Hello, I bought a macbook with its complete restore DVDs (leopard 10.5.4) but i lost it in transit. I still have the restore DVDs so I bought a fairly used macbook (without restore DVDs) and erased the OS, hoping to do a fresh install with my restore DVDs from the lost macbook. But every time i insert the Disc 1 a message from the installer says it cannot be installed. What do i do to install it? Thanks

Originally Posted by bigq

Hello, I bought a macbook with its complete restore DVDs (leopard 10.5.4) but i lost it in transit. I still have the restore DVDs so I bought a fairly used macbook (without restore DVDs) and erased the OS, hoping to do a fresh install with my restore DVDs from the lost macbook. But every time i insert the Disc 1 a message from the installer says it cannot be installed. What do i do to install it? Thanks

If you have gray CD it is suitable only for that line of computers with which it is sold.

more accurately it is only suitable for that revision of that model.

So a Restore disk for a 2006 revision macbook will not work with a 2008 revision macbook for example.

You need to purchase a full OS DVD - Snow Leopard is out today go get yourself a copy. The $29 upgrade version can be used even if you don't have an existing OS installed. I'm not sure if your particular circumstances would meet Apple's EULA on the upgrade version though. If you are unsure you can always buy the full install version which is designed for those upgrading from Tiger.

but before you buy snow leopard, make sure that the old machine fits the specs