Power Mac - installing OSX on Powermac G4 500mhz

smi2710 · smi2710 #1 (**permalink**)

02-27-2009, 06:42 PM

i am trying to instal OSX( from my macbook ) on a newly acquired G4 and it will boot but it says it cant install

its a G4 gigabit
500MHZ
640 ram
and i put a 40gb drive in it and reformatted to a mac OS partition

what gives ?

from what i read this should not be a problem installing

but i am a newbie

vansmith · vansmith #2 (**permalink**)

02-27-2009, 06:52 PM

From your MacBook? Are you trying to use the gray discs that came with your MB? If so, they won't work. You will need a retail disc to install OSX on your G4.

smi2710 · smi2710 #3 (**permalink**)

02-27-2009, 07:01 PM

yeah thats what im trying to do

they worked fine when i installed a bigger drive i n my macbook

??????

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #4 (**permalink**)

02-27-2009, 11:12 PM

LOL system restore discs are model specific and will work only with the model they are released with. Only mentioned thousands of times in forums. Have a look around eBay and such places for a retail install version of Tiger OS X.4 and kick that RAM up to at least 1GB.

smi2710 · smi2710 #5 (**permalink**)

02-28-2009, 08:26 PM

ok so i i have a copy of tiger 4 disk set and upon disk one boot up the apple comes up then this

unable to find driver for this platform "powermac3,3"

what gives leopard will boot so i have some functionality but not istall tiger get me to this point

i have tried another cd drive and same error
i have tried more /less ram and i get the same deal

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #6 (**permalink**)

02-28-2009, 10:56 PM

Is this still with the disc from the Macbook or black coloured retail install DVD?

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #7 (**permalink**)

02-28-2009, 11:04 PM

You are trying to install an Intel version of Tiger that came with an Intel Mac. Power PC is not an X86 CPU and you can not install a X86 (Intel) OS on a Power PC. The only Tiger that will install on that old Power PC G4 will be a Full Install Black Tiger DVD. The Retail copy. No Machine Specific version will install and especially one designed for an Intel Mac.

smi2710 · smi2710 #8 (**permalink**)

03-01-2009, 03:56 PM

yes i have a copy of the black tiger disc and thats whats throwing the error

smi2710 · smi2710 #9 (**permalink**)

03-01-2009, 05:47 PM

command+option+P+R = install

mixedup · mixedup #10 (**permalink**)

03-02-2009, 01:13 AM

While on this topic...I have a intel macbook pro which I bought used 18months ago. At the time I also bought leopard 10.4 family pack. I installed it on the laptop and my imac. A friend made me a good deal on his old 10" powerbook g4 which is great for carrying around and I was able to install 10.4 on that too. Now I just picked up an emac g4 1Gz and I'd like to install 10.4 but it only has a cd drive no DVD. I tried a usb DVD drive and I'm able to click on installer but I can't get to the languages screen to start install. What can I do?

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #11 (**permalink**)

03-02-2009, 04:21 PM

Well mixedup OS X.4 is Tiger and not Leopard, so it is either one or the other. The eMac is a Power PC (PPC) and they will not boot from a USB drive, even in most cases USB2.

PowerPC's are bootable using a Firewire device and connection.

dtravis7 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca. Posts: 25,815 Mac Specs: iMac C2D Late 2007 20" with 10.8.3, Macbook Santa Rosa 4GB Ram OSX 10.8.3	02-28-2009, 11:04 PM You are trying to install an Intel version of Tiger that came with an Intel Mac. Power PC is not an X86 CPU and you can not install a X86 (Intel) OS on a Power PC. The only Tiger that will install on that old Power PC G4 will be a Full Install Black Tiger DVD. The Retail copy. No Machine Specific version will install and especially one designed for an Intel Mac. ...Dennis Mac-Forums Community Guidelines
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smi2710 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 53	02-27-2009, 06:42 PM i am trying to instal OSX( from my macbook ) on a newly acquired G4 and it will boot but it says it cant install its a G4 gigabit 500MHZ 640 ram and i put a 40gb drive in it and reformatted to a mac OS partition what gives ? from what i read this should not be a problem installing but i am a newbie
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,328 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	02-27-2009, 06:52 PM From your MacBook? Are you trying to use the gray discs that came with your MB? If so, they won't work. You will need a retail disc to install OSX on your G4.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-27-2009, 11:12 PM LOL system restore discs are model specific and will work only with the model they are released with. Only mentioned thousands of times in forums. Have a look around eBay and such places for a retail install version of Tiger OS X.4 and kick that RAM up to at least 1GB.
	QUOTE Thanks

smi2710 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 53	02-28-2009, 08:26 PM ok so i i have a copy of tiger 4 disk set and upon disk one boot up the apple comes up then this unable to find driver for this platform "powermac3,3" what gives leopard will boot so i have some functionality but not istall tiger get me to this point i have tried another cd drive and same error i have tried more /less ram and i get the same deal
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-28-2009, 10:56 PM Is this still with the disc from the Macbook or black coloured retail install DVD?
	QUOTE Thanks

smi2710 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 53	03-01-2009, 03:56 PM yes i have a copy of the black tiger disc and thats whats throwing the error
	QUOTE Thanks

smi2710 #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 53	03-01-2009, 05:47 PM command+option+P+R = install
	QUOTE Thanks

mixedup #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 02, 2009 Posts: 2	03-02-2009, 01:13 AM While on this topic...I have a intel macbook pro which I bought used 18months ago. At the time I also bought leopard 10.4 family pack. I installed it on the laptop and my imac. A friend made me a good deal on his old 10" powerbook g4 which is great for carrying around and I was able to install 10.4 on that too. Now I just picked up an emac g4 1Gz and I'd like to install 10.4 but it only has a cd drive no DVD. I tried a usb DVD drive and I'm able to click on installer but I can't get to the languages screen to start install. What can I do?
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	03-02-2009, 04:21 PM Well mixedup OS X.4 is Tiger and not Leopard, so it is either one or the other. The eMac is a Power PC (PPC) and they will not boot from a USB drive, even in most cases USB2. PowerPC's are bootable using a Firewire device and connection.
	QUOTE Thanks

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