I haven't had a Mac since my first computer in college 20 years ago, but have been considering crossing over to the Mac side for some time. I recently purchased an iMac from a friend with the following specs: iMac5,1/Intel Core 2 Duo/2.16ghz/2GB RAM/250gbHD/20"iSight He used WipeDrive to wipe the hard drive before turning the computer over to me....then discovered he couldn't find the reinstallation discs. I didn't panic - I just gave the mac guy on e-bay my specs and he helped me identify the appropriate ones for my iMac. From everything I've been able to tell through my research, he indeed sold me the correct ones. The ones he sold me have the following information on them: Mac OS Version 10.4.7/AHT version 3A112/Disc version 1.0/2Z691-5883-A There are 2 discs - the first is labeled iMac MAC OS X Install Disc 1 and the second is iMac MAC OS X Install Disc 2. My problem is this. When I boot from the Install Disc 1, I get the screen where you choose a language, then a "preparing installation" message, followed by an "Alert This software cannot be installed on this computer" message. I have checked and double checked and triple checked the specs against the OS X version I am trying to install and it seems to match up from everything I've been able to read. I'm pretty PC savvy, but don't even pretend to know my way around a Mac. Here is what I have tried so far: I used the Utilities function on the Install Disc to erase, reformat (GUID), and repartition (Mac OS Extended Journaled) the Hard Drive. I've held down the D key and used the Apple Hardware Test and everything checks out OK. I've tried every test/check available in utilities and they all check out OK. I even, on a whim, tried the Restore function and used the Install Disc 1 as the Source disk and the Hard Drive as the Destination disk. After the Install Disc 1 copied to the Hard Drive and I booted from the Hard Drive, I still got the same error message - "Alert This software cannot be installed on this computer." After trying all of the above, I am still getting the same message "Alert This software cannot be installed on this computer." During all of the hours that I've spent reading forums and possible solutions to this problem, I remember reading somewhere that having non-OEM RAM might cause a problem with using the restore discs. Since the sticker on the bottom of the iMac says it has 1GB RAM and the System Information says it has 2GB RAM, I asked my friend if he had upgraded the RAM and he said he thought the guy he bought it from (the original owner) had done so. I checked the RAM and found (2) 1GB sticks of Patriot SoDimm installed. Can anyone tell me what I might be able to do to solve this problem and get my OS installed? I've purchased a new set of Restore CD's, I've spent many, many hours trying to problem solve, I've pulled most of my hair out, and I'm about to question my sanity for wanting to get another Mac. What might be the problem? If it is the non-OEM RAM preventing me from using the restore CD's, I am more than willing to buy some OEM RAM - but I don't want to just buy the OEM RAM and waste my hard-earned money if it isn't going to help. Thanks a million to anyone who can offer some guidance.

Wipedrive might've done something strange to your HDD. Usually you can wipe a Mac clean with the Install DVD using Disc Utility. Boot up to the Install DVD and open Disc Utility, have it check your disc if there are errors, ERASE it, put HFS+ and try reinstalling. Maybe you should try another install DVD, on some iMacs the DVD wount mount or even be read, the Mac spits it out. 3rd Party RAM is all I used in the New World ROM Macs (post-1998) I've owned and I've never run ino a major issue reinstalling an OS. I hope my rambling have helped. :)

Thank you to those who took the time to read my lengthy posting and have offered advice/suggestions. I was able to find out that I DO have the right restore disks (by calling Apple). Now I'm trying to look at other options. WipeDrive for Mac was used to wipe the drive. Since the drive was wiped - shouldn't it be showing up as 250GB or at least close? It is showing up as 232GB, but it is a 250GB drive. Maybe it is supposed to be this way - but does anyone know? If not, is it possible that it needs to be wiped again? He said that at one point he had tried to set up a Windows partition on the hard drive, but he gave up and just kept using the Mac OS. Is it possible that partition or some sort of volume is still there and wasn't wiped by WipeDrive for Mac, but is not showing up when the Mac OS X 10.4.7 restore CD's are put in? I did try checking for errors and Disk Utilities can't find any. With this new information - any additional advice or suggestions? Thanks so much.

I have exactly the same problem! i'm searching everywhere to find a solution, if you manage to find one could you pleas epost it here?