Can I get lion on my imac?

Well, if it's a G5 it's not Intel 🙂

But if it's an iMac5,1 then you're OK.

OS X Lion system requirements

To use Lion, make sure your computer has the following:

• An Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
• Mac OS X v10.6.6 or later to install via the Mac App Store (v10.6.8 recommended); you can install without Mac OS X v10.6 by using an OS X Lion USB Thumb Drive, available on the Apple Online Store
• 7 GB of available disk space
• 2 GB of RAM

If your Mac does not meet these requirements, you will need to upgrade your Mac before installing Lion.

Lion System Requirements

• Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
• 2GB of memory
• OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
• 7GB of available space
• Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Your computer does not meet the minimum memory needs without adding more memory. You will need to purchase and install Snow Leopard then update it to 10.6.8 in order to purchase and download Lion.

The Snow Leopard DVD is $29.00 at any Apple retailer. Lion is $30.00 from the App Store.

BTW, you do not have a G5 iMac. G5s are PPC, not Intel Macs.

Only thing is I have Mac OSX version 10.4.11. Does that mean I have to install snow leopard first?

Yes. Snow Leopard is required since it includes the Mac App Store, which is required to download Lion.

The first step is to ensure you have adequate backups - goes without saying. Then, I recommend installing Snow Leopard and make sure it works the way you expect. Once you determine everything works to your satisfaction, download Lion but install it on a separate volume - preferably an external hard disk. Lion is a major adjustment for many people. You may want to keep a Snow Leopard for various reasons, among them the fact Lion cannot run programs written exclusively for the PowerPC (PPC) whereas Snow Leopard can. You can elect to boot Lion or SL as you see fit.

Please look at the following before upgrading to Snow Leopard:

How to Install OS X Updates Successfully

A. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions:

Boot from your current OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.

If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

B. Make a Bootable Backup Using Restore Option of Disk Utility:

1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4. Check the box labeled Erase destination.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

C. Important: Please read before installing:

1. If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it. Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've restarted.
2. You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
3. The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update. While the installation is in progress do not use the computer.

D. To upgrade:

Purchase the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.

Boot From The OS X Installer Disc:

1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.

E. If updating:

1. Download and install update(s)
2. Use Software Update, or
3. Download standalone updater(s).

Wait, I have Tiger. Do I have to install Leopard first or can I go right to Snow Leopard? 😕

I understand. You can go straight to Snow Leopard.

Hey Kappy, i am having a tough time with my Mac and i wanted a solution from you but i just could'nt find a way to contact with so i am posting my problem here to you as a reply.

Last night the electricity went out and my power surge protector was not working so my iMac just force shut downed.

So, when the electricity came back i turned on my Mac but it is *Stuck in the Startup/Boot Screen with a Grey Apple Logo,a Empty Progress Bar with stays for 1 or 2 minutes and a small Spinning Wheel which would Spin Forver! I Have tried the SMC and Pram reset but no use, i have also tried to insert my OS X Lion 10.7 Installation disk and it would not load if i hold the C Key in the Startup, I Have Managed to go to Disk Utility Through "Recovery HD" but the Volume "Macintosh HD" is Greyed out and Unmounted and i cannot repair it. There are some files that i'd like to Recover if there is a way to fix it without deleting files.
**PLEASE HELP ME FIX THIS!**

Details about the iMac:

iMac 21.5 Inch i think from Mid 2010,

OS X Lion installed maybe 10.7.2 or 10.7.3 (im not sure)