'm stumped......

whiterebel

I usually know my way around my machines, but now I'm at a loss.
MBP 13" Unibody just over a year old. I wanted to put 2 partitions on it, one for Lion, and one for Snow Leopard. I need to have SL available the odd time for old files etc.
Wouldn't boot from SL disk - Kernel Panic
Won't boot from Leopard Disk - Freeze at grey screen, or when clicking on the startup manager.
A few weeks ago I upgraded from 4GB to 8GB cruciual RAM. Took out, swapped around, tried one stick at a time -no joy. Have run Tech Tools Pro on the RAM and it is ok. No other problems with the running og the machine, other than this.
Ran FSCK, Disk Utility, repaired permissions, reset PRAM. I have an external DVD burner, same thing when I try to use the DVD in this
The original RAM is gone, so I can't try that. I think there has been problems burning disks on this machine in the past, so I suppose it could be the Superdrive?
Anyone any ideas?

Sad Professor

When did this start happening - after you created the two partitions? Did you ever successfully boot from either of them?

whiterebel

Sad Professor wrote: »

When did this start happening - after you created the two partitions? Did you ever successfully boot from either of them?

Hi SP, No I didn't even get the chance to partition. That what I was trying to boot off the various disks to do. So I know its happening since yesterday, but for all I know it could be doing this for ages.

Sad Professor

Okay sorry I misunderstood. So your hard disk is booting fine but you can't boot from any install disc, is that right? Try disconnecting everything but the keyboard and mouse and trying again. You said you have an external optical drive - if this was connected when attempting to boot from the install disc it's possible that's the problem. But disconnect all other peripherals as well, including USB hubs.

whiterebel

Sad Professor wrote: »

Okay sorry I misunderstood. So your hard disk is booting fine but you can't boot from any install disc, is that right? Try disconnecting everything but the keyboard and mouse and trying again. You said you have an external optical drive - if this was connected when attempting to boot from the install disc it's possible that's the problem. But disconnect all other peripherals as well, including USB hubs.

Not a thing connected, apart from power. Really strange the way i freezes the minute you click on the install disk in Startup manager, or kernel panic on the SL disk....

Munster Blogger

whiterebel wrote: »

Not a thing connected, apart from power. Really strange the way i freezes the minute you click on the install disk in Startup manager, or kernel panic on the SL disk....

Very strange. Do you have another mac or a friends mac to test the disc on. I have wouldn't expect a Broken disk to cause this error but could be a possibility.

whiterebel

Munster Blogger wrote: »

Very strange. Do you have another mac or a friends mac to test the disc on. I have wouldn't expect a Broken disk to cause this error but could be a possibility.

Its doing it with both Snow Leopard Disk and the Leopard disk....I've a feeling its the superdrive.

Munster Blogger

I think it could be an issue with the RAM. If it's the original disk that came with the machine the are usually very specific to the machine so after market RAM may not sit to well with it.

But if its a store bought CD I would have thought it should work. They are a more general CD and should work on all Mac configurations , so that might mean the Superdrive as you said.

J-blk

Do you already have Lion downloaded? Would you be able to create a USB installer for Lion and try to boot off that? I downloaded Lion from the App Store and created a USB installer from a cheapo 8GB stick I had lying around so I could do a "clean" installation. This would at least rule out the SuperDrive...

http://theappledaily.com/2011/07/20/how-to-install-os-x-lion-from-usb-pen-drive-clean-install/

whiterebel

J-blk wrote: »

Do you already have Lion downloaded? Would you be able to create a USB installer for Lion and try to boot off that? I downloaded Lion from the App Store and created a USB installer from a cheapo 8GB stick I had lying around so I could do a "clean" installation. This would at least rule out the SuperDrive...

http://theappledaily.com/2011/07/20/how-to-install-os-x-lion-from-usb-pen-drive-clean-install/

Good thinking Batman. I'll try that tomorrow.

muggyog

What's the model ID of this Mac. Does this model boot from Leopard disk? Do you see the Snow Leopard/Leopard DVD if you startup with alt key pressed?

whiterebel

muggyog wrote: »

What's the model ID of this Mac. Does this model boot from Leopard disk? Do you see the Snow Leopard/Leopard DVD if you startup with alt key pressed?

Trying to start from reatil disks of SL and Leopard. Freezed when clicking on the icon in startup manager, or going into KP.

muggyog

By using the 'alt' option you can check if your Mac can boot from either disk ( if they appear, they are valid boot options ). Some models do not boot from retail DVDs ( in between versions).

whiterebel

muggyog wrote: »

By using the 'alt' option you can check if your Mac can boot from either disk ( if they appear, they are valid boot options ). Some models do not boot from retail DVDs ( in between versions).

I presume you mean trying to startup from a version thats too new? i.e. trying to startup a Lion machine from a SL disk? Other than that they should boot up from retail disks as far as I'm concerned,

muggyog

I'm trying to assist you here, work with me.

You can't boot any Mac from an OS version earlier than that with which it shipped and I dont know the model ID of your Mac ( that's why I mentioned the Leopard thing ).

First you need to confirm what OS version came with your Mac ( do you have the original install disks ?). Next you need to see what OS version will boot your Mac. The simplest way to do this is to start your Mac with the 'alt' key pressed. This will bring up a boot volume menu. If the DVD has a bootable volume it will appear in this list.

If you select it and the Mac crashes you have a different problem.


This may explain better.

List of Models and shipped OS.

whiterebel

muggyog wrote: »

I'm trying to assist you here, work with me.

You can't boot any Mac from an OS version earlier than that with which it shipped and I dont know the model ID of your Mac ( that's why I mentioned the Leopard thing ).

First you need to confirm what OS version came with your Mac ( do you have the original install disks ?). Next you need to see what OS version will boot your Mac. The simplest way to do this is to start your Mac with the 'alt' key pressed. This will bring up a boot volume menu. If the DVD has a bootable volume it will appear in this list.

If you select it and the Mac crashes you have a different problem.


This may explain better.

List of Models and shipped OS.

Well you were on the right track. Found th original install disks and its working. I had tried to use a USB drive to install SL and Kernel Panic again. Thats what was throwing me.....back in the old days you'd get a warning that the s/w was incompatible or some such. This, though, went straight into KP as soon as you selected the SL or Leopard disks. I could have sworn I bought Snow Leopard after the MBP, but obviously not.....:o Installing away now anyway. Thanks all for help and advice.

muggyog

Good to see I nearly got it right

As a matter of interest what version of OS is on the original install disk( 10.x.x )?

whiterebel

muggyog wrote: »

Good to see I nearly got it right

As a matter of interest what version of OS is on the original install disk( 10.x.x )?

10.6.3. I'm just glad its not the RAM.....:D