I no longer have my installation CD for my Power Mac G3. Can I just buy an OS X 10 CD from ebay and use it to wipe out and re-install the OS on my computer? It says it is once licence, how do I know it hasn't already been used?
PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.2.x)
It is 10.4 Tiger software full version. This will be an upgrade from the current 10.2.6. Do I want to upgrade the software? It seems the older the software the more expensive it gets.
1. Yes, if it's a retail disk and not one which originally shipped with a Mac.
2. There's no way to tell; Apple uses the honor system for that product, and doesn't record the number of installations performed, either on the computers or on its own servers.
(85119)
If this is the Blue and White G3 tower, before installing OS X 10.4 Tiger, you need to run a Firmware update for this Mac. Not sure how to locate this for you on Apple's website because any older links to the firmware updated software no longer work.
You need this firmware update.
PM G3 (Blue and White) Firmware Update 1.1
IF your PowerMac G3 is a beige G3, the highest OS X version you can install without special helper software is OS X 10.2 Jaguar.
OS X 10.3 Panther can be installed with the help of this app. OS X 10.3.9 Panther is really, real world end of line for OS X versions to be installed. OS X 10.4 Tiger will not work with beige color PowerMac G3 models.
Michel, I am currently running 10.2.6, I need a disk so I can get into disk utility and wipe the computer before re-installing the software. How do I know if I can run 10.4? I was told my computer would run up to 10.4.11. And it is a retail disk.
What model is your PowerMac G3? Is it beige color or is it the Blue and White colored G3 tower?
The beige PowerMacs really cannot go beyond OS X 10.3 Panther.
I have a completely custom modded out beige G3 Desktop. It runs OS X 10.3.9 Panther decently but Internet access is limited by older, obsolete web browsers.
If your PowerMac G3 is the bright blue and white colored tower, you can't install OS X 10.4 Tiger until you can find, download and instill the Firmware updater I posted.
Full Apple retail discs of OS X 10.2 Jaguar and OS X 10.3 Panther can be found on Amazon.com.
Jumble96 wrote:
I was told my computer would run up to 10.4.11. And it is a retail disk.
If your PowerMac is an older beige box PowerMac G3, then whoever told you this was false.
With minimal hassle, the beige G3 can go as far as 10.3.9 Panther.
Theoretically, a beige G3 may be made to run OS X 10.4 Tiger, but , if memory serves, there are a lot of hoops and workarounds to get it installed. And once installed, it will not run or operate very well as much of the neccessary hardware isn't there to support OS X 10.4.
It is a blue and white tower.
can I use this OS to clear and re-instal on the computer?
Or do I need to buy the 10.2 Tiger to wipe the computer, then re-instal the 10.2 and use the firmware updater instrucitons you provided to get it to it's highest potential?
Yes.
(85140)
Yes, your PowerMac G3 is called the Blue and White model.
You can use that disc.
Looks good!
I am not sure, but you may need another OS version to be able to run the firmware update.
You may need to find a Mac OS 9.2.1 or Mac OS 9.2.2 disc, install this OS first, then download and run the firmware update.
Check the instructions to make sure.
Here is the other OS disk you may need.
Once the Firmware has been updated you can use the OS X 10.4 Tiger disc to install OS X right over the previous OS.
Good Luck!
Here is where the Blu and Wht G3 programmers button is located to complete the Firmware update per instructions.
Trying to buy OS X Tiger for my Power Mac
