I have an old ibook G4, how can I update my OS?

My iBook G4 800 is running 10.3.9. I think mine can be upgraded to 10.4.x. You may be able to upgrade to another version of the os.

I have the Tiger discs and thought of doing that but am not certain if I would lose my data. I still love my trusty old iBook. They are great computers. Just the other day I used it to administer Airport Extreme. I find the iBook give more info when I'm troubleshooting than a more current version of OSX.

Your iBook G4 is among the first model build series...

Depending on the as-shipped specification, the OS X

version supported varies. OS X 10.5(.8) is the highest

supported version the hardware can run. It would be

available in the second-hand or pre-owned market,

on a retail DVD; not a grey disc or one from another

different model computer. Leopard 10.5 DVD.

See specs for Mac in free download application:

http://mactracker.ca

By serial number, lookup database online:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

Hopefully this helps...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Hi, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.

Which version of the OS is it currently running? (No iBook G4 runs Mac OS 9.)

Which exact model iBook is it?

You can choose from this list:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/index-ibook.html

When we know the exact model and what version of the software it's running now, we can figure out how to upgrade (or whether you can).

Given the cut-off spec for use of Mac OS X 10.5.8 is 867MHz CPU, that makes some on the edge and not supported. Your 933MHz model is a little above minimum, so qualified to run the last OS X written for PowerPC Macs, Leopard 10.5(.8)

If you need a little faster web experience, you could try iCab browser, it is a bit quicker than TenFourFox v.24 and likely better in a slower PPC G4 than the later versions of SeaMonkey-PPC. I use an older SeamonkeyPPC from a year ago (v 2.13) since later ones were so slow and had issues. I save most upgrade versions of browsers in their zip or dmg file, so if I need to revert, I can. The iCab browser will run free but has a reminder to consider buying it that can be made to disappear for a time by clicking on it. Or buy the license for $20. and be sure to keep a copy of the license so you can reactivate it when or if the Mac fails to function, or if you have a clone of the running OS X on external drive (a live bootable backup) just in case.

The original Safari browser is good in that you can use it, and look into its Preference settings, to choose a different browser as system Default browser. I chose SeaMonkey-PPC in one Mac, so I could have google notifier run there, and also I often use TenFourFox and did not want my gmail or other browsing to conflict with what I was already doing, since a browser will launch for gmail if you'd set up notifier.

{A note about Notifier, google has stated they will discontinue support of this handy application that helps use Gmail. Mine is still working, but not sure when it will stop. The deadline was 31 Jan '14. And I'd found in other google products, namely Google Earth, I had to lock that application (Get Info, click Lock in window) so they won't automatically upgrade G.E. to a later version that will not run in older OSX or in my powerPC G4.}

Hopefully your iBook will keep on working well...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

The Tiger 10.4(.11) is a fine operating system and so far probably the longest running one up to now. It was updated several more times until they got Leopard 10.5; and coincidentally, part of that time was when intel-based macs were being developed, and they shipped with a special build version of Tiger. You'd need the retail Tiger install DVD. And a later download of Combo update 10.4.11.

You could to an 'archive and install' that would install a new System Folder, and leave the older one in the hard disk drive for you to look at awhile and wonder what to do with it; there is a way (I've forgotten) on how to re-use some of that stuff. When upgrading from Panther several years ago, I decided to make a clone of the Panther on an externally enclosed hard disk drive with a FireWire connection, that has its own power supply, and has an oxford-type chipset to allow for Mac OS X booting from there. So a clone (carbon copy cloner) was used to make a complete system clone on the external drive. I tested it several times to be sure, then I erased the hard disk drive in the iBook (and other computers, I had an iMac G4, too) and installed the main system, then added the Combo update to 10.4.11, and the last security updates available, then reinstalled my applications. Some applications like Tiger better, and some were made for later OS X. Now the trail is cold on support but Tiger 10.4.11 is much superior to Panther 10.3.9. A totally better experience.

{The advantage of an upgrade if you have other retail application installers, is the totally clean install gives you a chance to secure erase and overwrite one-pass zeros on the hard disk drive, and reformat it. But if you upgrade by archive & install, you have all those older applications, but have to figure out how to use them in the new system, which is in its own new folder. The older OS X won't boot, so later it would be put to trash.}

I was able to use Pacifist to reinstall some of the original applications from the older restore-install DVD the computer shipped with, as it can extract items from an install DVD without running the Installer, and it will install them from the desktop. But for a novice, this may not be a good idea.

Anyway, I suggest you start a new thread to address this upgrade question as it warrants due consideration.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Thank you, K Shaffer. I'll do that. Love my old iBook 🙂