upgrading iMac G4 from 10.3.9 to 10.4.11

NoiseDamaged, welcome to Apple Discussions.

You can run Tiger. However, you may need more RAM. *OS X 10.4 Tiger Requirements*
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301341

Tiger install DVDs are in short supply. Tiger is no longer available at the Apple Store but may be available for $129 by calling Apple Phone Sales @ 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753). For other sources, do a Google search for MA453Z/A (10.4.6), MA190Z/A (10.4.3) and M9639Z/A (10.4) . Also look on eBay. Be sure & buy a retail version (black with silver X) and not a model specific version (gray) (See Can I use another Mac's system restore disc on my Mac? ). Expect to pay (possibly a lot) more than the Apple list price of $129.

Also check these web stores: http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type= sku&sku=19521 http://www.allmac.com/shop/index.php?cPath=5_10003

Possible Alternative if you are currently using Panther 10.3 – Do a Google search for Tiger 10.4 Upgrade DVD . It will upgrade your 10.3 to 10.4, but it doesn’t contain the full retail Tiger installer. Should be cheaper than the retail Tiger install DVD.

After you install the base 10.4.x, update to the final Tiger version 10.4.11. Here's the link for the 10.4.11 combo update http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24901?viewlocale=en_US

Look at this link Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger Installing Software Support Page
http://www.apple.com/support/tiger/install/

You can also download the Tiger Installation and Setup Guide
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/TigerInstall_SetupGuide.pdf

When you upgrade the OS, do it via Archive & Install. See About the Archive and Install feature http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710
Be sure to select Preserve Users & Settings. Also, repair permissions before and after the install.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

The limitation for the early iMac G4 700MHz 15" computer regarding Tiger
10.4.11 was due to the optical drive in the low-end model having a CD-ROM
and not a DVD combo or Superdrive capable of boot or install from a DVD
disc as Tiger shipped with. The exchange program for such a limited drive
long since expired, as has the ability to buy Tiger retail in stores. If you do
find a Tiger CD install set that was a product of the official Apple program,
that could work well enough to install Tiger 10.4.x into the early iMac G4.
They appear in rare form in places such as ebay auction or online sales.

With the maximum supported RAM and adequate hard disk drive free space
or an adequate size capacity hard disk drive, along with suitable optical drive,
the computer could be used with Tiger. If you look up specs for the iMacG4
line in everymac.com web site database, or get the download of MacTracker
from http://mactracker.ca these may help you best use the nice old computer.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂