How to reinstall OS

[adouble11]

Hello,

I'm kind of new to the Mac world so please be patient. I recently purchased a used Power Book G4 Titanium...I believe the screen is about 15" measured diagnolly and a little over 12" measured side to side. I got it for a cheap price cause it was having issues with it. I want to purchase a new OS and do a clean install to wipe it clean. Questions I have:

1. How do I boot from the install disc....this way the install will begin before I get to windows?

2. How do I know what OS do buy? I believe it has OS X on it, but I did a few searches on the internet and it looks like there's numerous version of OS X. I just want to make sure I purchase the correct OS. I really don't care if it's the exact same OS as long as it works.

Please help! thanks in advance.

 

[toMACsh]

I believe it has OS X on it,

Upper left, Apple Menu > About This Mac
That will show you the OS version you have.

You will not be able to run the latest OS version (Snow Leopard)
Probably not the one before that (10.5 Leopard)

How much RAM do you have?
What is the processor speed?

You could "Google" the model and probably come up with the recommended OS version. Then, the hard part: finding a disc.

 

[adouble11]

I really don't know what processor or how much RAM it has. I've read that I could go to the "firmware" by typeing apple, alt, o, f while starting up and then type certain commands to show the system specs, but I haven't tried any of that. And as far as checking for the OS version....I'm having problems getting the computer to get to windows. The computer is messed up. I'm really familiar with PCs but this obviously is a Mac. I'm confident that if I do a clean reinstall that this thing will work properly. I don't suspect it to be anything hardware related. Even if I could get the book to operate I still want to run a clean install to get rid of any garbage the previous owner had on it. I know the previous owner never purchased any OS upgrades so it should still have the original OS that it came with when new. When I google this model it only says OS X is the OS. But then I read theres different kinds of OS X so I don't have a clue. Like I said I'm brand new to Mac. Anything you could do would be fabulous....thanks

 

[chscag]

Did the original owner by chance include a set of install disks when he sold you the machine? If not, give him a call and ask for them.

Also, I hate to disturb your confidence but you really don't know if there is anything wrong with that machine until you can get it to boot up. The Mac OS is not like Windows nor is it a usual practice to reinstall the operating system to fix things. (Although that does become necessary at times.)

If you can give us the exact year and model of the Powerbook G4 Titanium, we'll be able to tell you more precisely what you need.

According to my MacTracker application, the 15" Powerbook G4 Titanium was a 2004 model and can accept OS X 10.5.8 (Leopard). But that may not be accurate because there were several model years. That's why we need more precise info to help you out.

Regards.

 

[adouble11]

No, unfortunately he didn't have the discs....I already had asked for them. This kind of sucks. There's some small print on the back of the book....it says model # A1138. Not sure if that actually pertains to this book or something else. It also says 2005 on it. I believe it is a titanium. I did a search to try and pin point the exact book I had. It's titanium in color, 15" screen and has titanium color buttons which is important to know cause some models have black and some have titanium. As far as plug-ins it looks like it has:

-2 USB ports
-looks like it may have a monitor plug in
-ethernet
-56k
-i think maybe a firewire if thats what they're called
-an S cable out
-another square plug in...not sure what that is
-2 plug ins that look like they're for head phones
-and then theres a slot...maybe for a wireless card?


I know this isn't much, but if I can figure out the OS or even a compatable OS it would be awesome. Any help you can provide would be great. thanks

 

[adouble11]

Judging by this website I think I found out which model I have.

PowerBook G4 Computers: How to Identify Different Models


I think I have one of these 2:

PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800) or PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz) AirPort Extreme door.

It says you can't these models apart from one another. One has a faster processor, but by looks...they are identical:

The PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz) is physically indistinguishable from the PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800) except for processor speed. The sticker inside the battery bay will give the processor speed of the computer.

 

[adouble11]

Alright....I removed the battery and I got some relevant info:

1.67 GHz/512MB/80G/superdrive/bt/apx/backlit k b

serial # W8544SUWSWZ
EMC # 2076
Ethernet # 001451225A48


Does this help?

 

[EndlessMac]

It looks like you have an Aluminum PowerBook G4. I just found this site: Identify Your Mac - Lookup your Apple by Serial Number or Model Number

When I entered your serial number it told me what you had. You can also click here to see pictures and match yours up.

I still have my 1GHz PowerBook G4 Titanium which is older than yours and I currently have OS 10.5 Leopard installed on it. It works so yours should be able to handle Leopard.

Also about the OS, Apple seems to like the number 10 or more likely the X Roman numeral number so you have to ignore the 10 part. What I mean is that ever since it got to 10 it uses the second digit to identify the OS. For example 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, etc are all different OS. We are currently at 10.6 which is Snow Leopard but you cannot install that because you have a PowerPC Mac and not an Intel Mac. Have I confused you yet?

The highest you can install is 10.5 which is Leopard. Go here if you want to know more about Mac OS X. Scroll down to the Version section and you will see what I mean. Not to confuse you even more but the third digital in the version number means what update you have of say Leopard. For example 10.5.8 means it's the eighth update of Leopard. Hopefully you understood that.

 

[harryb2448]

Think above post should read you cannot install Snow Leopard, as that OS is for Intel models only.

Look for a full retail install Leopard DVD, make sure of that and it is a black disc, OS X.5 any version, and after install update online using the Apple Combo Updater. Expect to pay over $100 for the Leopard disc.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_8_Combo_Update

When you get the Leopard disc, pop it in the drive, reboot and hold down 'C' after the chime, go to Utilities in the Menu Bar, run Erase and format the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journalled), then back to the installer and run that. Then connect to the link for the Combo Updater and away you go.

 

[EndlessMac]

And as far as checking for the OS version....I'm having problems getting the computer to get to windows. The computer is messed up. I'm really familiar with PCs but this obviously is a Mac. I'm confident that if I do a clean reinstall that this thing will work properly. I don't suspect it to be anything hardware related.

If the computer won't even startup it might be other problems unrelated to the OS. You might want to bring it to an Apple store and see if they can find out what is wrong with it. You don't have to repair it but this way you'll know for sure it's not a hardware related problem. If it is you can choose if it's worth repairing.

It would be wasteful if you bought 10.5 Leopard to only find out that it still doesn't work because your problem is hardware related. People are selling copies of Leopard for really high prices because Apple has stopped officially making them. 10.4 Tiger is even harder to find as are the other older OS.

Also if the person you got this computer from hasn't upgrade the OS since getting it then you probably have 10.4 Tiger installed but you won't know for sure until you can turn it on and check.

 

[EndlessMac]

Think above post should read you cannot install Snow Leopard, as that OS is for Intel models only.

You are right. Thanks for catching my typo. It's fixed now.

 

[adouble11]

If the computer won't even startup it might be other problems unrelated to the OS. You might want to bring it to an Apple store and see if they can find out what is wrong with it. You don't have to repair it but this way you'll know for sure it's not a hardware related problem. If it is you can choose if it's worth repairing.

It would be wasteful if you bought 10.5 Leopard to only find out that it still doesn't work because your problem is hardware related. People are selling copies of Leopard for really high prices because Apple has stopped officially making them. 10.4 Tiger is even harder to find as are the other older OS.

Also if the person you got this computer from hasn't upgrade the OS since getting it then you probably have 10.4 Tiger installed but you won't know for sure until you can turn it on and check.

So lets assume it's not hardward related....10.5 leopard is the way to go as far as OS? And your saying I won't be able to find it in...lets say, Best Buy?

 

[harryb2448]

Leopard if the last OS for we PPC users and who knows about Best Buy? Wherever you can get it as long as it is the full retail version. One suggestion when booted from leopard, go to Utilities and run Repair Disk to make sure the hard drive passes muster.

 

[adouble11]

Is it a huge difference between 10.4 Tiger and 10.5 Leopard? There's almost a $200 difference from what I can see.

 

[EndlessMac]

So lets assume it's not hardward related....10.5 leopard is the way to go as far as OS? And your saying I won't be able to find it in...lets say, Best Buy?

10.5 is the farthest you can go. New copies of Leopard are hard to find but there are some stores selling them. You just have to find them. Common stores like Best Buy have probably sold all their copies by now.

You can find it cheaper if you buy used. Just make sure it's the full retail version and not the OS disc that comes with the computer. I believe Leopard was $129 when new.

Is it a huge difference between 10.4 Tiger and 10.5 Leopard? There's almost a $200 difference from what I can see.

If you can find a retail copy of 10.4 Tiger for less then it is also a good option. I actually like 10.4 better than 10.5 but I like 10.6 more than both. Either 10.4 or 10.5 will work for you. It just depends on whether the applications you use need 10.4 or 10.5. Some of the more recent applications no longer support older versions of Mac OS X unless you can get the older versions of those software. Also 10.5 added new features but if you don't need them or want them then you can live with 10.4.

 

[adouble11]

Sounds good. Appreciate everybodies help. Seriously.

 

[toMACsh]

I'm repeatedly surprised that so many people have not seen posts telling us that Apple sells Leopard retail discs by phone order. Try that and see if they have any left. You'll find a phone number for product info on the web site. If they still have them, please post the cost here.

 

[adouble11]

Thanks for the heads up. I actually called Apple before I seen your post. And yes they did have Leopard available for $16. Thats about $160 cheaper than I found online!

Another side note....they told me my machine comes with 512 MB of RAM but I need a full GB to run Leopard. As stating previously....I'm not sure what this book is running. I've read that there is a way to check system specs via "firmware"...apple's version of BIOS. Is this correct? If so, I know how to get to it by pressing apple,alt,O,F during boot up. After that, I believe there is a coomand that I can type that'll tell me how much RAM this book possesses...Does anybody know what I'm talking about?

 

[EndlessMac]

Thanks for the heads up. I actually called Apple before I seen your post. And yes they did have Leopard available for $16. Thats about $160 cheaper than I found online!

That's good to hear. I've heard rumors about this but no one except you confirmed it.

Another side note....they told me my machine comes with 512 MB of RAM but I need a full GB to run Leopard.

It doesn't need 1 GB to run but it will run faster and perform better with 1 GB. My PowerBook only has 512 MB of RAM and like I said it has Leopard and runs fine. It is a bit slow though so maxing out your RAM is a good advice but for the mean time you can install Leopard to get you up and running.

Once everything is working then you can easily see what specs you have from the OS. If the person you got this from said he never upgraded it then it probably has only 512 MB RAM.

 

[adouble11]

That's good to hear. I've heard rumors about this but no one except you confirmed it.

Yes, but the key is to be as diplomatic and friendly as possible. She said right off the bat that they didn't have it, but I killed her with kindness. She said...well, maybe...let me check and see. Sure enough...they had it. For whatever reason, they're holding out. Don't take NO for an answer!

Thanks again