Originally posted by jetting
i purchased the mini through apple.
its version 10.4.2
i was trying to install a clean install after i repartitioned it
its a DVD
You should have a disk that says restore or something like that on it and the version of OS X that is included. If not, then you don't have the right disk.
You may try booting from the DVD, restart and hold down D till the Apple logo pops up, give it a few minutes to boot off the DVD, partition your drive and see if it lets you install.
But yeah, double check the disk, because all the system restore disks I've EVER had for a Mac include the computer name, system restore and then the OS version.
The restore disk locks you in and is not a full retail copy of Tiger. It just restores your system to the factory default configuration, people usually do this when they get ready to sell their machine and their is already a copy of OS X installed, since you've partitioned and there's no copy of OS X available, this could be why it's telling you you can't use the disk. The upgrade copies of the OS Apple ships to customers if they buy a new computer a short time before a new OS release operate this way...
Let me know what happens when you try booting from the DVD