loriehoney
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Q: New to Mac but not to computing ;) Need direction on OS reinstall for Ibook G4

Long-time (Windows) IT tech just getting feet wet in "Apple" orchard Purchased used IBook g4 (first ed I think? Model #A1055) from original owner, but came with NO OS CD's or otherwise. It's buggy & I'd like to do a fresh OS install, both to resolve plain old age/use issues from former user/owner- and to establish myself properly as the new owner. How would I go about this, and what are my options? I purchased this used older machine on purpose, as a practice run- and am only the second owner ever- so don't expect licensing issues. No need to upgrade or install a more advanced OS unless I have to, since machine's specs definitely limited. (I DID however upgrade to max RAM at 2 gigs) Suggestions, ideas on how to go about this at minimal cost but using proper protocal? Thanks!

iBook, Mac OS X (10.5.5), G4, Model #A1055

Posted on Feb 9, 2012 2:01 AM

by BDAqua,Solvedanswer
BDAqua BDAqua
Level 10 (123,618 points)
A:

"Snow Leopard/10.6 & Lion/10.7 cost only $29..." <-- That's just fine for me! Thanks a bunch for all your help- both of you.

WAIT... iBooks cannot use either one, sorry, I thought I added that in my post aboxe!

 

Don't order one it won't be any good to you!!!

 

10.5.8 is the highest an iBook can use.

Posted on Feb 9, 2012 3:26 PM

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loriehoney

Q: New to Mac but not to computing ;) Need direction on OS reinstall for Ibook G4

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 9, 2012 2:25 AM in response to loriehoney
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 2:25 AM in response to loriehoney

    Hi there, & a warm welcome to the forum & Macdom!

     

    A1055 covers many models...

     

    http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=A1055

     

    None all that slow for a G4 or it's day.

     

    It might be pretty expensive to get Install Discs for it, I think they all came with 10.3/Panther, but can run 10.4/Tiger, or 10.5 Leopard as the highest OS.

     

    So we know more about it...

     

    At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac, report the OSX version listed there, then click on More Info, then click on Hardware> and report this upto but not including the Serial#...

     

    Hardware Overview:

     

    Model Name: eMac

    Model Identifier: PowerMac6,4

    Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)

    Processor Speed: 1.42 GHz

    Number Of CPUs: 1

    L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

    Memory: 2 GB

    Bus Speed: 167 MHz

    Boot ROM Version: 4.9.2f1

     

    Tiger Requirements...

    To use Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, your Macintosh needs:

        * A PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor

        * Built-in FireWire

        * At least 256 MB of RAM (I recommend 1GB minimum)

        * DVD drive (DVD-ROM), Combo (CD-RW/DVD-ROM) or SuperDrive (DVD-R) for installation

        * At least 3 GB of free disk space; 4 GB if you install the XCode 2 Developer Tools  (I recommend 20GB minimum)

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1514

     

    See Tom's, (Texas Mac Man), great info on where/how to find/get Tiger...

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/15305521#15305521

    old: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9755670&#9755670

     

    Or Ali Brown's great info on where/how to find/get Tiger...

     

    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10381710#10381710

     

    Leopard requirements/10.5.x...

     

        *  Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor

     

    minimum system requirements

     

        * 512MB of memory (I say 1.5GB for PPC at least, 2-3GB minimum for IntelMacs)

        * DVD drive for installation

        * 9GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

     

    Apple no longer sells it, but...

     

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mac+os+x+leopard+retail+10.5

  • by loriehoney,

    loriehoney loriehoney Feb 9, 2012 8:25 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 8:25 AM in response to BDAqua

    Mac OS X
    v 10.3.9 (7W98)

    kernel version: Darwin 7.9.0
    Macintosh HD

     

     

    Machine Model: ibook G4
    CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)

    Number of CPUs: 1
    CPU Speed: 1.07ghz

    L2 Cache:512kb

    Memory: 1.25 gb

    Bus Speed: 133mhz

    Boot ROM: 4.8.5f0

    Serial Number (left blank here)

     

    Hope this helps- I was really hoping that one of the rare/few positives about MS Windows OS's would apply here as well, in that one could use a compatible OS install/restore CD or DVD so long as you had a legal/valid and unique key code or serial # upon install to validate it with. In some rare cases (though this is changing too) MS might require one to purchase their reinstall software, but usually at a very low price one time- like $20.

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 9, 2012 10:42 AM in response to loriehoney
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 10:42 AM in response to loriehoney

    ... in that one could use a compatible OS install/restore CD or DVD so long as you had a legal/valid and unique key code or serial # upon install to validate it with.

    Well, Apple doesn't use Serial#s or Product Keys for the OS Install Discs, just the honor system, the holder/owner of the Install Disc(s) has the legal right to install it & use it, the problem is just finding the right one, one that contains drivers for your particular Mac, complicated by the fact that Macs have custom HW at every turn, unlike the more generic PC HW. Retail Install Discs include a wider variety of HW drivers, yet generally speaking you can't install an older OS version on a Mac than what it came with.

     

    Though the Original Tiger/Leopard cost $129 from Apple, Snow Leopard/10.6 & Lion/10.7 cost only $29... but I thought I paid far more than $129 for every version of Windows® since 3.0!???

     

    You could probably find an original Gray 10.3 iBook specific Install Disc very cheap.

     

    So, now to find a cheap Install Disc!

     

    Maybe we could clean up your Install easier, though unlike Windows, you need an Install Disc to Repair the Drive.

     

    I assume you have an admon login Password on this Mac?

  • by loriehoney,

    loriehoney loriehoney Feb 9, 2012 3:09 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 3:09 PM in response to BDAqua

    "Snow Leopard/10.6 & Lion/10.7 cost only $29..." <-- That's just fine for me! Thanks a bunch for all your help- both of you. Windows is DEFINITELY expensive regardless of the version, agreed. Don't even get me started on that one.. LOL. My brother however is a years-long Apple fanatic & I think does some reselling too- so he's slowly convinced me over the years to give it a shot even if for practice/learning sake Some folks here may know him, he's a former teacher & now works for Essdack & has a lecture circuit on cyber bullying prevention & technology in education.  (Kevin Honeycutt)

     

    Question- I'm a total noob I know but- would I purchase Snow Leopard then at the Apple Online store as a download I could burn (iso file) maybe? If you already linked me to that or answered it- plz forgive my ignorance! I sure HOPE I have the admin password.. the previous owner was admittedly not tech-minded, but did give me HER password, and I think I made my own user account thereafter so haven't had occasion to try/use/need it again since. Hmm... guess I better call her just incase, thankfully she's local & reliable so not too worried. Excited to get this baby as close to it was for her upon purchase asap- so I can experience it myself fully, esp with the little memory/RAM bump I just installed. (That did go fine thankfully, reports as it should in OS etc) Thanks again for help!

  • by BDAqua,Solvedanswer

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 9, 2012 3:26 PM in response to loriehoney
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 3:26 PM in response to loriehoney

    "Snow Leopard/10.6 & Lion/10.7 cost only $29..." <-- That's just fine for me! Thanks a bunch for all your help- both of you.

    WAIT... iBooks cannot use either one, sorry, I thought I added that in my post aboxe!

     

    Don't order one it won't be any good to you!!!

     

    10.5.8 is the highest an iBook can use.

  • by loriehoney,

    loriehoney loriehoney Feb 9, 2012 6:55 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 6:55 PM in response to BDAqua

    I'm okay with not "upgrading" to a better/higher/newer version of OS or OS in general. I just want to reinstall clean - whatever one I need to/have/came on it if possible. Is that the install disk above, that was over $100 to buy? hmm.. I know a lot of Mac folks with a lot of CD's who would help, but most/all live in Western KS and I'm far to the East side So it WOULD at least help a lot though to know what precisely to ask someone FOR- would that be then, the 10.5.8 (OS X) you mention above being the highest? Trying to think how I'll phrase my request "Need to find a copy of OS X 10.5.8 for Ibook reinstall" for example on a wallpost among my techie friends. Thanks again!

     

     

    P.S. Just saw this: "You could probably find an original Gray 10.3 iBook specific Install Disc very cheap." Ok so my wording in that case would be.. "I need to find/borrow/use/buy from someone please- an original (gray in color) 10.3 iBook install disc" is that correct?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 9, 2012 6:54 PM in response to loriehoney
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 6:54 PM in response to loriehoney

    If going for 10.4 or 10.5 be sure it's a Black Retail Disc.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 9, 2012 8:44 PM in response to loriehoney
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 9, 2012 8:44 PM in response to loriehoney

    BTW, since you're familiar with PCs & Windows®... is there someplace I could scream at MS that would matter in anyway whatsoever about the tiny all important Product Key or whatever it is...

     

    Recently bought a valid copy of Windows® 7 Ultimate, I swear they used some 5 Point Dot Matrix font to print that oh-soo-important-code on the case... had to buy a 10x magnifying glass, wait 2 weeks for bright daylight & take ot outside & turn it just right in the light to decipher it... but then still the last few less than Black Digits are obscured by some fancy blue arcs for effect!???

     

    Then, there's no warning that once you make a mistake that you can infinitely put in the proper code again & it doesn't work until you start all over from square one!

  • by loriehoney,

    loriehoney loriehoney Feb 12, 2012 8:16 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 8:16 PM in response to BDAqua

    Actually- I feel your pain! I can't tell you how many people over the years dealing with MS Windows stickers would like to stage a revolt at MS headquarters for nothing more than water-proof/rub-proof labels for goodness sakes! lol Or how about being consistent with brand suppliers about placement & everyone using the battery compartment (which is sheltered some at least!) on laptops for the sticker placement- rather than the oft-rubbed bottom of the poor machine? lol Anyway, I've got one right now I'm fighting with- feels like I'm viewing these tiny characters under water.. and I have excellent vision heh. If I make headway I'll be sure to share the love

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 12, 2012 8:28 PM in response to loriehoney
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 8:28 PM in response to loriehoney

    I have excellent vision heh. If I make headway I'll be sure to share the love

    Thanks... I have very limited vision... I wonder how much money they save using such a ridiculously small font & sticker!?