Trouble installing OSX on G4

Reset the PRAM and PMU ...

 

Check again, I edited it to include the links.

 

Make sure your CD is okay first.
I hope they're legit copies.
If so, then just try resetting like the previous poster said.
Good luck!

 

start in verbose mode

Start in verbose mode by using Command-v and tell us what it hangs on.

 

The DVD drive is known good? The computer usually works? If so, my suggestion would be that there is something wrong with the disks. It's always hard to be 100% sure unless you can test them on another Mac.

Wait, you say you have two different sets. Probably not the disks then. Some computer problem - what have you been using it for recently?

 

I upgraded mine from Panther and I believe I had the same issue.

I know if you get the "Globe" icon on bootup, you need a new PRAM battery. I had to reset the PRAM quite a few times to get it to boot. If your discs are burned correctly [or original copies], I'm not sure what the problem could be. I think it might be a filesystem error.

You could always try holding "option" while booting and it should take you to a screen with all of the bootable devices. You can choose the HDD or OS X Install DVD from there, but then again, that might lead you to the same issue.