Trying to install 10.5.6 on PowerPC G5

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I have a iMac powerPC G5 that was having some problems and my wife lost the 10.4 install disc that came with it. We wound up buying a new iMac, and I thought I could install 10.5 from the CD that came with the new iMac on the power PC G5 to see it that would fix it. When I tried booting to this CD I got a message saying OSX could not be installed on this computer. I read online that 10.5 could not be installed on an APM formatted drive so I tried reformatting the drive to GUID, but I still get the error and now I don't have any OS on it. The computer exceeds the min requirements for 10.5. I would buy the 10.5 retail CD if this would fix the problem, but I'm worried that I'll run into the same error. Any advice?

Thanks,
Tom
 

bobtomay

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The retail Leopard disk will work.

The disk that came with your iMac will not work. Those are system specific disks and it would not have the code for your G5. Not only that, it is also against the EULA to install it on more than one computer.
 
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Why won't a retail Leopard disk work? I know Snow Leopard isn't supposed to work on non-intel macs, but I thought 10.5 is supposed to.
 

bobtomay

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Why won't a retail Leopard disk work? I know Snow Leopard isn't supposed to work on non-intel macs, but I thought 10.5 is supposed to.

I suggest you re-read the first sentence in my post above.
 
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Sorry, any advice on how I can get one? Do they still sell it?

Thanks for the quick reply!

Tom
 

bobtomay

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Depends on where you're located.

If you're in the U.S., I'd recommend Amazon.
 
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OS 10.5 Availability

Guys,
Since Apple stopped manufacturing the DVD's for this OS, it's getting harder to find them, at least in terms of how I shopped for my copy. I like value for my dollar, so I found a Mac Box Set including iLife 09 and iWork 09 along with Leopard for $149 online. Fewer retailers will have available copies as time passes, and that probably means prices will rise with demand. Amazon had none for this product.

A standalone OS disc will work on the appropriate PowerPC machine (your G5); I will be loading on my G5 very soon. It will also run on an Intel-based Mac, but you'll want to use Snow Leopard if you have one anyway.
 

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Since Apple stopped manufacturing the DVD's for this OS, it's getting harder to find them, at least in terms of how I shopped for my copy. I like value for my dollar, so I found a Mac Box Set including iLife 09 and iWork 09 along with Leopard for $149 online. Fewer retailers will have available copies as time passes, and that probably means prices will rise with demand. Amazon had none for this product.

There are plenty of "retail" versions of 10.5 available on e-Bay...no sweat!:)

- Nick
 

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