Reinstalling OS X-cannot select a destination

[khonda]

I have iMac-snow. Since I got a "broken file" on the screen, I decided to reinstall 10.1 by using the original installation disk. When I try to select my HD as the distination, an error message "this disk is dimmed because this Mac OS X CD installs different languages" shows up and I cannot choose the destination HD.

What does that mean? Am I using a wrong disk? What can I do to reinstall OS X? Please help!

 

[IJ Reilly]

It's likely that your problem wasn't with OSX, but with the hard drive. Try to run disk utility from the installer CD and check the drive.

 

[khonda]

Thanks for the quick response. Yes. I have run the test and my HD was fine. My iMac has OS 9 and 10. I can start up from OS 9 with no problem. When I try to start up from OS X, the "broken file" shows up. When I try to install OS X while OS 9 is running, I can't choose the destination as I wrote......

 

[IJ Reilly]

Can you start up from the OSX installer CD?

 

[khonda]

When I start up with OS X disk by pressing "c", it takes me to the installer automaticlly. The same thing happens. I reach to the step that I must choose a destination, but I cant'........

 

[IJ Reilly]

Okay, I just wanted to know for certain if you could even start up on the installer CD. If Disk Utility finds no problems at this point, then my only thought is that the drive is too full to do an install. Is that possible? How much free space do you have on this drive?

 

[Sedulous]

If you are trying to install from a DVD (old version) over drive that has been updated (newer version), you cannot install. Maybe you have to do an archive install or a clean install. Is that the problem?

 

[khonda]

This computer's available space is 15.55GB. I feel it is enough....

 

[asencif]

You probably have a later version of OS X on the drive then the one you are trying to install. Try erasing the partition OS X resides on if it's on a seperated partiation then OS 9, if not then try just erasing the whole drive and formating it to OS Extended (Journaled).

 

[khonda]

Dear IJ Reilly, Sedulous and Asencif,

Thank you very much for your support!

I initialized the HD and restored OS X successfully. My son's elementary school wanted me to donate this old computer, but I messed up while cleaning up the HD.

Thanks again. I really appreciate it!