Installing OS On Power Mac G4

[nathanhorn]

The OS 10.4 would not install on my Mac G4 because it did not have a DVD drive. I connected a USB DVD drive and it reads the CD when the OS is up and running. When I click on the Install icon is says that the computer needs to reboot and then OS will continue installing. Nothing ever happens it just reboots and the OS loads. Could this be because I am using a USB DVD drive? Will a regular DVD drive work if I put one in the computer? If nothing else,can the OS installation DVD's be converted to CD's? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dtravis7]

Which Mac G4 is this? Tower? Do you know the specs?

It's probably your external DVD drive. That is why I wanted to know your Macs Specs. Trying to see which one so I can better help you.

 

[nathanhorn]

Very new to macs, but here what I have:

Apple Power Macintosh G4 400 (PCI) Specs (M7631LL/A)

Processor Type: PowerPC 7400 (G4) Processor Speed: 400 MHz
System Bus Speed: 100 MHz (4:1) Cache Bus Speed: 200 MHz
ROM/Firmware Type: Open Firmware ROM/Firmware Size: 1 MB
L1 Cache: 64k L2/L3 Cache: 1 MB (backside)
Details: The 1 MB of backside cache has a 200 MHz bus.
RAM Type: PC100 SDRAM Min. RAM Speed: 100 MHz
RAM: 64 MB

 

[dtravis7]

Ok, that is a G4 tower code named Yikes. I would install a DVD ROM internally as that is the only way you will get it to install from that DVD. I have had good luck with Sony DVD drives in Macs.

Another thing though, your specs show 64Megs RAM. 10.4 Tiger will not really run with 64Megs and be VERY slow. I would recommend upping the ram to at least 256Megs but 512Megs if you can. That machine takes PC100 SDRAM. Most PC133 as long as the module does not have High Density chips will work also. If we can help in any other way let us know.

Good luck.

 

[nathanhorn]

Thanks for your help!

 

[Alexis]

You can't boot from an external USB DVD, only Firewire.