G4 OS X Tiger Install

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G4 OS X Tiger Install

I have a Mac G4 800 MHz PowerPC (Quicksilver) running OS X Panther Ver. 10.3.2. There is 1 GB of Ram. Two hard drives each 150 GB.

I want to upgrade to Tiger OS X 10.4. I managed to find a copy of Mac OS X 10.4 on Ebay. Still in original packaging and seems to be genuine. When I check this disk in an iMac or MBP the disk opens and is 'ready to go.' It appears good.

However, when I insert the disk into the G4 drive - nothing happens! The disk image does not appear and after about 30 seconds the disk ejects. I have wracked my brains for a work-around or solution but I'm stumped!

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.3.x), 800 MHz Quicksilver

Posted on Jul 7, 2015 10:50 AM

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Answer 1

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BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 7, 2015 11:15 AM in response to assegaiguy

Hi,

Is it a gray machine specific Install Disc, or the Black Retail one?

What is the 2z691-****-A number on it?

Does the QS maybe only have a CD drive & not handle DVDs?

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Answer 2

assegaiguy Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 7, 2015 12:29 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for responding

Black, Install DVD 2Z691-5305-A

You nailed it! The G4 has a Sony CD-RW disk drive!

I have an external USB DVD drive - I'll try that when I get back.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 7, 2015 1:20 PM in response to assegaiguy

Most PPC Macs cannot boot OSX from USB, only Firewire, but a few do using the alt key at bootup, some others may be coaxed with Open Firmware tricks, let us know.

Oh, do you have another Mac with Firewire & a DVD drive?

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Answer 4

assegaiguy Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 7, 2015 2:14 PM in response to BDAqua

Good point - I remember reading that somewhere. I have an iMac which has Firewire. I'll dig up a Firewire cable and connect to that. I'll let you know how it goes.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 7, 2015 3:00 PM in response to assegaiguy

Maybe you know this, but we want to use the iMac as a FW Optical drive, booting the iMac with the t key held down, once the floating FW symbol shows we want to boot the QS holding alt key & choose the Install Disc in the iMac as a boot source. 🙂

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Answer 6

assegaiguy Author

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4 points

Jul 8, 2015 5:06 AM in response to BDAqua

Up and running! I have Tiger installed. Thanks for the good instructions - worked out really well.

Again - many thanks for your help!

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 8, 2015 11:44 AM in response to assegaiguy

Great news & good luck! 🙂

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Answer 8

assegaiguy Author

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4 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:10 AM in response to BDAqua

For some unknown reason I cannot award a "This Helped me" Star on the last two entries. Apple Support web is very glitchy on my MBP! Often, after I log in I get stuck. I write it off to Apple's DGS (Don't give a Sh**) attitude.

BDAqua has been a great help to me with this issue. He went beyond "the call of duty!"

Many thanks!

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 9, 2015 7:45 AM in response to assegaiguy

Thanks, & yes, it's a pain using Apple's forum in so many ways, sadly I'm about to give up helping here. 😟

My Site...

http://x704.net/bbs/

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Answer 10

assegaiguy Author

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4 points

Jul 9, 2015 10:49 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the link - I'll head there in future, 🙂

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Answer 11

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 9, 2015 1:01 PM in response to BDAqua

.

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Answer 12

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Jul 9, 2015 1:04 PM in response to assegaiguy

Several times a day I cannot see the last post in a thread, I have to either use a browser where I'm not logged into ASC to see it, or make a post with just a period in it to then see it. 😟

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