Easer: are you sure your Macbook Pro runs only Leopard? I know Apple's current specs page for the most recent Macbook Pro, the Late 2007 model, shows it comes with Leopard (as do all new Macs now), but the Late 2007 model was released prior to the release of Leopard, and so I suspect that specs page originally listed Tiger as the version of OS X that it came with. Have you tried installing the generic OS 10.4 onto your Macbook Pro (in other words, not using an installer disc that came with a different Mac model than yours), and then updating it to 10.4.11?

Yes, I tried all of these things. It claims it cannot be used on this machine. But thanks.

In fact, specifically, it says "OS X 10.4 cannot be used on this machine." I bought the laptop in mid-January. Perhaps they've done something since 2007.

Interesting. One of my info references is MacTracker, the utility that lists specs on all Macs Apple has released. It shows the most recent Macbook Pro, is still the Late 2007 model, and that's the name Apple shows in their specs database as being the latest model too. So maybe Apple actually released an "Early 2008" sub-revision, which they don't consider different enough from the Late 2007 models, to list them as a new model--maybe all other specs between these two models are the same. But I think most people would agree that a model that doesn't run OS 10.4.x, would qualify as a new model. Guess Apple thinks different.

I even tried starting from an external drive. I have 10.4.11 installed on a LaCie drive. I used to be able to start up just fine with that volume when I used my PowerBook G4. But with this MacBook Pro, that drive is not even recognized by Startup Disk. I suppose I could call Apple tech and see what they say. Since I aleady own Leopard, it's not like they'd have to feel pressured to make a sale.

The min. Tiger version you can install is 10.4.3.
You need a Install DVD that came with an Intel Mac! Then you're sure that the Install DVD will be Intel supported.
Don't use the Installer on the DVD!
Try to use Leopard for making a 'Tiger partition'.
Reboot your Mac while holding the C key (force your Mac to boot from DVD).
Or try to reboot while holding the Alt key, then insert the Tiger DVD & press the Reload button when you're sure the DVD is at least 30 sec. in the drive!
Once you have succesfull booted from the Tiger DVD be sure to open DiskUtility and reformat the Tiger partition you have made before you go further... Use the Intel compatible format method!!!! Not the one for PPC Macs!!!

Once you've installed Tiger and did all the Updates (10.4.11, etc.) you can remove, if you want so, the Leopard partition by booting from you're Leopard Install DVD. Run the Leopard DiskUtilty program from the Install DVD & safely remove the Leopard partition. Don't forget to give back the free space you've created by removing the Leopard partition ;)!!! Reboot your Mac again & enjoy Tiger...

This worked for me. On a MacBook & a Intel iMac ( both today 2 years old ).

With regards,
Leppe

Thanks. The problem is, I have only the original Tiger install disk; I don't have 10.4.3 on a disk. I might be able to try something like Carbon Copy Cloner to install a 10.4.3 (or higher) system on the partitioned drive. I won't be able to play with all of that for awhile though.

You might want to try this:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

Thanks but it did not help. still same problems and the hardware scan was ok.