How to erase/reformat hard drive and reinstall OS X 10.4?

Question

Level 1

0 points

How to erase/reformat hard drive and reinstall OS X 10.4?

I know this question is continously brought up in the discussions by newbies in the mac world (like myself), but I simply cannot find a step-by-step guide to reformat my hard drive/reinstall OS X 10.4.2.

Have tried to locate a relevant discussion, but they all seems to provide solutions for earlier versions of OS. My Mac did only come with two install discs (1 and 2), none of them named "Restore disc". Have tried to search these, but there is no option under Applications/Utilities/ named "Erase and install", as several conversations in the Discussions forum seems to presume.

Additional information might be needed to help me out. Please ask if you think you know how to explain the procedure to me. Completely new to mac computers:)

I just need this in with a teaspoon. Hope someone cares to help!

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on May 13, 2006 3:56 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Gulliver

Level 7

25,720 points

May 13, 2006 4:42 AM in response to -Sigurd-

Hi Sigurd,

insert the install DVD 1 and reboot while holding down the c-key. After you selected your language, go to the MENU and select "Disk Utility". Select your hard disk in the sidebar at the left, in the main window click the tab "Partition" and erase the disk. Once this is done, quit disk utility and proceed with a normal install. There won't be any other options because the installer is intelligent enough to recognize that there is no system present and therefore offers no more options.

Reply

Answer 2

-Sigurd- Author

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2006 6:06 AM in response to Gulliver

Great! Thank you.

Unfortunately I did not get too far in the process before a new problem showed up: I don´t know what is supposed to happen when I attempt to reboot the system holding down "c", but it seems to me like any normal startup. Except, at first a grey screen appears with a small folder icon (with alternately blinking a question mark and a "Finder" face). No selection options is offered to this picture (no mouse cursor etc.) After 10 seconds the system starts up normally and I am asked to enter user name and password as usual.

I´ve tried to hold down c all through the startup process and to press it at different times during the startup process. To me, the system does not seem to react at all to the "c" button. Am I not supposed to enter some kind of reinstallation menu or something?

What am I doing wrong?
Again, thanks

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

Reply

Answer 3

May 13, 2006 6:36 AM in response to -Sigurd-

Sigurd,

Booting your Mac while holding down the 'c' key forces it to boot from a bootable CD/DVD if one is present in your optical drive. You need to start holding down the 'c' key as soon as you hear the startup chime and keep holding the 'c' key down until you see the install disk startup screen.

An alternative method for booting your Mac from Install DVD 1 is this:
Insert your Install DVD 1 in your optical drive and then select the 'Startup Disk' prefPane from your 'System Preferences' control panel. It will show a folder icon that represents your presently installed System and a CD/DVD icon that represents the bootable system on Installation DVD 1. Select the CD/DVD icon and then click on the 'Restart…' button. When your Mac restarts it will do so from the DVD, not the hard drive. You don't have to hold down the 'c' key if you restart this way.

Once you're booted from the DVD proceed as per Gulliver's instructions.

Good luck…

Bill

Reply

Answer 4

-Sigurd- Author

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2006 8:18 AM in response to William Bothwell

Hi again and thank you for quick and accurate instructions.
Unfortunately neither of these CD/DVD OS-boot options functions the way they should - and I have no idea why not.
When entering Startup Disc and choosing CD/DVD, I get no reaction when selecting "Restart" - nothing happens until I give up and close the window. I let it stand for about half an hour before aborting the restart command.
And when rebooting manually while holding down "c" button, the same thing happen as described in earlier post (a grey screen with a questionmark/finder icon in a tiny folder icon in middle of screen), and no install window pops up at all.

My iBook is brand new and had only been used for 10 minutes before these problems occured. The previous owner registered herself as an administrator and I´ve been told to erase hard rive av rerun installations to change this.

Thank you again for any helping hints.
S

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

Reply

Answer 5

Gulliver

Level 7

25,720 points

May 13, 2006 8:58 AM in response to -Sigurd-

Sigurd,

please describe the disks that came with the iBook as precisely as possible. We have to be sure you have the correct install disks.

Reply

Answer 6

-Sigurd- Author

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2006 1:50 PM in response to Gulliver

Ok, my two install discs is named iBook G4 Mac OS X Install Disc 1 and 2. Disc 1 contains (as it says on the disc) Mac OS version 10.4.2, AHT version 2.5, Disc version 1.0. On Disc 2 it says "Disc version 1.3", and in upper right "corner" it says "includes Mac OS 9.2".

They´re both (c)2005 Apple Computer, Inc.

In addition, the Disc 1 specifically informs how to start up from Mac OS X (by holding down the c key) in upper right "corner" (where it says "Includes Mac OS 9.2" on Disc 2).

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

Reply

Answer 7

Gulliver

Level 7

25,720 points

May 13, 2006 4:06 PM in response to -Sigurd-

Sigurd,

these seem to be the correct disks. Did you check for scratches? Sometimes it happens that these disks are mis-burned. Try to get replacement disks, should be no problem.

Reply

Answer 8

-Sigurd- Author

Level 1

0 points

May 14, 2006 3:24 PM in response to Gulliver

The disks seems to be in fine condition, but I might try to get replacements in the near future. Have tried several times now and they obviously doesn´t do the job.

Thank you for helping!

iBook G4 14" Mac OS X (10.4)

Reply

Answer 9

-Sigurd- Author

Level 1

0 points

May 16, 2006 1:31 PM in response to Gulliver

By the way, you wouldn´t happen to know just where I should request those replacement disks? Servicemail or something else within @apple.com? Not shure which adress might be the appropriate one. If you do, let me know!
Thanks

Reply

Answer 10

Gulliver

Level 7

25,720 points

May 16, 2006 1:47 PM in response to -Sigurd-

Sigurd,

just call AppleCare ((47) 815 00 158) or the AppleStore (if you bought them from there: 800 33 034).

Reply