shaquitafromdc

Q: installing Mac OS X to my power book g4

how to install the Mac OS X 10.5. to my powerbook G4 laptop computer?

Posted on Jul 19, 2012 3:55 PM

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Q: installing Mac OS X to my power book g4

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  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Jul 20, 2012 2:18 AM in response to shaquitafromdc
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Jul 20, 2012 2:18 AM in response to shaquitafromdc

    Hello,

     

    First of all make sure your PowerBook can meet these system requirements:

     

    Processor must be PowerPC G4 (867 MHz and faster)

    DVD drive (for installation of the operating system)

    At least 512 MB of RAM (additional RAM (1 GB) is recommended for development purposes)

    At least 9 GB of disk space available.

     

    If your PowerBook meets these requirements, then follow the install instructions. This guide may help.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1544

     

    Best of luck

  • by rmarcuswright,

    rmarcuswright rmarcuswright Jul 25, 2012 10:06 AM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 10:06 AM in response to Knucklesmac

    Trying to get my old Powerbook G4 running again.  Reinstalled system 10.2 and now trying to install 10.5.2.

     

    Computer used to run this but now installer says this computer can not run this software.  

     

    What might be wrong here?

     

    M.

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Jul 25, 2012 11:15 AM in response to rmarcuswright
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 11:15 AM in response to rmarcuswright

    Hello,

     

    Which version of the PowerBook do you own?  

    Are you installing a retail copy of 10.5.2 or a version from another Mac?

     

    Let us know more about what error message you get and at what point you get the error message.

  • by rmarcuswright,

    rmarcuswright rmarcuswright Jul 25, 2012 1:20 PM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 1:20 PM in response to Knucklesmac

    It is a Powerbook  PowerPC g4, 15"  Memory 1024mb  Processor 1 ghz

     

    I believe the version of 10.5.2 is a retail copy since it was part of a bundle

     

    The error message is that "Mac OS X can not be installed on the computer.   This software can not be installed on this computer"

     

    I get the error as soon as I start the installation process right after it asks what language to use,  then it prepares to install.  Then the error message.

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Jul 25, 2012 1:28 PM in response to rmarcuswright
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 1:28 PM in response to rmarcuswright

    Hello,

     

    You say it's part of a bundle. I am wondering if these are system restore disk from another Mac you are trying to install. Are the disks gray in color? If so then yes it's a system disk which may relate to a new Mac or even a MacBook. They can't be installed on your PowerBook.

     

    If the disk is Back with an 'X' on it, like this http://yourmacguy.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/installdvd.png then it's a retail copy, which should work on your PowerBook. (Provided it's not a sever copy)

  • by rmarcuswright,

    rmarcuswright rmarcuswright Jul 25, 2012 1:45 PM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 1:45 PM in response to Knucklesmac

    Yep.  Just figured that out sorry.  It was from an iMac I purchased a few years later.  So many discs in this pile.

     

    If I can't use this disc how do I get from 10.2.3 to 10.5 on the powerbook.  I was there before but since the drive got washed I'm back to square one and the old OS will not do any software updates for some reason?

  • by rmarcuswright,

    rmarcuswright rmarcuswright Jul 25, 2012 1:48 PM in response to rmarcuswright
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 1:48 PM in response to rmarcuswright

    Now I'm really sorry.  Found the retail disk.  Sorry to waste your time.

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Jul 25, 2012 2:44 PM in response to rmarcuswright
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 2:44 PM in response to rmarcuswright

    Hello,

     

    So you have found the retail disk. Excellent.

    There is a link in the thread above with installations instructions, should you need them

     

    Best of luck

  • by mylesdevon,

    mylesdevon mylesdevon Aug 1, 2013 12:41 AM in response to shaquitafromdc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2013 12:41 AM in response to shaquitafromdc

    Bumping an old thread...

     

    I have a 1.5 Ghz Powerbook G4 running 10.5.8 that's still marching on, although slowly.  I'd like to do a clean install of the OS to get it running as best it can, as I only need to run a couple of applications on it now to save carting around my newer MB Pro..  I upgraded to Leopard using a friend's disk years ago (seemed like a good idea at the time... doh!), so don't have the correct install disks.

     

    From everything I've read, it looks like I'll need to buy a retail copy of Leopard, or find some install disks from a PB G4.  I believe the later Leopard disks are for Intel machines.  Can anyone help me out with which disks I need to look for?  Or, if anyone can help out with copies, I'd be really grateful.

     

    Many thanks,

     

    Myles

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Aug 2, 2013 5:37 AM in response to mylesdevon
    Level 9 (66,865 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 2, 2013 5:37 AM in response to mylesdevon

    Leopard retail disks are the only 10.5 installation discs that will work with Powerbooks.    Powerbooks last prebundled operating system was 10.4.3.  Mac OS X does not have a "clean install" option.  Erasing and install is only recommended if you suspect a hardware issue.   Slowness is usually due to the hard drive being too full (over 85% is the arbitrary point of diminishing returns), installation of software such as MacKeeper, Onyx, Macaroni, or other so-called optimizers, or using Flash or Java versions that are too old, using excess Dashboard widgets, a 4 years or older PRAM battery, or crashes that lead to a bad directory such as 4 language screen restart requests.    If you got MacKeeper at anytime, remove it right away, as it is the worst offender.  Backup your data if there is anything else apparently wrong before trying to isolate it.

  • by mylesdevon,

    mylesdevon mylesdevon Aug 2, 2013 7:00 AM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2013 7:00 AM in response to a brody

    That's very helpful, thanks.  I'm OK on most of what you describe, except the PRAM battery.  Is there a test for that, or is it just assume and replace?

     

    My (replaced once already) HD wasn't passing the Verify Disk test, so that's why I was looking for the Leopard install disk.  I just discovered, though, that my Tiger disk works fine for Disk Utility repairs, so I'm good to go there.

  • by Network 23,

    Network 23 Network 23 Aug 2, 2013 12:48 PM in response to mylesdevon
    Level 6 (12,043 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 2, 2013 12:48 PM in response to mylesdevon

    mylesdevon wrote:

     

    I'm OK on most of what you describe, except the PRAM battery.  Is there a test for that, or is it just assume and replace?

    There's one obvious symptom of a dead PRAM battery, and that's if the computer will not remember the Date and Time between restarts, because the battery is what remembers the time. For a Mac that old I'd replace it anyway, even if it seems fine, because the PRAM battery has roughly a 5 year life span.

  • by mylesdevon,

    mylesdevon mylesdevon Aug 3, 2013 10:59 AM in response to Network 23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2013 10:59 AM in response to Network 23

    Thanks very much for all the help.  I'll get on the PRAM replacement, although date and time are still fine at this point.