iMac G5 (pre intel) 1.8 lost OS

All. I used monolanguage and after running and re-booting my iMac G5 will no longer boot fully.

The machine boots to the desktop but will not load any program except for iTunes. If I try to enter settings or access Safari the icon will bounce and do no more.

I have the restore discs and have tried booting from these but it will not access them, you hear the disc spinning and being read but no further actions.

I phoned Apple UK today and I cannot buy a copy of OSX 10.5 as it is no longer supported and I don't know where my copy is (in the loft somewhere?).

I have tried booting and ALT which gives me the grey screen with the HDD displayed. If I have a copy of OSX 10.5 on USB will that screen recognise the USB?

Thanks.

alcot33uk said:

I phoned Apple UK today and I cannot buy a copy of OSX 10.5 as it is no longer supported and I don't know where my copy is (in the loft somewhere?).

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A 10.5 install disk can be found on eBay. Don't complain when you see the price.

- Nick

Another Monolingual horror story. If I had printouts of the number of times I've heard variations on this tale I could re-wallpaper my home twice over.

Thanks guys but not 'exactly' the guidance I'm looking for..

If I have a copy of OSX 10.5 on USB will that screen recognise the USB?

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You can try it, but PPC machines are known to have difficultly booting from USB. Your G5 may be fast enough to boot from it, but better yet would be to use firewire if possible.

Also, Monolingual is a dangerous app to use as it may remove core components and kexts that are needed for starting up and running your G5. Best to avoid it.

My thought was that OS 10.5 on USB is not official install media (disk only). That's why I suggested purchasing a 10.5 install disk.

- Nick

I have an official retail disc DVD arriving tomorrow. I know I have to press 'C' but is it before or after the chime?

alcot33uk said:

I have an official retail disc DVD arriving tomorrow. I know I have to press 'C' but is it before or after the chime?

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Is it a 10.5 install disk? If so…I hope that it's a mostly black disk with a big X on it. If it's a gray colored disk…that won't work.

Press "c" after the chime.

Good luck.

- Nick

The 10.5 install disk should look like this (photo in the auction):

Mac OS x 10 5 Leopard Install DVD Retail Genuine Apple 2Z691 6037 A | eBay

- Nick

Only $55? Looks like prices are coming down on retail Leopard. That's pretty close to the price Apple was charging for it when it first appeared.

chscag said:

Only $55? Looks like prices are coming down on retail Leopard.

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I mentioned this in another thread. $55 is a lot better than the $100 it was for quite a while.

chscag said:

That's pretty close to the price Apple was charging for it when it first appeared.

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Charlie. 10.5 was actually the most expensive individual user OS version Apple ever sold. When it was brand new…Apple was selling it for $129.

This is why I always had a little bit of a beef when folks would complain about paying $75-$100 for it via eBay. If they never purchased 10.5 before…they were still paying less for 10.5 than those of us that paid $129 when it was new.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

I mentioned this in another thread. $55 is a lot better than the $100 it was for quite a while.

Charlie. 10.5 was actually the most expensive individual user OS version Apple ever sold. When it was brand new…Apple was selling it for $129.

- Nick

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Hey Nick. Either you and I got robbed when we bought 10.5 or Charlie knows some kind of super secret handshake. Fess up Charlie. Which is it?

You're right Nick. I don't know what I was thinking. Somehow, I was remembering it sold for around $49.95. I must have it confused with something else.

No problem Charlie. The original cost of 10.5 (and what it was selling for on eBay after Apple stopped selling it)...both values I seem to have "burned" in my mind & will never forget.

I think that the only OS version that Apple sold that was close to $55...was the USB stick version of 10.7 ("Lion"). It sold for $69.99. So this could be the one you were thinking of.

- Nick

Solved! Neighbour had a copy so popped it in and voila!

alcot33uk said:

Solved! Neighbour had a copy so popped it in and voila!

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Technically speaking…sharing of OS install disks is not allowed.

- Nick