How to install Mac OS X Leopard on a iMac G4 ?

iLaCouR DK wrote:
I got this nice iMac G4 from some family, and it was a 20" model, upgraded to 1.25 GHz Processor, and 1.25 GB ram, 80 GB Harddrive, and it had Mac OS X Leopard installed... and i wanted to install a fresh copy of the Mac OS X Leopard that came with my MacBook, wich is Mac OS X 10.5.5 like the one that was on the iMac... But i says that "This OS can't be installed on this Mac" what do i do now ?? i Don't own any older copyes of Mac OS X ??

this will not work. the disks that came with your macbook are hardware specific and can be used with that computer only. it's also against ULA to use them on any other computer. moroever, they contain an intel only copy of leopard so there is no possible way it will install or run on your G4.

you say that you had leopard installed on the G4 already. why do you want to install another leopard? and why using different disks than those you used in the first place?

Message was edited by: V.K.

Get the discs that came with the machine from the same family. The discs from your MacBook aren't compatible. If you can't get the original discs, call Apple and request replacement ones. If you want to update to 10.5.5 or, better yet, 10.5.8, download the COMBO update and install it manually.

The Leopard disc that comes with any Intel Mac, like your MacBook, won't work on any PowerPC Mac, like your iMac G4.

Didn't the previous owners give you the Leopard install disc when you received the iMac G4? They should have. Your copy of Leopard is unlicensed (a.k.a pirated) if you do now own the Leopard install disc. If they gave you the original install discs that came with the iMac when new (should be OS X v.10.2 or 10.3) then you should reformat and reinstall using those discs, and then use that OS. Pick up a retail copy of Leopard if you want to run Leopard on it.

As others indicated the only 10.5 that will work with it is the retail 10.5 installer. Its label looks like * and does not say Upgrade, DropIn, or OEM On it.

- * Links to my pages may give may give me compensation.

You don't need a copy of 10.3 unless that is the OS you want to run.

If all you want is 10.5, then just purchase that one.

AK_Mike is right: all you need to purchase, is the retail (black) install DVD for Leopard 10.5.x.

The two grey Panther (10.3.x) original discs that came with your iMac, you only need them because they have Apple Hardware Test on them, and some other tools too and the bundled software and extra apps,
but they should not be purchased, as they belong to the Mac.

You could try & call the Apple Store (online) for Denmark at their
online store phone number: 802 408 35 - and ask if you could
buy an official copy of Tiger 10.5 full-install DVD, since you have
an older iMac G4 that already has no discs. Maybe they can get
or have access to these Leopard discs, for a fee.

There also is a store-finder in most regions linked from the Apple
main online page; so a reseller or other authorized company that
does sell or repair different models may have an insight on the
purchase of replacement or old-stock/new software you may need.

{Tiger 10.4 does a fine job in the G4 iMac computers; however,
with any of these later OS versions, the applications such as
iLife and others, should be correct or functional with the version.
The early Panther OS discs, as shipped, do not really have a
great choice of apps that would carry forward to a later OS well.}

Or, although much older, the Panther 10.3 disc set the 20" iMac
G4 shipped with may be available somewhere, perhaps ebay if
not through authentic sources. You can check the specs on most
Mac products and the supported or as-shipped software from the
free download utility database MacTracker: http://mactracker.ca

A serial number identification service may help to learn more:
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

The serial number on an iMac G4 should be in one of three
locations; inside the optic drive door, a label can be there. In
the System Profiler (about this Mac> more info) or, on metal
bottom plate where the basic product info should be inscribed.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂