Penelope589

Q: Upgrading PowerPC G5 10.4.11 to Leopard

I've been reading about upgrading my older Power PC G5 in community discussions.  I recently went to an Apple Store where they told me to get the Snow Leopard online and install it in order to eventually get the Lion upgrade.  What I learned when I tried to install it, is that I cannot do it on my computer because I need an Intel processor.  The discussion communities said I should first get the Leopard disk from customer service at Apple.  I called them and was told they no longer sell it and they do not support it.  That's not what the discussions were saying.  Does anyone know if I am out of luck as far as doing any upgrade to at least Leopard? Thanks.

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Mar 10, 2013 7:59 PM

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Q: Upgrading PowerPC G5 10.4.11 to Leopard

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Mar 10, 2013 8:00 PM in response to Penelope589
    Level 10 (313,422 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 10, 2013 8:00 PM in response to Penelope589

    Buy it from a source such as Amazon or eBay.

     

    (78507)

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 10, 2013 10:32 PM in response to Penelope589
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Mar 10, 2013 10:32 PM in response to Penelope589

    At one time, Apple still had a supply of retail install discs for OS X 10.5 Leopard.

    That, apparently, is no longer the case.

    You need the Black background official retail install DVD discs.

    You'll have better luck with finding this disc on Amazon.

    You'll end up paying more than Apple's original $129 U.S. for these discs, maybe.

    Tthe OS is over 5 years old, now.

    Here's what I have found on Amazon.com.

     

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=OS+ X+10.5+Leopard

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man Mar 11, 2013 1:44 PM in response to Penelope589
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    Mar 11, 2013 1:44 PM in response to Penelope589

    Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard installation system requirements

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24950

     

    Look on eBay or Google the installer part numbers to possibly find at an on-line store. Here's what to look for:

     

    MB427Z/A  Leopard 10.5.1 install DVD

    MB576Z/A  Leopard 10.5.4 install DVD

    MB021Z/A  Leopard 10.5.6 install DVD (single user)

    MB022Z/A  Leopard 10.5.6 install DVD (5-user family pack)

     

    Installing Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1544

     

    Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Installation and Setup Guide

    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/leopard_install-setup.pdf

     

    After you install the base 10.5, download & install the 10.5.8 combo update at http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_8_Combo_Update

     

    The DVD should look like this

    leopard.jpg

     

    Caution - Leopard does not support classic mode. So, if you currently open OS 9 apps in classic mode, you won't be able to do this if you upgrade to Leopard.

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by String Theory,

    String Theory String Theory Mar 13, 2013 7:26 AM in response to Penelope589
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 13, 2013 7:26 AM in response to Penelope589

    Apple DOES have OSX 10.5 Leopard AND OSX 10.4 Tiger "Replacement" media available! I just ordered 2 copies yesterday. (March 12, 2013) You will need to call the number below and work your way through the automated phone service until you get a real-live customer service representative. Explain that you have a PowerPC G5 and need the 10.5 Leopard DVD media replacement. You will be asked for your computer's serial number. You can also opt for the 4-CD install set, but it's much higher. The price for the DVD with shipping is right at $17.

     

    Apple support phone # 1800-767-2775

     

    Cheers;

    Kevin N.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 13, 2013 11:15 AM in response to String Theory
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Mar 13, 2013 11:15 AM in response to String Theory

    Are you sure these are not just replacement install discs that would've come with your Mac, initially?

    Apple sells these at $17. The replacement install disc are discs that have the Mac original OS X version that shipped with that model Mac. These discs are Mac Model specific discs and do not work with just any Mac.

    Almost all of the PowerMac G5 line shipped with some version of OS X 10.4 Tiger.

    OS X 10.5 Leopard came later with the release of the new Intel Macs.

    Replacement Mac machine/computer specific discs do not work across other Mac models.

  • by String Theory,

    String Theory String Theory Mar 13, 2013 12:25 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 13, 2013 12:25 PM in response to MichelPM

    No, these are "Replacement Media" DVD's. They are white in color and are still available through Apple. They aren't machine specific, as I have used mine on both the G4 eMacs as well as the G5's. Although the PowerMac G5's shipped with Tiger, most are more than capable of running Leopard. I was going to upload a photo of the exact disk but can't seem to get it to go.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 13, 2013 1:18 PM in response to String Theory
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Mar 13, 2013 1:18 PM in response to String Theory

    My replacement iMac systems disc are white, too!

    They say on the discs, iMac system restore and AHT

    I have an Intel iMac.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 13, 2013 1:19 PM in response to String Theory
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Mar 13, 2013 1:19 PM in response to String Theory

    All G5's can install up to OS X 10.5.8 Leopard.

    I already know this.

     

    If they asked for your Mac's serial number, these are Mac model specific system restore discs.

    I Think it's just coincidence that they also work with your G5. Maybe these discs you purchased work with all PowerMacs?

    I Would like to see if the purchased disc you got would work to install Tiger or Leopard on an Intel Mac.

  • by String Theory,

    String Theory String Theory Mar 13, 2013 2:46 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 13, 2013 2:46 PM in response to MichelPM

    I still cannot seem to upload any pictures. Here is a photo of the "replacement media" on photobucket.

     

    http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx80/String_Theory_2010/LeopardDisk.jpg

     

    That is the "Leopard" version. This disk installed fine on both the G4 eMac (1GHz, 1GB RAM) as well as all of my G5's.

  • by String Theory,

    String Theory String Theory Mar 13, 2013 3:14 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 13, 2013 3:14 PM in response to MichelPM

    It might just be a coincidence that they work on both. I do, however, have to use "xSlimmer" to remove all of the Intel coding from the Leopard install when using these disks, so maybe they would work for Intel models as well? I would absolutely love to find the original Grey DVD's for my G5's without paying a fortune for them.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 13, 2013 5:32 PM in response to String Theory
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Mar 13, 2013 5:32 PM in response to String Theory

    Yeah!

    Cool!

    These look like replacement OS X retail DVD rreplacements as you said!

    Niiiiiice!!!!!

     

  • by String Theory,

    String Theory String Theory Mar 13, 2013 5:48 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 13, 2013 5:48 PM in response to MichelPM

    Well, spread the word! I also ordered a couple of 10.4 Tiger disks as well. $17 dollars (USD) for the DVD is a pretty sweet deal. I was told that I could also get the CD-ROM set for systems without a DVD drive, but that they were $16 per CD. I should have asked about earlier versions availability...

  • by romko23,

    romko23 romko23 Mar 14, 2013 12:04 AM in response to String Theory
    Level 2 (395 points)
    Mar 14, 2013 12:04 AM in response to String Theory

    Which G5 do you have?

  • by String Theory,

    String Theory String Theory Mar 14, 2013 7:09 AM in response to romko23
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 14, 2013 7:09 AM in response to romko23

    I have three PowerMac G5's, 2 are the early 2005 Dual 2.0GHz PowerMac 7,3 and one is the 1.8GHz Dual. I have a couple of older G4 eMacs as well. (I also have a six core AMD gaming system I built, but that's a different story)

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