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ATPTWC327

Q: Trying to install OS X 10.3 on Lombard

I have been trying to install 10.3 on my lombard for two years and it freezes during install, I am tired of going to the apple store to enjoy os x. I can not afford to upgrade laptop live on minimal fixed income. I have 256 mb of ram in my laptop. Sometimes I get as far as completion of disc 1 the it freezes. What am I doing wrong. I hate still using os 9.1

powerbook lombard, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Feb 18, 2009 1:41 PM

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Q: Trying to install OS X 10.3 on Lombard

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  • by Eustace Mendis,

    Eustace Mendis Eustace Mendis Feb 18, 2009 2:14 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 7 (25,402 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 2:14 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    This does not answer your question, but it may solve the problem of installing OS 10.3. In the early steps of the install procedure you can select a "custom" install. Select only the very minimum, and you won't need the second disk.

    What you give up by doing this are every supported language, and every supported printer driver.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 18, 2009 5:36 PM in response to Eustace Mendis
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 5:36 PM in response to Eustace Mendis
    Thanks for your help tried it but it freezes just before disc 1 is finished loading. I even tried installing os x 10.1 which someone gave me and it won't load either, os 9 works but I am so behind the times on my laptop. Right now I am trying os x 10.3 again I unchecked all the extras and it froze while waiting for 6 minutes. I am at wits end and am almost ready to give up, and just stay with os 9.
  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man Feb 18, 2009 5:37 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 5:37 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    ATPTWC327, welcome to Apple Discussions.

    What color are the install discs you are using? Black with silver X - OK, gray - Not OK.

     Cheers, Tom

  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 18, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Texas Mac Man
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Texas Mac Man
    The discs are gray.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 18, 2009 5:41 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 5:41 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Thanks for your input are the black discs available anywhere cheaper than $30.00.
  • by jpl,

    jpl jpl Feb 18, 2009 7:45 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 7 (28,285 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 7:45 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    AtP,

    It would seem to me that even though you have gray disks, they are booting and installing, at least up to a point. There are gray, machine-specific disks that will work in other computers and I believe you have a set.

    I will point out that the symptoms you describe are common to a lot of Lombards, and they are these:

    -Lombard runs perfectly when booted to OS9 with the RAM maxed to 512MB or less.

    -The same Lombard, when trying to install any version of OSX, will either not boot the OSX disk or freeze during the install or freeze when restarting after a successful install or freeze randomly if OSX was successfully installed.

    -The problem lies with a certain run of microprocessor cards and the workaround is this: Leave the top memory slot empty and run the maximum 256MB of RAM in the bottom slot.

    Since you are successfully running OS9, download 'PPC Checker' here:

    http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G3CARDS/PPCchecker/

    ...and see if it reports this number:

    PowerPC 750L (LoneStar, Rev2.2) Copper G3 PVR = 0x00088202

    If so, you unfortunately have the troublesome CPU, but as I said earlier, you can still run OSX.

    Let us know what you find.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 18, 2009 9:30 PM in response to jpl
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 18, 2009 9:30 PM in response to jpl
    Yes that is the processor it says I have, does this mean I can never use os x with this laptop. Am I stuck on os 9.? I appreciate all the help I can get.
  • by jpl,

    jpl jpl Feb 19, 2009 8:42 AM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 7 (28,285 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 8:42 AM in response to ATPTWC327
    ATP,

    No, no, no...of course you can run OSX, but you must leave the top memory slot empty. I don't know how technically minded you are, but here is summary of what to do. Please remove all power plus main battery (just pull the battery out a few inches).

    1. Lift off keyboard and lay it face down on the palm rest; do not disconnect ribbon cable.

    2. Remove heat shield.

    3. Remove top memory module.

    4. Lift out the microprocessor card, turn it over, and remove the memory card from the lower (bottom) slot.

    5. Install a low-profile 256MB memory module like the one below. Please be advised that 256MB modules have a unique architecture for the Lombard and Wallstreet; generic 256s will not work.

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/100SO256168L/

    6. Reassemble the computer.

    Here is a photo guide:
    http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Device/PowerBookG3Lombard

    Make sure you have a Phillips #0 screwdriver so you do not damage the screw heads. Now the above photo guide removes unnecessary items (PRAM battery and modem) to get to the microprocessor; just remove the items I mentioned.

    You mentioned you have 256MB of RAM; I am guessing you have 2x128MB modules, one each in the top and bottom slots. Panther/10.3 will run on a minimum of 128MB but it will be slow. Nonetheless, if you wanted to remove just the top 128MB module, do so, then try installing 10.3.

    I know this sounds complicated but it really is not. If you have a friend who is handy with tools and mechanical devices, he/she can help.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 19, 2009 10:23 AM in response to jpl
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 10:23 AM in response to jpl
    I will try it right now and let you know, Thank you for takinf the time to help.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 19, 2009 10:53 AM in response to jpl
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 10:53 AM in response to jpl
    Tried it does not work still freezes as is it gets to end of disc 1, Guess I'm not meant to have os x.
  • by jpl,

    jpl jpl Feb 19, 2009 12:37 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 7 (28,285 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 12:37 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    ATP,

    I'm sorry it did not work, but I'm glad you could do the work yourself. I am guessing you just removed the top 128MB module...is that correct.

    I would also try this: Reset the PRAM, then try 10.3 again:

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

    Also, when you are first booted to 10.3, click English (I think), then immediately go up to the menu bar and open Disk Utilities > highlight your HD on the left, then run First Aid on the right side. (Check the menu bar before clicking anything to see if Disk Utility is available since I can't recall).

    Before quitting Disk Utility, select the 10.3 disk in the left window and run First Aid on it.

    Is it possible the 10.3 disk is dirty or scratched?

    Perform a Get Info on your HD. How much free space do you have?

    I don't have much more to suggest but will keep working with you.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 19, 2009 2:07 PM in response to jpl
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 2:07 PM in response to jpl
    Got as far as end of disc 1 when i inserted disc 2 it froze, I checked only the essential software so as not to install any extras it still freezes. Well we tried, now I have to put os 9 back as my drive won;t even restart in os 9.
    I am going to look around and see if anyplace donate used g3 laptops.
  • by ATPTWC327,

    ATPTWC327 ATPTWC327 Feb 19, 2009 9:20 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 9:20 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Well I guess the only place I'll be able to use any form of OS X is at the apple store. tried five different times still can't get panther to stay without crashing. Maybe I will find somplace that donates old macs.
  • by jpl,

    jpl jpl Feb 19, 2009 10:04 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    Level 7 (28,285 points)
    Feb 19, 2009 10:04 PM in response to ATPTWC327
    ATP,

    Well, I'm sorry to hear there is no success. The only thing you have not tried is a retail Panther CD but the cost of these OSes is fairly high just to try to see if it will work. Your earlier statement said you also tried OSX 10.1 and it failed. If you still have it, give it a try without the top memory module; let's see if a retail 10.1 CD will work.

    The only other comment I can offer is that there is a small number of Lombards that just won't run OSX. Users who pursued this problem replaced the microprocessor card and were up and running OSX. For example, this company will sell a 333MHz microprocessor card for $80:
    http://www.ifixit.com/PowerBook-Parts/G3-Lombard-333-MHz-Processor/IF131-030

    You can probably do much better on eBay but you are kind of on your own, i.e. buyer beware. Again, give 10.1 a try...