Snow Leopard Family Pack but still need one copy of 10.5

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Level 1

80 points

Snow Leopard Family Pack but still need one copy of 10.5

I have 4 Intel Macs and 1 PPC (G5, Dual, Tower). My OS' look like this:

PPC Tower - 10.4
Intel Tower - 10.4
Intel Tower - 10.4
Mini Mac - 10.5
MacBook Pro - 10.5

The MacBook and Mini Mac came with 10.5 so I don't have the OS disk.
I am ordering the Snow Leopard Family Pack to upgrade the Intel machines.
Does anybody know how (given the parameters above) to get my PPC 10.4 to
10.5 (Leopard) without buying a new License? Seems like I have the License
already but I don't have the disks so I can move it to another serial number.

Thanks.

G5, Mini Mac, (2) Intel Towers, Mac Book Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 25, 2009 9:51 AM

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Answer 1

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,680 points

Aug 25, 2009 9:57 AM in response to Joe Roach

Since the Leopard licenses you have are machine specific gray disks, it's illegal to install them on the PPC tower. It's also not possible (from the MacBook Pro disks) since it would be an Intel version. Don't know how old your Mini is, but if it also is an Intel model, those disks won't work either.

From what I see, your only option would be to pick up a retail Leopard, 10.5 disk.

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Answer 2

Joe Roach Author

Level 1

80 points

Aug 25, 2009 10:06 AM in response to Kurt Lang

One alternative is to buy Leopard now and then upgrade for $49. It seems though that Apple might have thought of this issue and might have another "PPC friendly" idea.

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Aug 25, 2009 10:09 AM in response to Joe Roach

You are aware that Snow Leopard will not run on your PowerPC-based Mac, yes? If the only reason you'd be upgrading your PPC Tower to 10.5 would be to then use the Snow Leopard family pack license on it, there's no reason to upgrade it to Leopard.

If you do want the PPC Tower on 10.5, though, then as Kurt said, you'll need to purchase a retail copy of 10.5.

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Answer 4

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Aug 25, 2009 10:13 AM in response to Joe Roach

Do note that the PPC machine won't run Snow Leopard and you'll need a retail Leopard disk to get it to that or combine it with a Leopard family pack ($199) and use it to get the Intel towers to Leopard, followed by a Snow Leopard family pack ($49) or get the Tiger to Snow Leopard boxed set family pack for $229 for the towers (which won't work for the PPC). Alternatively, check out the price combos at http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/snowleopard/index.html#d20aug2009

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Answer 5

Joe Roach Author

Level 1

80 points

Aug 25, 2009 10:32 AM in response to baltwo

Talked to the Apple rep. Her best approach was as Baltwo and I stated: buy the family pack of Leopard now, load it on the PPC and the other machines that are not Leopard then buy the $49 upgrade to Snow Leopard (total $248).

We don't use iLife so no need for the Box Set but a good idea for those families that have students or iLife needs.

and...yes, painfully aware that Snow Leopard doesn't support PPC's. I did not want this question to fall down that rathole.

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Answer 6

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Aug 25, 2009 10:39 AM in response to Joe Roach

Thanks for the feedback. Do check out the MacInTouch link for some price savings. Good upgrading and computing.

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