I have power mac g5 with OS X10.3.9 but i cannot upgrade to 10.4

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I have power mac g5 with OS X10.3.9 but i cannot upgrade to 10.4

I have a power mac G5 1.8ghz with 2.25GB of ram and 160GB HD. It works fine on 10.3.9 but unfortunately this is no good for me. I am trying to upfate to 10.4 but all this does is restart the computer back to the desktop.

All I am doing is double clicking the install icon on the disk and then pressing restart then entering my password. I have tried booting from thge disk but the same happens. I have also tried pressing the options key whilst its restarting and nothing happens

Im at my wits end as its useless to me without a modern OS.

I have also tried pressing the apple icon and going to software update but all it tells me is that everything is upto date.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Mar 5, 2014 4:31 AM

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Answer 1

kaz-k

Level 8

49,008 points

Mar 5, 2014 5:42 AM in response to rincewind72

1) Resetting PRAM

2) System Preferences -> Startup Disk

3) Select 10.4 install disc.

then reboot could works.

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

411,079 points

Mar 5, 2014 5:45 AM in response to rincewind72

Hold down the C key while booting to boot from the installer disc. You have to be booted to the installer disc to installer the system. Software Update will not upgrade your system, only update it.

Software update, upgrade--what's the difference? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1444

Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5: About installation options - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1545

Make sure the installer disc is a black retail version. Many people sell grey discs which only work in the Macs with which they were originally supplied.

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Answer 3

rincewind72 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2014 10:31 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks Limnos, I will certainly give that a go ASAP.

Kaz-K, sorry but I have no idea what Pram is but I will google it and give that a whirl as well..

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Answer 4

rincewind72 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2014 12:54 PM in response to rincewind72

Well I have tried both of these options and neither worked. I was unable to get access to the Pram and Pressing the C key didnt work either

according to http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379 my inability to access the Pram is due to my logic board battery being knackered??? not sure if thats the case.

I have no idea how to access the firmware settings as te system preferences dont have any immeadiate clues.

Anyone have any more ideas or is this Mac for the scrap?

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Answer 5

rincewind72 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2014 1:03 PM in response to rincewind72

Pressing the option key during boot up brought up a blue screen with a refresh symbol , a pic of the mac had with x on it and an arrow. Im guessing its telling me where it recognises the OS?? it doesnt bring up the disk thou

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Answer 6

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,960 points

Mar 5, 2014 1:46 PM in response to rincewind72

What version of Tiger 10.4 are you attempting to use?

If it is a gray-label, it likely won't work, as those are specific

to a computer model originally intended; a restore-install disc.

Usually these have identifiers on them for their intended Mac.

What numbers are on the Tiger disc? What Mac is it for?

The clock battery or PRAM battery should be replaced every

few years as they do not charge up. They are one-way. This

powers the parameter random access memory chip, where

settings for system function are stored.

The computer could use retail install DVD Leopard OS X 10.5.

This would be the best way to upgrade the OS X, unless you

happen to have a workable way to install OS 9.2.2 to use it

as Classic, to run older applications under Tiger OS X 10.4.11.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 7

Limnos

Level 10

411,079 points

Mar 5, 2014 2:40 PM in response to rincewind72

Doesn't show the disc or doesn't show the disk (disk = hard drive, disc = optical drive so there is a huge difference in spelling and meaning). If it isn't showing the boot DVD it could be you have a bad optical drive, which I suppose could be related to corrupt PRAM from a bad battery, or it could just be mechanically bad.

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