Power Mac G4 (MDD) original install disks

Mr. Coop -
I'm Patrick Dowling. I own a small Used Mac Re-sale shop in Winter Park (Orlando area), FL.
I would LOVE TO BUY the originals or copies of those PowerMac FW800 install CD/DVDs you lucked on to.
Please contact me if you are interested.
Thanks
Patrick Dowling
macsorlando
3712 Howell Branch Rd.
Winter Park, FL 32892
407 484-0148
patdowling@embarqmail.com

Order though either an Apple Authorized Service Provider or AppleCare.

To add to Frank's excellent advice, you will be asked for the exact model number code and the serial number, so have those ready.

I called the Apple Store about getting Tiger shortly before Leo released and found that some employees are not aware of the older software. While searching his inventory screen for Tiger, one guy kept saying, "I'm seeing these older operating systems..." I asked him to read some of the descriptions and decided he was seeing older system disks. He did not know what they were.

Point: If the Apple employee gives you a blank look when you ask about older system disks, be politely persistent of ask to speak to someone with more time in on the job.

Oh yes, they charge for those disks but I don't believe it's a too much.

About $20 per disk.

Question: Worse case scenario - what happens if he calls Applecare and they no longer have the replacement software cd which came with the computer? I do know that Apple doesn't hold on to copies of the original software for power mac G4 machines, at least not all of them. For instance, I just got a server mac G4 off of ebay - its a 400mhz sawtooth machine presumably came from server software. I tried calling Applecare, gave them my serial number, and they told me that they no longer have the cd's.

Ebay is not really a reliable source, since one has to fight to get what one wants. which Mac dealer or provider carries all the software restore cd's for all power mac G4 models? Even G3 models?

Hi! Good luck trying to get them from Applecare, especially since the 867mhz MDD(good machine, don't get me wrong) restore/install cd's might not be available.

To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

I just got off the phone with Apple care today and they told me that all restore/install cd's for all G4 power mac models HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. Meaning, they can't be gotten anymore. Those who have MDD's, quicksilvers, DA's, GE's, and AGP graphics machines are out of luck!! The only restore cd's or install cd's they have is for support of OS 10.3 and higher. So, Apple no longer carries install/restore cds for any of the G4's. Those who have PCI graphics? You too, are also out of luck. G3's we also know are not available anymore.

Sad, but this is true.

Welcome to Apple Discussions!

If indeed Apple lacks these discs, this is all the more reason to be wary of purchasing used Macs from people who won't supply you with those discs. Contact the original seller for the discs. If they won't give it to you and you can still contact them, return the machine and ask for your money back. See my FAQ* for other sources if you can no longer contact them, and remember, cavaet emptor!
They should never sell you a Mac without those discs, especially if there is any software left installed, as it is only licensed for use with that machine as long as it is installed on that machine.

- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

But, isn't also not such a loss if the originals can't be gotten? I mean, if one has a registered license of Tiger wouldn't that be more than enough than asking for the original disks?

Without the bundled discs, you'd be missing:

Any elements of iLife which came prebundled with the Mac that do not come with the retail version of Tiger. Also iTunes may be newer.

Any hardware test that comes with the original discs.

Any other prebundled software that came with the Mac in question that does not come prebundled with Tiger.

Check the machine's software specs, and compare it with the Tiger software specs, you'll see there is a difference.

This brings me to my next question for those who recently purchased from ebay or dealers used G4 MDD machines. Where is it possible then to get the exact restore/install cds? Actually, does it really matter if one just wants to run OS X, instead of booting into OS 9? I would see the need for one to go into classic or OS 9 and would then require the install/restore cds? Jaguar 10.2 was included with the original cd set, however we have now Leopard, and possibly Snow Leopard(preview is intel only), but as for OS 9? How can one find the proper OS 9.2.2 enabler if any old OS 9.2.2 won't work?

I bought the system listed in my signature used from a graphic arts company that was upgrading. It did not come with the original install disks. I found them on ebay and the buy it now price was low enough that I took a chance on them. When I received the disks, I found that I got lucky and got the correct disks as described.

I have the same problem. I was "given" a couple of now hopelessly outdated G4s, an MDD and a Quicksilver, for which the disks had LONG ago been misplaced, and the owner had given up trying to get them working SPECIFICALLY to run OS9 programs again, and I took them in the hope that I could somehow find a copy of the proper system software.

NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

As far as EVER being able to run any OS9 software again, forget it!

Deliberate Obsolescence is as real as the Ferengi Rules when it comes to the "computer" industry!

FYI: Just to see if they still have them, they told me that the restore/install disks for ALL G4's and G3's have been discontinued. This means that Apple and Apple SOS don't carry them anymore.

I wish you all knew this! I called Apple regarding this topic, and they said that they no longer carry them.

But, isn't techtool pro more superior than the AHT cds?