kane459

Q: how do i boot from usb to reinstall my os

ok so i have an older imac G4 PPC heres a link to the one i have   https://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/serial.php?mod_num=M9285LL-A

 

and i have a retail copy of OS X 10.5.8 (Leopard) which i backed up to an external drive because i noticed the disk was getting scratched. i dont have a working dual layer dvd burner or a burner at all is there any way i can take my backup that i made of my retail disk and boot it from a usb to install it onto my mac?

Posted on Sep 17, 2016 2:36 AM

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Q: how do i boot from usb to reinstall my os

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 17, 2016 2:54 AM in response to kane459
    Level 8 (38,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2016 2:54 AM in response to kane459

    Typically, PowerPC Macs cannot start up from a USB external drive, only FireWire.  If you "cloned" the optical disc to the USB external drive, you can try to set it as the startup disk.

     

    Do you have access to another Mac that has a working optical drive and a FireWire port?  If so, you may be able to use FireWire Target Disk Mode to install using your retail Leopard installation disc.  The other Mac is in "target mode" sharing its working optical drive over FireWire with the iMac G4.  The iMac G4 runs the installation, which is preferable.  OR if the other Mac is also PowerPC (and can run Leopard), the iMac G4 is in "target mode"; the other Mac runs the installation of Leopard over FireWire to the iMac G4's hard drive.

  • by kane459,

    kane459 kane459 Sep 17, 2016 10:27 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 17, 2016 10:27 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    sadly all i have is a linux laptop and a win 7 desktop this is my one and only mac

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 17, 2016 11:07 AM in response to kane459
    Level 8 (38,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2016 11:07 AM in response to kane459

    I believe the internal optical drive is a standard (but older type) IDE (not SATA) tray-loading optical drive.  This old but comprehensive article has a lot of relevant info

     

    http://xlr8yourmac.com/systems/iMac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html

     

    Here's another one for additional pictures

     

    https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+G4+17+800+MHz+EMC+1936+Optical+Drive+Replaceme nt/7044

     

    You can find others with an Internet search, including discussion topics in this forum.  Some of those old optical drives are longer and do not fit.  Obviously, you need one that can read DVD, not just a "CDROM" or "CDRW" drive.

     

    OR, you may be able to find an old working FireWire (400) external optical drive (that can read DVD) for cheap.  I remember having one from LaCie, and I was able to start up from it.  It looked like this

     

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/LaCie-d2-Dual-DVD-RW-R-external-drive-w-power-cord-/3318 90610310?hash=item4d4638d086

     

    Either way, it would be good to have a working (bootable) optical drive, since third-party software from that time typically shipped on optical discs.

  • by kane459,

    kane459 kane459 Sep 17, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 17, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    the problem isnt the dvd drive the problem is i have no blank dual layer dvd disks so i have no way to burn my back up retail dvd im trying to find a way to install the max osx os with out having to use the dvd drive

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 17, 2016 4:34 PM in response to kane459
    Level 8 (38,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2016 4:34 PM in response to kane459

    Buy some...  Also, if you have a retail Leopard installation disc (scratched or not), if you were able to clone it to a USB external drive, that means it's still useable.  Why can't you use it to do the actual Leopard installation on the iMac G4, if

    the problem isnt the dvd drive

  • by kane459,

    kane459 kane459 Sep 17, 2016 4:39 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 17, 2016 4:39 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    i cant buy any dual layer dvd's none of the stores in town carry them and also my retail disk is so scratched the dvd drive wont even read it all i have is the back up copy i made when i bought the retail disk ages ago

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 17, 2016 4:59 PM in response to kane459
    Level 8 (38,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2016 4:59 PM in response to kane459

    Order online...?  Also, you may be able to remove scratches from optical disc, using a polishing compound.  The scratched surface is just clear plastic.  How does a disc that you use once and then put away get scratched up, anyways...?

     

    NOTE:  I'm not sure you'll be able to burn your backed up data (from a USB external drive) to a DVD-R, and have it be bootable.

     

    The intended way to install Mac OS X (before Lion 10.7), is to start up from an original installation disc, and run the installation.  Apple sold those discs for around $130 each back then; it may not be as simple as burning a blank DVD-R.

  • by kane459,

    kane459 kane459 Sep 17, 2016 5:21 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 17, 2016 5:21 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    there has to be some way i can install mac osx lepord from usb would i be able to use a bootable linux partition to install osx or maybe some how use my windows 7 desktop to install the osx os over my network

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 17, 2016 5:30 PM in response to kane459
    Level 8 (38,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2016 5:30 PM in response to kane459

    The intended method is to use the original installation disc in the target Mac's optical drive to start up and run the installation.  I don't have personal experience with alternative methods that do not involve actually using the original installation disc in the process.