peerleader

Q: Using Apple USB SuperDrive to Boot an iBook

I own a 2002 iBook and want to upgrade from DVD.   My iBook does not have a DVD drive - just a built-in CD drive.

 

Does the Apple USB SuperDrive allow me to install from a DVD boot disk?

 

Is the Apple USB SuperDrive FireWire or USB?  If it's USB, then what's a compatible FireWire external drive to get, so I can perform a successful upgrade.  I know I cannot use USB to bootup my iBook.

 

 

 

  Apple® USB SuperDrive

iBook, Mac OS X (10.3.x), 800MHz PowerPC G3, 640MB SDRAM

Posted on Sep 24, 2015 3:32 PM

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Q: Using Apple USB SuperDrive to Boot an iBook

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  • by a brody,Solvedanswer

    a brody a brody Sep 26, 2015 9:26 AM in response to peerleader
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Sep 26, 2015 9:26 AM in response to peerleader

    Not possible.  You can only use a Firewire DVD drive from http://www.macsales.com/ or boot from another Mac via Target Disk Mode.  The model in your signature also does not support Leopard.     To boot from an external Mac with Firewire, the sequence is important:

    Installing 10.4/10.5 on a Mac with a broken/or incompatible optical drive

  • by peerleader,Helpful

    peerleader peerleader Sep 26, 2015 7:04 PM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 26, 2015 7:04 PM in response to a brody

    THX a brody!

     

    Instead of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Can I upgrade my iBook to OS X 10.4 Tiger or even OS X 10.5 Leopard using my SuperDrive?

     

    I've inserted my SuperDrive into my other, newer MAC (My 2010 MacBook Pro w/ OSX 10.10.5), and it pops up with. "The "Apple USB SuperDrive" is not supported on this Mac."

     

    So it must be made for older devices? Right?

    -----

    MY Packed-up USB SuperDrive's Specs:

     

    Box Reads:

    • "Compatible with Mac Systems without a built-in optical drive."
    • MD564LL/A
    • Apple USB Super Drive
    • Model: A1379
    • [copyright] 2012

    Pamphlet Reads:

    1. depicts device being plugged in along with a disc being inserted
    2. "Choose Software Update from the Apple Menu ([Apple emblem]) to update your system software to the latest version."
    3. ...and then goes on from there explaining how to eject an inserted disc.
  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Sep 26, 2015 7:25 PM in response to peerleader
    Level 6 (14,244 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 26, 2015 7:25 PM in response to peerleader

    The modern Apple USB superdrive unit is for use with new models of Apple

    computer that do not have a built-in optical drive. Not for older models, etc.

    That seems plain enough. The MacBook series (early 2006 to 2010) all had

    internal optical drives. When computers started shipping with OS X not on

    DVD or CD media, then certain models who had an optical drive, didn't.

     

    Brody's suggestion and links are a place to start. OWC macsales.com has

    a few external FW optical drives and other hardware, and can give you a

    fair bit of information should you contact them about the issue you face.

     

    Older PPC portable Apple computers with PowerPC G3/G4 processors are

    capable of running as late as 10.5 (.8) Leopard OS X, depending on the

    processor hardware speed and other hardware requirement; not 10.6.8.

    Intel-based Macs of a certain vintage may use Snow Leopard.

     

    suggestions to use the USB optical drive with other models (not PPC)

    include some comments here. re:  If your MacBook superdrive fails:

    https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Apple_Optical_Drive

     

    If your newer computer happened to have FireWire ports, then the idea of

    using the newer and older computers through agency of Target Disk Mode

    where the new computer may (or not) be able to start in FW TDM and let

    the older computer use its optical drive for use to install vintage OS X.

     

    • How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode - Apple Support

     

    The instruction support page linked in a previous reply does suggest how to

    try & use Target Disk Mode to use a different computer superdrive for use

    to install an OS X. There is a slim chance that certain models of PowerPC

    (pre-intel cpu based mac) may be able to use some USB connections but

    the ability to boot from external optical drives generally expects there to be

    a FireWire unit with its own power supply for this kind of process. A FW unit

    with compatible chipset such as oxford-type, was the historical version used.

     

    Other methods may be possible; mostly trial and error to see if they'd work...

    Since most don't, it would be pointless for me to suggest unlikely methods here.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by peerleader,

    peerleader peerleader Sep 26, 2015 7:24 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 26, 2015 7:24 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Just for words, I purchased my iBook just to go about troubleshooting MACs.

     

    I will be trying all this out with my iBook.

     

    I am always using my 17" Apple MacBook Pro with 10.10.5.

     

    I've independently learned a load about troubleshooting MACs - both old and new.

     

    Thanks for all the help!  We all Rock!

  • by peerleader,

    peerleader peerleader Sep 30, 2015 2:17 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 30, 2015 2:17 PM in response to K Shaffer

    One more note - and it's interesting:

     

    Using my NEW SuperDrive wouldn't read any discs on my iBook (But I didn't get any 'not compatible" message like I did when plugging the SuperDrive into my MacBook Pro).  How come I didn't get a "not compatible" message popup on my older iBook screen like I did on my MacBook Pro?