wiredbrother
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Were can I download Mac OS X 10.4?

So I have a Mac Xserve Raid and was wondering were can I get a copy of OS X 10.4 that is from Apple. I have a Mac Pro with the Fibre channel card in it with the cord. I just need the OS because the Hard drive was reformatted. I am well aware that the OS has stopped being supported But I need a safe copy that hasn't been tampered with. Any help would be great!

Thank You!

-wiredbrother

Xserve, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Server addition

Posted on Apr 5, 2016 9:03 AM

by a brody,Apple recommended
a brody a brody
Level 9 (66,899 points)
Classic Mac OS
A:

I have a listing of used and refurbished Mac shops which may hold older copies*:

 

http://www.macmaps.com/usedrefurbished.html

 

Also note for Intel Macs, you can only use the 10.4 installer disc prebundled with them when they were sold.   For PowerPC Macs, 10.4 was the first Mac OS X to ship on DVD, with a hard to find CD Media Exchange Program.  Firewire DVD drives had mixed compatibility with the 10.4 installer discs, and not all 10.4 compatible Macs shipped with DVD drive. http://www.macsales.com/ still sells compatible ones.  And some PowerPC Macs shipped new with 10.4.3 or earlier, and need the 10.4.6 Retail installer if you bought the 10.4 installer disc.   To find out which ones did, see this tip:

http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6413

 

This was significant because Mac OS X's Classic mode for Mac OS 9 would not work on those Macs on Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

 

* Links to my pages may give me compensation.

Posted on Apr 9, 2016 1:55 PM

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wiredbrother

Q: Were can I download Mac OS X 10.4?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Apr 5, 2016 9:05 AM in response to wiredbrother
    Level 10 (124,577 points)
    Apple Music
    Apr 5, 2016 9:05 AM in response to wiredbrother

    Apple hasn't sold Tiger 10.4 from the Apple Store in years.

     

    Try Amazon.

  • by Limnos,Apple recommended

    Limnos Limnos Apr 5, 2016 9:20 AM in response to wiredbrother
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 5, 2016 9:20 AM in response to wiredbrother

    Tiger was never available for download. Optical disc only.  You can contact Apple and ask if they have copies but it is extremely unlikely and you will have to revert to sources such as eBay. Make sure your get black, retail version discs, not grey, machine-specific ones.

     

    Oh, if this is for booting a Mac Pro you will need the version of the discs which came with the computer originally, not the retail ones which were supplied for PPC Macs. Contact Apple support (not customer service) but again it is unlikely they will still have any.  Maybe check Google Groups Low End Mac

     

    Call Apple Customer Support 1-800-767-2775 (telephone numbers for other countries - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232). Provide the serial number and specifications of the Mac.  They may be able to provide a replacement set of discs for a fee.  These discs will be for whatever OS was installed on the computer originally, so if you have an upgraded version you will need to obtain the discs some other way.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Apr 5, 2016 9:15 AM in response to wiredbrother
    Level 6 (14,582 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 5, 2016 9:15 AM in response to wiredbrother

    The more obsolete, the more difficult it is to obtain these items...

     

    You should try Apple direct, to see if they could provide a copy of the

    original system software for your product (by serial number + model)

    on disc media, for a fee. Perhaps they may be able to make one.

     

    U.S. iPod, Mac and iPad technical support: (800) APL–CARE (800–275–2273)


    • See all worldwide support telephone numbers


    Contact Apple:

    http://www.apple.com/contact/

     

    Contact OS X Apple Support:

    http://www.apple.com/support/osx/contact/

     

    OS X - Apple Support:

    http://www.apple.com/support/osx/

     

    {If the hardware supports Leopard 10.5, that may be available for a price

    in the retail or re-sale market; see amazon or mac-centric vendors}

     

    Good luck in your quest...!

  • by wiredbrother,

    wiredbrother wiredbrother Apr 5, 2016 9:22 AM in response to wiredbrother
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 5, 2016 9:22 AM in response to wiredbrother

    Wow Thank you all so much for the quick response! I will try all of these suggestions and will get back to you guys what happened. Thank you so much!

  • by a brody,Apple recommended

    a brody a brody Apr 9, 2016 1:55 PM in response to wiredbrother
    Level 9 (66,899 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 9, 2016 1:55 PM in response to wiredbrother

    I have a listing of used and refurbished Mac shops which may hold older copies*:

     

    http://www.macmaps.com/usedrefurbished.html

     

    Also note for Intel Macs, you can only use the 10.4 installer disc prebundled with them when they were sold.   For PowerPC Macs, 10.4 was the first Mac OS X to ship on DVD, with a hard to find CD Media Exchange Program.  Firewire DVD drives had mixed compatibility with the 10.4 installer discs, and not all 10.4 compatible Macs shipped with DVD drive. http://www.macsales.com/ still sells compatible ones.  And some PowerPC Macs shipped new with 10.4.3 or earlier, and need the 10.4.6 Retail installer if you bought the 10.4 installer disc.   To find out which ones did, see this tip:

    http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6413

     

    This was significant because Mac OS X's Classic mode for Mac OS 9 would not work on those Macs on Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

     

    * Links to my pages may give me compensation.