Powerbook G4 won't boot install disk

Question

Level 1

9 points

Powerbook G4 won't boot install disk

Powerbook G4
1.5 GHZ PowerPC g4
1GB DDR SDRAM
Currently running 10.5.8

I am attempting to wipe and restore this laptop to its OG condition so I can give it to a friend. I have the original install disk OS 10.4 AHT Version 2.5 Disc Version 1.1

I pop in the disk and the computer recognizes the disk. But I cannot get the computer to boot the startup disk.

1. I have attempted to restart and shutdown the computer while holding C. It boots normally.
2. I have held down the option key while booting and it bought me to a screen. That screen only gave me the option to click on the mac HD drive.
3. I have used system preferences - start up disk- selected the 10.4 install disk and clicked restart. That just boots through like normal.

Any other way to go about this? Really would love some help...

Thanks
- Kyle

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 30, 2010 8:36 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Oct 30, 2010 8:59 AM in response to Kyle Chapman

You are trying to boot an Apple Hardware Test (AHT) disc, not an installer disc.

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Answer 2

Kyle Chapman Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2010 10:49 AM in response to Kappy

So which disc is the isntall disc? The little packet has two disks in it. I was attempting to do this with disc 1, should I be using disc 2?

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Answer 3

Kyle Chapman Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2010 10:51 AM in response to Kappy

edit* Just looked at both discs.

The first disc says it has mac osx 10.4 on it. The second disc is has only mac classic on it. . . .

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

238,997 points

Oct 30, 2010 10:59 AM in response to Kyle Chapman

What are the 2z **-***-A numbers on those discs?

Are they the original ones that came with the PB?

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Oct 30, 2010 11:01 AM in response to Kyle Chapman

The correct disc should say Installer Disc 1 and show the version of OS X it installs. Disc 2 contains additional files such as printer drivers and pre-bundled software not normally installed with OS X. The disc labeled AHT is the hardware test disc. It may even have a different label - not the normal gray label on the OEM discs that came with the computer. +Note that you cannot use OEM discs for a different machine model+.

Altogether you should have at least 3 discs. Perhaps you should try installing 10.5.x if it meets the requirements for CPU and RAM - at least 867 MHz CPU and 512 MBs of RAM. Apparently you must have that installer.

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Answer 6

Kyle Chapman Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2010 11:11 AM in response to BDAqua

Yes these are the OG discs from the Powerbook.

Disc 1 - 2z691-5517-A

I can't link photos but disc 1 has the install for the OSX. I clicked on the OSX and it said click to restart and begin install process. So I did and it just booted like normal.

Disc 2 - 2Z691-5499-A

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Answer 7

Kyle Chapman Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2010 11:21 AM in response to Kappy

I do not have the 10.5 retail disc I bought, I lost it. So I'm trying to re-install the OG operating system on this laptop.

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Answer 8

Kyle Chapman Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2010 11:24 AM in response to Kyle Chapman

This disc one is the correct disc. That's not my problem. My problem is that when I click on install OSX and software and hit restart, it doesn't bring up the screen to re-install, it boots like normal.

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

238,997 points

Oct 30, 2010 11:31 AM in response to Kyle Chapman

Those appear to be the right Discs, at least for the 167 PB...

My G4 1.67Ghz PB (pre-Oct 2005) came with a package of 2 DVD's (both in one envelope). The first is as you indicated, except for the last line, which says '2Z691-5517-A'. The second DVD says 'Mac OS X Install Disc 2, Disc Version 1.0' and the number is '2Z691-5499-A'.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1189931&tstart=1814

Only thing I can figure right now is maybe something wrong with the Install Disc or Optical drive?

Can you use Disk Utility to Verify the Install Disc?

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Answer 10

Kyle Chapman Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2010 11:53 AM in response to BDAqua

Just tired using my girlfriends computer via a firewire cable and used her disc drive. Still does the same thing, restarts and acts like it wants to go through the re-install process but just ends up re-booting like normal.

Anyone have any ideas? The disc was never taken out of the case, it's mint......

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