Powerbook G4 no OS X discs

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Powerbook G4 no OS X discs

Ok so i bought a used powerbook G4 since i could never afford a modern one.It is logged in as another user with a password I do not know. I either have to format the hard drive or replace it because the current is 70gb. Next I would have to use a OS X 10.4 or 10.5 disc which I do not have. So, where can i get one, buy it, burn an iso to a disc(which i don't want to)

One last thing does the hard drive have a limit to what i can upgrade it to same goes for the RAM

Processor: 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4

Memory: 512 mb DDR SDRAM

OS X : 10.4.11

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Sep 29, 2012 9:54 AM

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Answer 1

BGreg

Level 6

17,558 points

Sep 29, 2012 3:11 PM in response to Ludwing250

Apple doesn't sell those operating systems anymore. You can buy new, unopened mac software from hardcoremac.com, as one source. If you go used, recommend you get black-faced retail OS X disks, as opposed to gray-faced. Gray-faced disks are locked to the systems they are delivered with. And OS X 10.5 was never delivered with a Powerbook.

Max memory is 2GB (2 x 1GB). The 1.25Ghz Powerbook is finicky about it's memory. Stick with OWC, Crucial, or Samsung memory.

I've seen posts that the hard drive is limited to 250GB in that model Powerbook. It would take a parallel ATA hard drive, and not a serial ATA (SATA) drive.

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Answer 2

Sep 29, 2012 3:45 PM in response to Ludwing250

Here's one method to reset the password without the install disc:

1. boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.

2. wait for terminal show

3. release keys

4. type without the quotes: "/sbin/mount -uaw"

5. press enter

6. type without the quotes: "rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

7. press enter

8. type without the quotes: "reboot"

9. press enter

This will let you create a new admin account when you reboot your computer.

Also, without the discs, look at Mac OS X Tip - No Password, No Root, No CD? No Problem.

http://www.macobserver.com/tip/2003/06/16.1.shtml

Here is a way to get around not knowing the admin password on Macs.

To reset your OS X password without an OS X CD you need to enter terminal and create a new admin account:

1. Reboot

2. Hold apple + s down after you hear the chime.

3. When you get text prompt enter in these terminal commands to create a brand new admin account (hitting return after each line):

* mount -uw /

* rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

* shutdown -h now

4. After rebooting you should have a brand new admin account. When you login as the new admin you can simply delete the old one and you’re good to go again!

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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