updating / upgrading my emac g4

You can upgrade to Tiger 10.4.x for sure & possibly to Leopard 10.5.x. Whichever OS you use, it's recommended that you have 2X the minimum RAM requirements.

*OS X 10.4 Tiger Requirements*
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301341

*Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard installation system requirements*
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24950

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 😉

Safari 1.3.2 is as high as Pantehr 10.3.9 can use. Anything higher needs 10.4.11. the only mostly up-to-date browser that still runs under 10.3.9 is an older version (1.6) of Camino. It was recently updated for Panther but the web site says that was the "last ever" upgrade for that older version. Get Camino here:

http://caminobrowser.org/releases/1.6.11/

As for upgrade advice, it's nice to show the starting point as not all eMacs are the same. I think you'll get better help by posting the processor speed and amount of physical RAM installed. This is available from "About this Mac..." in the Apple menu.

If the processor turns out to be a 1gHz version, there is one more step we'll need tosk in narrowing down the mexact eMac variant you have.

Can I ask a related question? I have an eMac and wanted to update from 10.4.11 to run the iPad and bought Snow Leopard (10.6) to then realize I cannot run it b/c I do not have Intel processor. I can't seem to find the upgrade to 10.5? Is it available? Can I update the eMac processor from G4 to Intel? Any help would be appreciated!

Hi lolly,

10.5 is no longer for sale through normal channels, though as mentioned above, you might be able to call Apple and see if they have one laying around to sell you.

You can't upgrade the eMac's processor (or indeed, most every Mac's processor; Apple don't make them with that in mind), especially as it's going from one chip "architecture" to another (PowerPC to Intel).

cheers

cosmic

I have only landed on the Discussion page and am most interested to find out if, and how, you managed to upgrade from where I now find myself. Did you only get to Tiger or were you able to put a leopard into into your os9/ Please help. Beau.

what did you find, please tell. Beau. fourthway1 (at) yahoo (dot) com

I read with interest your stories about the Tiger 10.4 or Leopard 10.5 my question is where may I find a Tiger, or Leopard, at this late stage. I have been haunting Ebay(Australia) with out success. If you know of anywhere I would be most appreciative. Beau.

thanks so much for all the info. beaumac10