Q: When I try installing Leopard on my Powermac G4, it says that the software can't be installed. What can I do to fix it?

My current 10.4.8 version of Tiger Server running on my Powermac no longer does it for me. I had an old copy of Leopard lying around that I bought in 2008 and decided to make the iso into a bootable USB stick as my Powermac does not have a functioning DVD drive. When I booted from the drive, it said that I could not install the new operating system. It did however give me options to change passwords of my current software etc.. What can I do to fix this?

-JB

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 2, 2014 8:51 AM

I have this question too

Q: When I try installing Leopard on my Powermac G4, it says that the software can't be installed. What can I do to fix it?

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by mikiotty,

mikiotty Mar 2, 2014 9:54 AM in response to lcruzmusic
Level 1 (0 points)

Mar 2, 2014 9:54 AM in response to lcruzmusic

Hi!
What are the specs of your PowerMac?
If the processor speed is lower than 867MHz, the Leopard installer won't let you install the system.
Let us know!

-Michele
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by Allan Jones,

Allan Jones Mar 2, 2014 11:28 AM in response to lcruzmusic
Level 8 (35,071 points)

iPad

Mar 2, 2014 11:28 AM in response to lcruzmusic

In spite of what some Apple docs and mavens say, the majority of PowerPC Macs have difficulty booting from a USB drive of any kind. Not an issue with Intel-powered Macs.

Do you have another Mac with FireWire ports and a working drive? That can give you a viable option. Post back if you have another Mac with Firewire for instrucitons
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by DieselFuelForLife,

DieselFuelForLife Mar 2, 2014 11:38 AM in response to lcruzmusic
Level 2 (370 points)

Mar 2, 2014 11:38 AM in response to lcruzmusic

G4 macs cannot boot from USB.
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by mikiotty,

mikiotty Mar 2, 2014 11:48 AM in response to DieselFuelForLife
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Mar 2, 2014 11:48 AM in response to DieselFuelForLife

Yes they can, but you have to type several commands into Open Firmware. It's not so easy.
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Mar 2, 2014 3:42 PM in response to lcruzmusic
Level 10 (123,506 points)

Mar 2, 2014 3:42 PM in response to lcruzmusic

Was this a gray Machine specific Disc, or the Retail version?

What is the 2z691-****-A number on the Install Disc?
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Q: When I try installing Leopard on my Powermac G4, it says that the software can't be installed. What can I do to fix it?

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by mikiotty,

by Allan Jones,

by DieselFuelForLife,

by mikiotty,

by BDAqua,

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