Removing Linux From G4 Mac Mini & Installing Leopard

My father installed some type of Linux thing on a G4 Mac Mini I had laying around a few months ago. Now that I need to use the Mac Mini myself, I can't because Linux is on there.

Does anybody know how to remove it without logging into it [Linux], and be able to stick my Leopard install disk in without a bunch of hassle?

I need to get this working soon, and I probably can't just stick Leopard in and boot into the disk (That would be too easy)

Anybody?

Air said:

...and I probably can't just stick Leopard in and boot into the disk (That would be too easy)

Click to expand...

That's how you do it.

Are you kidding me? -__-

um - no.
As long as the OS X DVD is the right one for that mini, that's how you install OS X. Linux isn't like "magic."

I thought it erased apple's "bootloader?" and replaced it with it's own and I would have to go through **** to fix it.

Thanks for help!

Air said:

I thought it erased apple's "bootloader?" and replaced it with it's own and I would have to go through **** to fix it.

Thanks for help!

Click to expand...

Installing Linux does overwrite the Mac boot loader with GRUB. I suspect it's not going to be as simple as inserting your Leopard disk and booting with it to remove Linux. Let us know. If you have problems, we can try something else.

Nope, gsahli is correct. Boot from the OS X DVD, wipe the drive, do a fresh install. That's it.

We have had several posts in the past where the OP stated they had installed Linux and where GRUB had overwritten the boot sector. The fix in those cases was not a "simple boot with an OS X disk and format the hard drive". As a matter of fact, the OS X boot disk in those cases did not work. So how can you positively say otherwise?

Because booting from the OS X disc doesn't care what the hard drive is formatted as, nor does "erase disk" in Disk Utility as far as I'm aware. I've formatted Linux-formatted drives before, but it was a while ago and I don't recall what format the drives were.

But inasmuch as Disk Utility can format a *completely unformatted* drive, I should think (and yes, this is an assumption) it can format over any other formatting.

Unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. As I stated above, we've had several members who could not restore their machine the way you suggest. A PRAM reset had to be accomplished first, then, usually your method will work. Anyway, since we haven't heard back from the OP, perhaps it worked for him.

to the OP, Air -
Have you tried holding the Option key right after the startup gong sound? (with Install DVD in the Mac) This should give you an icon-based startup choices menu.
Is it possible you are using a wireless keyboard?

I got Linux off, and everything to do with it. Boots up to the sad mac, but my KNOWN WORKING Leopard disk refuses to be read.