Mac OS X forum: Snow Leopard won't install

No I did not format my hard drive since SL is really an update to Leopard and is supposed to do number of "good things" to it!
My first impression was that the install disk was corrupt but since it installed on my iMac that was not the problem. However I also took it along with my Macbook to the computer store and discovered two things 1. the disk is OK 2. My disk drive is faulty only after 18 months and the years guarantee has run out! I then bought an external disk drive for 105 as opposed to repairing the built in drive for 350! I'm pretty pissed off at Apple that a disk drive does not have a longer life than just over a year!

I'm still no further with the installation and am going back to the Apple shop for help! I'l keept you posted.

the HD is fine.

An external Optical drive will do the job nicely considering the price of a replacement optical drive.

They are not cheap, even in the US. $147.99 or 100.54

The 350 price for changing out that drive is just a rip off. A fairly competent user could change it themselves in abut 40 minutes or less.

P

You can install a drive in MacBook. Here's a site with a video tutorial:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/superdrive/MacBook_13 If this isn't your model, there are other videos that you can search. As you can see a new drive is US$147.00, but I don't think this vendor will ship overseas -- all the custom fees and taxes. Better to buy locally, but you have the option.

Any luck installing the new cat?

Your problems are unusual and like a hard drive that fails after only a few months use, statistically rare -- except when it happens to you. It's like winning the lottery, but without the prize. You can try the Apple web site for trouble shooting help and here're links to US sites that you can search for help:

http://reviews.cnet.com/macfixit/?tag=bc
http://macintouch.com/ (see link on left for Reader Reports, scroll down for Snow Leopard link)

You could also Google your problem. There must be similar sites in the EU.

Searching for your specific problem can be frustrating and time consuming and may not yield the information you need.

With your continued problem installing SL: there could be a hardware issue with your computer. I had an iBook that went back to Apple four times for various repairs. I'm glad I bought Apple Care -- I paid nothing, not even shipping, and the turn around was only a week for each incident; but that was to a repair facility in Tennessee. It was still a hassle. From your experience it sounds like there's nothing like it in the EU.

Good luck.