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Installing Leopard on a Powerbook G4

I had a Powerbook G4 with 867 MHz PowerPC donated to my classroom with 10.3.9 on it. I upgraded the RAM, put in a 1 GB of RAM. I have the copy of Leopard that I bought and read that it should load on to this Powerbook. Yet I can't seem to get it to load; when I select DVD the white apple comes up, and then nothing. Will the Powerbook really run Leopard?

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.3.x), 867 MHz PowerPC G4 processor

Posted on Nov 25, 2008 2:50 PM

32 replies

Kappy

Level 10

361,753 points

Nov 27, 2008 7:53 AM in response to R C-R

In the OP's first reply to me: "got the retail version of leopard."

gryphiniii Author

Level 1

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Nov 27, 2008 10:00 AM in response to R C-R

Don't know about booting from a DVD, as we noted it booted from the Tech Tool CD, and I just played a DVD in it. The DVD player seems to work. If it is a CMOS problem what would the solution be?

Nov 27, 2008 9:34 PM in response to gryphiniii

Hello! We seem to be having the same problem. I have a eMac with a 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 and more than enough RAM (27 GB) with a Mac OS X 10.3.9 that I am trying to upgrade to Leopard 10.5.4.

I am able to see the DVD and click the Install option, but at Restart a gray screen comes up with the boot sign and a statement that asks me to restart the computer.

I was hoping that cleaning the optical drive would solve the problem, but it is still happening.

Any new ideas?

a brody

Level 10

83,221 points

Nov 28, 2008 7:37 AM in response to Marcella Schroeder

Marcella,
Please start a new topic thread. You'll get a wider audience, and won't confuse the original poster with solutions that don't apply to them, and make it easier for those trying to troubleshoot not to have trouble figuring out who is trying which solutions and not getting them done. I see already in your post history, you have figured out how to post your own threads.

gryphiniii Author

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Nov 28, 2008 11:25 PM in response to Marcella Schroeder

I am going to try zapping the pram, you know holding down the p and r key as I hold down the option and command key, stuff from OS 7. Might work, will see.

gryphiniii Author

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Nov 28, 2008 11:47 PM in response to gryphiniii

OK, I zapped pram 10 times, restarted holding down option on final restart, select dvd, start, and still gray apple, no gear. I really am thinking that G4 won't run Leopard. Could someone confirm that for me?

a brody

Level 10

83,221 points

Nov 29, 2008 6:54 AM in response to gryphiniii

Your Powerbook should run Leopard based on its specs. Zapping 10 times is not wise if done without letting the machine fully reboot each time in succession. You should at most hold down for 4 chimes and let go. Otherwise you can royally mess up the CMOS.

Message was edited by: a brody

gryphiniii Author

Level 1

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Nov 30, 2008 9:44 AM in response to a brody

OK, zapping the pram 10 times was a mistake on my part, but is there any thing else I can do to load Leopard on to my powerbook?

Peter Hyde

Level 4

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Nov 30, 2008 12:12 PM in response to gryphiniii

Would the copy of Leopard you have by any chance be the same one you used to do an instsall on another computer?

baltwo

Level 9

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Nov 30, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Peter Hyde

Peter. Running Leopard? If so, please add it to your profile info.

gryphiniii Author

Level 1

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Dec 1, 2008 12:50 AM in response to Peter Hyde

Yes.

Miguel1

Level 1

19 points

Dec 1, 2008 4:39 AM in response to gryphiniii

gryphiniii

I had a similar problem on my powerbook g4 trying to install tiger. I had to take it in to the apple store where they replaced the logic board at no charge.
If it's not too much trouble a trip to the local Apple store should be your next step.

Good Luck,
Miguel

a brody

Level 10

83,221 points

Dec 1, 2008 6:06 AM in response to gryphiniii

You claim you used the retail version of Leopard. Do you understand the retail version of Leopard looks like

* and does not say Update, Upgrade, or DropIn on it? If that's the version you are using, it likely is a problem with the logicboard.

- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

gryphiniii Author

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Dec 1, 2008 2:51 PM in response to a brody

I want to thank everyone who has responded to this thread. I am sorry if I ever got terse. My only excuse is when I think it should work and it doesn't I get frustrated. I have figured out that I am cheating. I bought a one use Leopard disk, nor anticipating that I would get another computer to run it. So I have been using the retail version that I used to upgrade my macbook pro, and I should have bought another disk, or back when I bought this one, I should have gotten the 5 pack version. Does the computer mark the DVD preventing it from being used illegally? The other option is that something is wrong with the G4. Once again thanks for all your help. Now I am off to the Apple store, well, after next week's paycheck I'm off.

baltwo

Level 9

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Dec 1, 2008 3:05 PM in response to gryphiniii

Thanks for the feedback. Good luck.

Installing Leopard on a Powerbook G4