Q: 2006 White Intel iMac not accepting Tiger Disc
I ordered Mac OS X Tiger and recieved it today. I deleted everything off the hard drive itself so I could go back to Mac OS X Tiger (10.4), but the iMac won't start from it. It accepts the disc, but doesn't read it. The iMac will run Leopard & Snow Leopard discs. All 3 OS X discs are retail discs. Tiger is the original OS X of the iMac as that's the operating system it came with. Any ideas on why it will accept the disc, but not read it?
Posted on Apr 9, 2014 3:20 PM
According to sources, that is the case. A Server edition was made (10.4.7?) which was universal; otherwise all client versions in retail form were for PPC, and all Intel-based Mac shipped with a special version, not for PPC.
Tiger OS X 10.4.x PPC and Intel info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_Tiger
However if you get the MacTracker.ca download database, an application for offline use, you can compare the System versions shipped with hardware, vs. the list of Systems under their separate banner...
Did you as the Apple source where you got the White Label discs, if they had a replacement by serial number for the Tiger version shipped with an Intel-based iMac? (That may really throw some for a loop.)
In order to match up those items, and if looking to get an original gray-label disc, you'd need to use the serial number and model identification number (re: iMac5.2, etc.) This would be helpful if you were looking on ebay, amazon, or other re-sellers of old-stock new, or discs that were separated from their original hardware kit.
For some idea, and for your own information, you can check the model and serial numbers against an online database; there are a few out there, including everymac.com's and this one at powerbookmedic...
'Indentify by Serial and Model number'
https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php
Good luck & happy computing!
Posted on Apr 9, 2014 4:26 PM
