< Wikiversity computer skills

Bad Mac OS software install disk

How could a computer boot from a hard drive but fail to boot from a startup disk in its optical drive? --JWSchmidt 22:52, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

The startup disk could be corrupt; The optical drive could have some problem; The boot sector on the optical media could be not recognized by the BIOS (this is common for non-Windows media, where the BIOS or Optical drive only have enough support for Windows but not the generic bootable standard). Hope that helps. Historybuff 23:21, 8 June 2007 (UTC)
Additionally, some BIOS will try the hard drives before it tries optical drivers (primarily older computers). In that case you need to configure your bios and remove the hard drive from the boot list or, if the option is available, reorder the boot order so that the optical drives are loaded before the hard drives. AmiDaniel (talk) 23:25, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

In this case I'm dealing with a Macintosh iBook G4 computer that shows its software install optical disk in the startup disk preferences pane (and it can be selected), but the computer will not start from the software install disk. The optical drive plays optical discs and burns CDs just fine. Normally a Mac will show icons for all bootable drives if you hold down the option key at startup, but this Mac will not show its own software install disk after startup with the option key held down. I am thinking that the iBook's software install disk is bad, because I have a G4 eMac that can see an intel iMac's software install disk at startup but not the iBook's software install disk. More tests pending! --JWSchmidt 01:06, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

I ran disk utility on the software install disk that came with the iBook and it gives an error. The iBook can see the software install disk for the eMac after starting with the option key held down. It looks to me like the software install disk that came with the iBook is no good. I'll call Apple for the third time and see if I can get someone to send me a new disk. --JWSchmidt 03:37, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

If calling doesn't help, try visiting an Apple Store (if there is one close to you). Try getting them to boot your original disks in an iBook, and if they can't, insist they replace them. It's harder to rebuff someone in the store then on the phone. (and if they don't have them in stock, request they ship it to you rather then have you come back in to pick it up). Historybuff 15:30, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

  • Apple is sending me new software install disks. --JWSchmidt 16:08, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
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