Power Mac G5 (Dual 2Ghz 970MP) running 10.5.8 but crashes trying to install 10.4

Thanks for your response. I thought the retail DVD would install too, but as you can see from the traces, no luck so far. The Mac OS X Tiger (includes Xcode2) install DVD (2Z691-5305-A) disk is black with the X on it.

I am trying to erase the 80Gb 10.5 disk. I have tried both these approaches:

1. I set the DVD OS X (10.4) to be the boot device

2. I set the 80Gb drive (10.5) to be the boot device, then started the DVD's 10.4 Installer, and then agreed to the restart button in the Installer application window.

but they resulted in the same kernel crash as shown in the screen shots above.

I do not have any external hard drives attached. This is a mystery.

I only have the GeForce 6600LE PCIe card in Slot 1. No AirPort Extreme/Bluetooth card.

I did replace the old PRAM battery (voltage 2.94) with a new CR 2032 and reset the PRAM holding down Command-Option-P-R keys until second boot tone chimed. (A lot of dust in there, but I haven't really cleaned it yet...) After boot, I reset the date / time.

First, I inserted the OS X 10.4 install DVD, double-clicked on the Installer icon and the G5 rebooted loading from the DVD and then, the same kernel crash as shown on the screen shots above.

Second, I inserted the install DVD, rebooted without holding the alt key and the G5 loaded the DVD and crashed as before.

Third, I inserted the install DVD, did nothing to open the Installer, then closed the DVD. Checked Startup Disk and none of the icons (HD, DVD, Network Startup with "?") was highlighted. I rebooted and I held the alt key at bootup and it presented me with four icons: 1) the hard drive (highlighted), 2) the DVD, 3) a clockwise arrow, and 4) an arrow facing to the right. I selected the DVD with the mouse and clicked on the right arrow. Same crash as before.

I pressed on the eject key, rebooted, took out the DVD, and 10.5.8 booted up as normal.

Thoughts? I have my suspicions about the DVD, but that makes no sense as it appears to be an original with documentation (Welcome to Tiger, Installation Guide, , box, etc.

Thanks.

I spoke with the DVD vendor, http://www.themactoystore.com/ (cooperative and helpful). They suggested that I erase the HD of the 10.5.8 and then use the 10.4.6 DVD. Thoughts?

I've copied the 10.5.8 files to an external HD (USB 2), but am relatively sure those files alone (i.e., no Installer) would be enough to rebuild to a working system (as I've read that Apple had machine-specific install disks and did not have universal installers until post-PowerPC era) if the DVD 10.4.6 were somehow deficient. Suggestions?

Thanks.

BD, I see were were drafting replies at the same time. I don't have an older G4 or G4. I have an old PPC 6100/DoS, but it only could handle up to 9.1 according to apple-history.com.

BD, your excerpt from MacWorld may have given me a hint. Looking at that thread got me to thinking about the kernel versions.

As this is a late-2005 G5, it would have needed a kernel that is Darwin 8.4 or better (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_Tiger (see release history). The three screen shots I took from above show a Darwin 8.0.0 kernel signifying this is likely a OS X 10.4(.nothing) DVD and may not an OS X 10.4.6 DVD.

Thoughts?

I've spoken with Craig at http://www.themactoystore.com/ and will be returning the Mac OS X 10.4 DVD for one that is at least 10.4.4.

As a related question, I'd read that 10.4.6 was the latest Tiger version capable of running Classic mode. Would your notes confirm that? If I receive a 10.4.7 up through 10.4.11, that would be defeating my original objective in running Tiger on the G5.

Thanks!

After a long absence, I'm glad to report the following:

1) What was sold to me as OS X 10.4.6 was really 10.4 (Darwin 8.0, 4/29/05) which was why my late-2005 G5 experienced the problems described above.

2) I was fortunate enough to speak with an Apple Care manager based in Canada who sent me a Apple Mac OS X Tiger replacement DVD (10.4.6) which booted properly. (Thanks Sam!)

I'll open a new thread to find someone who can help with part 2 of my quest: To run in "Classic" mode and search for the software to load onto the G5 (now updated to 10.4.11 via Apple.)

Thanks to BDAqua and Apple Care.