G4 533 / Installing OSX / CD-RW only

[virtual.rx]

Is there any reasonable way to install 10.4 on a 533 g4 with only a CD-RW drive?

I switched the drive to a Samsung DVD-ROM and OSX recognizes it ok but when i boot from the drive I get a message full of errors and a kernel panic like message to restart.

In the error messages I was able to understand that there was no suppoert for PowerMac 3,4

Any ideas?

 

[Markleshark]

OS X.3 (Panther) was on CDs, get a (Legal) copy of that and use it. Tiger is compatible with your machine, so it sounds like the DVD drive isnt or you have a bad version of Tiger and id return it.

 

[iGav]

Regarding the Samsung DVD-ROM I thought you had to have an Apple "approved" drive to be able to boot from it and not a 3rd party one?

But yeah... you can get OS X 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 all on CD install discs, not sure on Tiger though.

 

[Markleshark]

Regarding the Samsung DVD-ROM I thought you had to have an Apple "approved" drive to be able to boot from it and not a 3rd party one?

But yeah... you can get OS X 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 all on CD install discs, not sure on Tiger though.

I don't think so. I changed the one in my eMac and it booted off it fine (Not Apple 'approved')

Also, I'm fairly sure Tiger was DVD only. It's maybe worth contacting Apple though to see if you can purchase a CD version.

 

[SmurfBoxMasta]

Is there any reasonable way to install 10.4 on a 533 g4 with only a CD-RW drive?

I switched the drive to a Samsung DVD-ROM and OSX recognizes it ok but when i boot from the drive I get a message full of errors and a kernel panic like message to restart.

In the error messages I was able to understand that there was no suppoert for PowerMac 3,4

Any ideas?

Getting a system to "recognize" a DVD drive and getting it to boot from it are 2 totally different things, unfortunately

Have you tried installing Patchburn ? It adds burn & boot support for ALOT of drives that would otherwise be unusable. look on versiontracker ........

you can also check over at www.xlr8yourmac.com for the database of users reports, search it to see if you can find a compatibility report for your drive.......

 

[Angrist]

If you've got another mac handy (or can borrow one), then put the install DVD into the second mac, boot the G4 into firewire target disk mode (connect the two computers via a firewire cable), and install.

I've personally used this method to install Tiger on an old PowerMac, and G3 iBook. You CAN get CD versions of Tiger from apple if you request them ... but it does cost extra.

 

[virtual.rx]

Thanks guys!

The firewire target disk worked but i still got the message:

PowerMac 3,4 not supported.


I'm using the OSX disc that came with my macbook btw.

 

[panoz7]

I'm using the OSX disc that came with my macbook btw.

That disk will only work with a macbook. You need to purchase retail tiger disks in order to install it on the powermac.

 

[im_to_hyper]

That disk will only work with a macbook. You need to purchase retail tiger disks in order to install it on the powermac.

Indeed: If you had a PowerBook install disc there wouldn't be a problem. Two things with this scenario: You will need a PowerPC install disc (Yours is for an Intel processor). Secondly: Find a legal copy.

If you are looking for Mac-bootable DVD burners, there are some over at OtherWorldComputing for around $30.

Getting a cheap drive and a cheap install would be better than buying a CD set like that found here.

 

[steamboat26]

you can get tiger on CD, but it is a complicated process. You have to buy a full retail version of tiger, send it in to apple along with $10 (i think) and they will send you a CD version of tiger.