powerbook g4 OS 10.5.8 and flash player

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powerbook g4 OS 10.5.8 and flash player

I have been researching the answer to this, but the ones claiming to have answered the question are not relevant or are not correct. Some answers actually state to upgrade to 10.6, which is impossible on the Powerbook G4.

The Powerbook G4 has been upgraded to OS 10.5.8. Safari will NOT play anything requiring Adobe Flash Player. A download of Flash Player 10.1.102.64 results in "installation failed" at 49 per cent.

A search for other browsers results in false responses and invitations to download other browsers on untrustworthy sites. Finding another browser has been fruitless. Visiting the other browsers' sites only provides the ability to download the latest versions. Searching for archived downloads gives results that are not acceptable, such as downloading older versions from sites I simply do not trust. A search of this site provided results that were not relevant to the Powerbook G4.

It took me a long time to purchase a Mac because they are so expensive. Had I known that I would not be able to use it for anything other than a paperweight or doorstop, I would have never purchased it.

The Processor is a PowerPC 1.25 GHz G5. The memory is 1GB DDR SDRAM. I realize it is an older Powerbook, but my Windows-based Dell Inspiron 600M is older and still can play videos and games requiring Adobe Flash Player, even with Windows XP installed.

If there is a way to make Adobe Flash Player work on the Powerbook G4 OS 10.5.8 Leopard, please let me know. (I am certain I am not the only one searching for help on this topic.)

As an aside, the topic list below is too generic. There should be one "using OS 10.5 Leopard on a laptop" or "Powerbook".

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), G4

Posted on Aug 25, 2014 6:06 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Aug 25, 2014 6:52 AM in response to MPMomma

You can check here: http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/about/ to see which version you should install for your Mac and OS. Note that version 10,1,102,64 is the last version available to PPC Mac users*. The latest version,10.3.183.23 or later, is for Intel Macs only running Tiger or Leopard, as Adobe no longer support the PPC platform.

(If you are running a PPC Mac with Flash Player 10.1.102.64 and are having problems with watching videos on FaceBook or other sites, try the following solution which fools the site into thinking that you are running the version 11.5.502.55:)

Download this http://scriptogr.am/nordkril/post/adobe-flash-11.5-for-powerpc to your desktop, unzip it, and replace the current Flash Player plug-in which is in your main/Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder, (not the user Library). Save the old one just in case this one doesn't work.

You should also take a look at TenFourFox:

You can download TenFourFoxG5 from here:

http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

Now for the interesting bit: TenFourFox, like Firefox, does not support most plug-ins. Unless you are prone to headaches (in which case don't) you can read about that here:

http://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/wiki/PluginsNoLongerSupported

But there is a workaround!

Open TenFourFox and type in the address bar: about:config (no spaces) and click return. This gives you a warning that it might harm the application. Ignore that and click on 'I'll be careful, I promise' and you get the config file that you can edit - with great care.

Look/search (scroll down) for: tenfourfox.plugins.enabled

Set it to true. (Double click it to toggle it)

Now close TenFourFox, open it again, and Flash will now work, as it now uses the plug-ins that Safari has stored.

I am using Flash 11.5.502.55 in TenFourFox on a G5 iMac running Leopard and it works just fine.

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Answer 2

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 6:13 AM in response to Klaus1

Thank you for answering.

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Answer 3

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 6:34 AM in response to MPMomma

There is no tenfourfox.plugins.enabled in my list under about:config. The information for TenFourFox on its download page reads that if I want to use Flash or Jave, do not use TenFourFox.

Thank you for answering.

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Answer 4

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Sep 3, 2014 6:38 AM in response to MPMomma

It will work if you follow the instructions in my post.

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Answer 5

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 6:40 AM in response to Klaus1

When I enter about:config in the browser, there is not such listing as tenfourfox.plugins.enabled.

All I want to do is play some browser games on this overpriced paperweight.

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Answer 6

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 6:42 AM in response to Klaus1

If I search the browser after going into about:config and enter the term plugins.enabled, there are two responses: dom.ipc.plugins.enabled.i386 and dom.ipc.plugins.enabled.x86_64. To me, they look more like settings for a Windows computer.

Either way, there is no tenfourfox.plugins.enabled.

Thanks for answering.

It sure would be nice if we were able to edit our replies instead of having to reply again.

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Answer 7

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Sep 3, 2014 6:50 AM in response to MPMomma

Are you using the correct version of TenFourFox for a G4 Mac?

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Answer 8

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 6:54 AM in response to Klaus1

Yes. I followed the instructions, especially the part about which one to download. I have 7450 because when I entered "machine" in the terminal, the response was ppc7450.

Thanks.

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Answer 9

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 6:56 AM in response to MPMomma

What's really sad is that I am writing all of this on a ten-year-old Dell Inspiron 600M that will still use flash player. It's just slow about it. I bought the Mac as a replacement as I am giving the Dell to my sister so she can have a computer.

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Answer 10

MPMomma Author

Level 1

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Sep 3, 2014 7:37 AM in response to Klaus1

I just realized that you are using G5, I am using G4e. That could be the difference. I am on TenFourFox's site and help area. Maybe I will find the answer there.

thanks

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Answer 11

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Sep 3, 2014 12:15 PM in response to MPMomma

I think TFF vers. 24 & up do not allow Flash at all.

TenFourFox is the most up to date browser for our PPCs, they even have G4 & G5 optimized versions...

http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

I'd avoid version 24 though, as it no longer supports plug-ins like Flash.

http://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/downloads/list

SeaMonkey seems pretty fast also, with many options...

http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/

The last version with Mac OS 10.4 and PPC support was SeaMonkey 2.0.14.

The last version seamonkey-for-ppc - 2.26 RELEASE - Mac OS X 10.5.x - PPC.

http://code.google.com/p/seamonkey-ppc/

PROJECT SITE:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/seamonkey-for-ppc

register for updates at the SourceForge seamonkey-for-ppc project page

https://sourceforge.net/projects/seamonkey-for-ppc

Might also look into iCab & OmniWeb versions.

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Answer 12

MPMomma Author

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Sep 4, 2014 3:07 AM in response to BDAqua

?

I heard back from TenFourFox, it has stopped allowing any use of Flash Player or "plug ins" regardless of how many complaints it receives.

I just want to be able to use this extremely expensive machine for more than a paperweight. The only reason I wanted it was to own a Mac and play games in browsers. It serves no other purpose. I have a desktop for email and such.

It should be up to the individual whether or not to use what the developers consider unsafe. It's like Yahoo and Microsoft over-protecting email accounts for no other purpose than to glean extraneous, unneeded information from users.

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Answer 13

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Sep 4, 2014 10:24 AM in response to MPMomma

Yeah, can't use my Hotmail account anymore because they want a cell phone number, which I don't have.

Anyway, use a version of TFF older/lower than v24, I use TFF G5 v 17.0.4

http://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/downloads/list

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Answer 14

Jan 22, 2015 5:42 AM in response to MPMomma

I'm just curious how much you paid for this laptop as you keep referring to it as 'extremely expensive'. I picked up my G4 on ebay last summer for $88 and free Fed Ex shipping with 10.5 on it. I was thinking I stole it for that price. Can I sell this thing for $500 or something? Maybe the ebayer I bought it from was out of his mind?! Thanks for shedding any light on the resale value of a PPC G4.

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