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Running iLife '08 on a G4 Mac

R

richjtg

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 22, 2005
17
0
UK
Being a keen user of iLife '06, I am naturally looking at upgrading to the latest version but notice in system requirements that iMovie requires a G5/Intel processor.

I am the owner of a 1.5GHz G4 Mac Mini with 1GB RAM... would it be a case of the software just running slowly - or would the lack of a particular processor mean it would refuse to run at all? Does the software check before launching? :confused:
 
It looks as if installing iLife on a G4 gives you a message that iMovie will not be installed, but the rest all goes on okay. iMovie HD will happily co-exist with the rest of iLife '08 and link into iDVD etc.

Although my G5 iMac meets the minimum requirements, I think I prefer the old iMovie app for its greater functionality, so plan to leave out the iMovie '08 app anyway. Although the new version looks to be easier, I like having control over audio tracks etc. which the new version does not have.
 
Not personally, but other posters both on MR and on Apple Discussions have.
 
Here's one of the Apple Discussions thread I read, which mentions the co-existence of old iMovie. The other link is in the History folder on my iMac, which I don't have with me. Sorry.

EDIT : But here's another one that gives the same information.
 
When I first tried to install iLife '08 on my powerbook (1.67Ghz G4),
it gave me the "I won't install iMovie" message. Since then, I've "fixed" my
version of iLife '08 so that it allows me to install iMovie on my G4.

Its pretty easy...

Note that I can't be held responsible for any damage you do to your system!

1. Copy the iLife 08.pkg file from the DVD to a hard drive somewhere.
2. Right click on the new pkg file and select "Show package contents"
3. Double click on Contents
4. Duplicate Distribution.dist
5. Right click on the original Distribution.dist and select Open With->other
6. Navigate to TextEdit and click Open
7. Find the second occurrance of "hasSufficentHardwareForiMovie"
8. Scroll down to the line after "catch (e) {}" and change false to true
9. Save the file
10. Go back up to the iLife '08.pkg file, double click, and enjoy!


NOTE: I have not verified (yet) that the resultant install actually works. Be careful out there!

edit: OK, now I've tested it. iMovie complains that it MUST be either a G5 or an intel. oh well.
 
Thanks for the replies and advice folks - doesn't look good on the iMovie front though. :(
 
This is unacceptable....


I got a powerbook a MONTH before they switched over to intel. A MONTH! and now 2 years later they are dropping support!

ITs a freeking 1.67ghz processer! Thats still a powerful processear!
 
Time To Retire The "Old" G4 Macs

p0intblank said:
There has to be a way around this. It's just old hardware. The worse it'll do is run slower than it's meant to, right?
Click to expand...
Not. Looks like the rewrite was only done to satisfy G5 and Intel processors. Looks like this is the beginning of the end of the road for G4 support folks.
ChrisBrightwell said:
WTF? iMovie is one of the reasons I'm upgrading. Son of a bitch.
Click to expand...
Not any more. :(
glennyboiwpg said:
This is unacceptable.... I got a powerbook a MONTH before they switched over to intel. A MONTH! and now 2 years later they are dropping support!

ITs a freeking 1.67ghz processer! Thats still a powerful processear!
Click to expand...
MacBooks run circles around your PB. I know what you mean. I'm still clinging to a 1.25GHz original Aluminum G4 PB from September '03. But we might as well face facts, it's getting close to time when we're going to have to buy MBPs if we still want full support to be able to run everything Apple throws at us. I can't run COLOR from the Final Cut Studio 2 suite on my PB at all. Same story - "Sorry Charlie. Get with the program and buy a new MacBook Pro."

These days they call it "progress". Well they may have gotten me on the MacBook Pro front but I'll be damned if I ever type a word on one of those "new" keyboards. What a JOKE! :(
 
Multimedia said:
Not. Looks like the rewrite was only done to satisfy G5 and Intel processors. Looks like this is the beginning of the end of the road for G4 support folks.Not any more. :( MacBooks run circles around your PB. I know what you mean. I'm still clinging to a 1.25GHz original Aluminum G4 PB from September '03. But we might as well face facts, it's getting close to time when we're going to have to buy MBPs if we still want full support to be able to run everything Apple throws at us. I can't run COLOR from the Final Cut Studio 2 suite on my PB at all. Same story - "Sorry Charlie. Get with the program and buy a new MacBook Pro."

These days they call it "progress". Well they may have gotten me on the MacBook Pro front but I'll be damned if I ever type a word on one of those "new" keyboards. What a JOKE! :(
Click to expand...


Actually my bf has a macbook and no it doesn't run circles... I have 1 gig more ram, but I actually think my 1.67ghz powerbook is faster.
 
The problem with the G4s is the bottleneck on the FSB. That's why the G5s can still run the software. I'm a bit surprised to see that Apple have discarded the dual 1.8GHz G5 though, especially when the 1.9GHz iMac G5 is included as supported. The dual G5 has a higher FSB and two processor cores. How could it not cope?
 
I got it to run on a 1.67 Ghz powerbook!
If you want some basic instuctions on how to do it, along
with a bunch of disclaimer text, then send me a private message.
 
Here is a link to a few pages describing how to get iMovie '08 (which is really iMovie version 7, go figure) working on a G4. It might not work for all G4s though.

And yes, it was created with iWeb '08.
 
Performance?

t1937r0 said:
I got it to run on a 1.67 Ghz powerbook!
If you want some basic instuctions on how to do it, along
with a bunch of disclaimer text, then send me a private message.
Click to expand...

How does it run though? I have the same machine, with 1.5GB of ram...is it worth trying to make work? Or is it incredibly sluggish?
 
supafly1703 said:
How does it run though? I have the same machine, with 1.5GB of ram...is it worth trying to make work? Or is it incredibly sluggish?
Click to expand...

OK at best, but since I haven't compared it to any other machines, I can't give you any objective data.
I've been using it, but your opinion of "good enough performance" may not match mine.

I have also not done an exhaustive test to figure out why Apple restricted
the application to G5 and Intel based machines. If there are any instructions
in there that are not available on a G4, then that will cause the application
to crash and burn. In my 1/2 hour of using the application, I didn't run
into any of them.
 
t1937r0 said:
OK at best, but since I haven't compared it to any other machines, I can't give you any objective data.
I've been using it, but your opinion of "good enough performance" may not match mine.

I have also not done an exhaustive test to figure out why Apple restricted
the application to G5 and Intel based machines. If there are any instructions
in there that are not available on a G4, then that will cause the application
to crash and burn. In my 1/2 hour of using the application, I didn't run
into any of them.
Click to expand...

just wondering if there are like an excessive amount of beach balls or something... ?
 
Made the Hexedit still doesn't work!

t1937r0,

I went to your web site and followed your directions to a 't' but when I launch iMovie 08 it bounces a couple of times in the dock and stops, but it will not launch. Before I made the hexedit I did get the warning message about needing a G5, I made a backup of the original iMovie and tried again but I got the same results. I am wondering if you need an addition edit or you forgot to add one.

I have a g4 1.67 Powebook (Last model before intel chips)
 
Could be that there are additional software version requirements. I've sent you a private message with additional suggestions.
 
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