Remote install OS?

"The application 'Install Mac OS X' cannot be used from this disk. To install Mac OS X, please use the application provided on the Mac OS X installation disk."

Is that with CD/DVD Sharing enabled on the MBP & booting the iBook with the Option key held down?

BDaqua's got one line of suggestions.

Presumably this is Disk Utility reporting on the drive from which you are booted. I've seen incorrect errors reported when doing this because the drive is constantly changing and DU can't keep up and sees that as errors. Try doing this while booted to Safe Mode. SM has the double feature of running a version of Disk utility's repair which may take care of things.

[Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393]

[What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X)|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392]

[Safe Boot takes longer than normal startup|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107394]

[Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5- Computer shuts down during Safe Boot|http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24054]

Safe boot mode runs a directory check command similar to that used by Disk Utility's repair. In Tiger it ignores some stored information (cache) that is normally read that speeds up the boot process, and it moves some other caches to the trash. It also uses only System fonts and disables all Startup Items, third party items, and any Login Items.

Second, if you can't use your installer disc you can try effecting repairs using [fsk in Single User Mode|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214].

[Post by japamac about using fsk|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1649143&tstart=0]

Along those lines there's [Applejack|http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=79562]

Very informative [Macworld Applejack article|http://www.macworld.com/article/135377/applejack15.html]

Message was edited by: Limnos

Even if you could run the Installer application while networked, all it does is set the install DVD to be the startup disk and then ask you to restart. You have to be booted from the Install Disk, or a bootable clone of it, in order to actually install OS X, and I don't think your present configuration allows for this. If you do restart the iBook, the network connection will be broken.

I don't see how you can boot the iBook over a network connection when the only way an iBook knows how to use its airport card and connect to the network is via OS X itself - which won't be running at the start of the boot process. The computer term "boot" originated from "pull yourself up by your bootstraps." The problem is that the iBook's startup firmware - its "bootstraps" - presumably doesn't know how to connect to a network on its own.

I know that a MacBook Air can use a network to install OS X, but I think that's because it has "better bootstraps" - network and airport capability that is directly built into its firmware. The startup-manager choices you see when you option-boot a MacBook Air includes "Remote Install Mac OS X," and from there you can connect to an Airport network, even giving a password, all while running from the MacBook Air's firmware at a time when OS X is not loaded.

You can't boot from a disk image of the Install Disk for a similar reason - the only way the iBook would know how to mount the image is via OS X - which isn't running at the start of the boot process.

I can't think of a way to re-install OS X onto your iBook given its present condition, short of possibly removing the iBook's HD and connecting it to another PPC mac.

I think your best bet is first to try to repair your HD, as was suggested by Limnos.

Yes, you're correct and I haven't tested it, but thought that was the purpose of that thing, yet it may require a newer OS or ROM to handle it.

My next suggestion of putting the drive in an external case or such has already been offered! 🙂

Booting to Safe Mode runs a version of Disk Utility so in theory a check from safe Mode should report everything clean since anything bad will have been repaired.

If you're still getting that report then there's something wrong with the directory. Reinstalling the OS isn't going to help that. In fact it could cause more damage because the computer has started losing track of files and putting new files on there could inadvertently wipe out others.

Try fsk from Single User Mode. If that doesn't work and you care about your files then you may need to try a stronger tool such as Diskwarror. If you don't care about your files you can always erase the drive and start afresh. Of course you'll have to find some way to boot from another version of the OS to do that. At some points there are just too few options left.

i wanted to re-install the OS so i can give the iBook to someone. since it seems impossible, maybe i should instead create a new admin user, then delete the original user?

You could do that though there there will still be a lot of residual stuff from your having used it such as special applications, etc. It would also be possible for the next user to recover some of your deleted files using easily purchased utilities. Normally you would prevent this by erasing the drive completely with writing zeros, then reinstall the software. I notice Tiger does have an erase free space feature in Disk Utility even when you select the boot drive so maybe you can do this selectively.

The person to whom you are giving the computer should be made aware of the deficiencies, especially as regards to running repair and re-installing the OS. Usually when one receives a computer you re-install the software from a clean version since old copies may be corrupt.

I'm having the same problem: mini with a broken optical drive running 10.4.11, MBP with Snow and the install disk. It's very easy to get the mini to pull up the install disk through my home network, but running the installer requires an immediate restart (unclear) therefore breaking the networked connection. Unlike 10.5, 10.4 cannot connect to a network at the boot option screen. Seems like buying an external DVD drive is the only option?