choosevlove

Q: Help installing orignal software to powerbook G4

I owned a powerbook G4 for about eight years until the screen went out. Someone recently gave me a powerbook g4 with the screen working condition, but the OS has been completely deleted. so i found my old OSx 10.3 discs that came with my original 15" powerbook and decided to install

 

I inserted disk 1, held down c, and booted up, started instaling things normally.

things were going great until the installation process decided to stop during the "finishing up" phase twice...

 

I decided to insert disc 2 to see if that would help.

 

now the computer only turns on and goes straight to white apple screen and stays there indefinitely. I can't even eject the disc.

 

Help! How can i eject the disc, and get back to installing OSx so I can use this titanium machine for something besides a music stand!

 

Thanks!

G

Posted on Oct 10, 2013 2:38 PM

Close

Q: Help installing orignal software to powerbook G4

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Oct 10, 2013 5:11 PM in response to choosevlove
    Level 8 (35,039 points)
    iPad
    Oct 10, 2013 5:11 PM in response to choosevlove

    Macs generally require the grey install disks from the exact model and generation as the original, not those shipped with even  another Powerbook variant.

     

    A full retail install disk set gets around this by allowing installation on any supported Mac.

     

    Can you see your hard drive in teh broken screen computer if you connect to an external monitor? If so, you could clone the existing drive to an external drive with CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDupper and then use the same to install the clone on the new working PB.

  • by choosevlove,

    choosevlove choosevlove Oct 10, 2013 6:40 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2013 6:40 PM in response to Allan Jones

    That seems like it might work.  my old powerbook is fully functional except for the screen.

     

    The only thing is, the new G4 has a disk stuck in it and I can't seem to get it out. Is there some way i can boot up into a terminal or something and then eject disc?

     

    any tips in that?

  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Oct 10, 2013 9:23 PM in response to choosevlove
    Level 8 (35,039 points)
    iPad
    Oct 10, 2013 9:23 PM in response to choosevlove

    There is a terminal command but I can't rememebr it at the moment. However, you can try holding down the trackpad button while booting--that's another way to eject.

  • by choosevlove,

    choosevlove choosevlove Oct 10, 2013 9:29 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2013 9:29 PM in response to Allan Jones

    Excellent, holding down the trackpad button makes the disk eject. 

     

    Now I am positive my sister has an old Tiger (10.4) disc if she can locate it.. that's another matter

     

    I may try my hand at using a flash drive as a boot disk with a copy of 10.4 on it. in the meantime

     

    Please let me know if this is a complete waste of time for some reason unknown to me, and I will focus my efforts on locating the disc.

     

    Thanks for the helps!

    G

  • by Allan Jones,Solvedanswer

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Oct 11, 2013 7:57 AM in response to choosevlove
    Level 8 (35,039 points)
    iPad
    Oct 11, 2013 7:57 AM in response to choosevlove

    I may try my hand at using a flash drive as a boot disk with a copy of 10.4 on it. in the meantime

     

    Very few PowerPC Macs are USB-bootable, so I'd put that option by the curb. To get a reliable boot from an external device, you need a FireWire device.

     

    I'd go for finding that disk, especially if it is truly a full retail install disk (hard to find now and expensive).

     

    My PB is a circa 2003 1gHz 17-inch. I still like to use it from time to time. Nice old machine. It's already out-lasted one newer MacBook Pro!

  • by dalstott,

    dalstott dalstott Oct 11, 2013 8:03 AM in response to choosevlove
    Level 4 (2,625 points)
    Oct 11, 2013 8:03 AM in response to choosevlove

    redundant post


  • by Curt Wiederhoeft,

    Curt Wiederhoeft Curt Wiederhoeft Oct 11, 2013 12:09 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 2 (395 points)
    Oct 11, 2013 12:09 PM in response to Allan Jones

    I've done this myself twice. Two different ways, so here are options that might work for you.

     

    Option 1

     

    • Attach a VGA monitor to the Powerbook with the broken screen, and boot it up.
    • If the display doesn't automatically mirror on the external monitor, take these sub-steps: plug in a USB keyboard and mouse, close the lid and wait for it to go to sleep, then wake it back up with the space bar on the keyboard. Leave this Powerbook closed, and use the external keyboard and mouse for the remaining steps.
    • Connect the "brain-dead" powerbook via Firewire, and boot it into Target disc mode (hold down 'T' on boot)
    • Use Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper to clone the good drive to the good Powerbook.

     

    Option 2: Just transplant the hard drive! You'll need a few different sizes of torx bits, and you'll have to be very careful with the ribbon cable connectors, but I've had great results just following the steps on ifixit.com.

  • by Curt Wiederhoeft,

    Curt Wiederhoeft Curt Wiederhoeft Oct 11, 2013 12:12 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 2 (395 points)
    Oct 11, 2013 12:12 PM in response to Allan Jones

    Allan Jones wrote:

     

    Very few PowerPC Macs are USB-bootable, so I'd put that option by the curb. To get a reliable boot from an external device, you need a FireWire device.

    The Titanium line was definitely NOT USB-bootable.

  • by choosevlove,

    choosevlove choosevlove Oct 14, 2013 6:54 PM in response to Curt Wiederhoeft
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2013 6:54 PM in response to Curt Wiederhoeft

    This also solved my question, but for some reason i can't give you points.  I will not be transplanting the hard drive, but I will be trying to clone the hard drive after trying to locate the disk a bit more... that is, whenever i get some free time.

     

    Thanks for the tips on cloning the hard drive Curt and Allan!

     

    if i have more questions or get stuck in the process of cloning, i will post a new discussion!