Sabinno

Q: Why does my iBook G4 only support CDs?

I've had the pleasure of using an iBook G4 lately, and I'm trying to fix it up. I've read that the drive that comes with the computer supports DVDs, but for some odd reason, mine does not. It is said in System Profiler to be a "QSI CD-ROM TCR-241" drive.

This begs the question; How did Leopard even get on this computer? I'm genuinely confused and this makes no sense to me. Can anyone explain how to re-install Leopard in any way, given there's no way to run DVDs on the computer?

I really don't want to waste money on an external disk drive, because I'd be doing it for a computer that I'm probably going to sell anyway.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 16, 2014 11:35 AM

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Q: Why does my iBook G4 only support CDs?

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 16, 2014 7:45 PM in response to Sabinno
    Level 6 (14,244 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 16, 2014 7:45 PM in response to Sabinno

    Perhaps someone installed a non-spec optical drive as replacement

    to what would have been a "slot-loading DVD/CD-RW Combo" drive.

     

    About the only way to reinstall a Leopard OS X 10.5 from DVD into

    that computer would be to use another Mac and a FireWire cable

    and see if you can use FireWire Target Disk Mode, and if the other

    computer can use Leopard 10.5, that would make it easier to use

    one of two possible ways to use one in target disk to install an OS.

     

    An external optical drive would have to be a FireWire model with its

    own power supply, to install a supported OS X. And to boot a PPC

    Mac from an external hard disk drive, perhaps a clone, that would

    also have to be a FireWire based drive with oxford-type chipset.

     

    So a FireWire cable, between two Macs, an install DVD or system

    clone (from same model iBook) or an external FW drive, appear to

    be the main general means toward that end.

     

    However once you install an OS X in the computer, since almost all

    versions of OS X that iBook G4 could support require a drive that

    can read DVD install media. And the user will need to be able to

    boot the computer from the optical drive to support the system in

    the computer. Also note: the OS X install DVD is proof of License.

     

    •How to use and troubleshoot - FireWire Target Disk Mode:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

     

    •OS X 10.8: Transfer files between two computers using Target Disk

    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10725

     

    •OS X 10.7: Transfer files between two computers using Target Disk

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ph3838

     

    http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/answers/how-to-use-target-disk-mode-to-boot-from- another-macs-hard-drive

     

    http://www.macworld.com/article/1139208/Target_Disk_Mode_to_the_Rescue.html

     

    If you had Tiger on CDs, that would have been a 4-CD set and they

    are rather rare now; if that optical drive is stock. I see no evidence

    in several databases, of G4 iBook 12/14 with only CD-ROM drive.

     

    The Combo drive is another animal. The workaround likely is to use

    a FireWire cable and a second computer that can handle the 10.5

    install DVD. But that puts this headache on a future owner, too.

     

    PS: Perhaps it was a special 'education model' without Combo?

     

    Good luck!

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Jun 17, 2014 7:36 AM in response to Sabinno
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Jun 17, 2014 7:36 AM in response to Sabinno

    http://www.macsales.com/ has optical drives for iBooks that should work.

     

    Do not get a USB optical drive as that won't boot any operating system on the iBook G4. 

     

    Some iBook G4s can only install 10.4.6 retail or later retail.  But do not attempt to boot a system specific disc other than for the iBook G4 itself.