10.4.9 Upgrade: Fails. Reboot results in Kernel Panic ACPI error

Question

I am upgrading 11 MacBook Pros 10.4.6 to 10.4.9. Becasue they are all on a slow Wifi I am using the manual updates via a thumb drive.
So far 2 out of 6 have failed the install process. One gave me a general error. I tried to re-run the program but when I did the font for the drop down menu turned into all boxes with capital As inside them. In both cases when I have rebooted I have gotten a Kernel Panic ACPI error. I have tried all the Kernel Panic tricks mentioned in the 10.4.9 threads. I am now reinstalling on the two machines.
1 of 6 did the install just fine but is now stopped on the "Starting Mac OS X..." screen with a full blue bar.
Does anyone have any idea what is wrong?

Answer 1

You may find the following useful:
From a recent article at MacFixit:
Mac OS X 10.4.9 Special Report: Update procedure recommendation
First, make a full backup of your current Mac OS X installation -- preferably a clone ( try SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner). If something goes wrong, or you experience a major incompatibility after updating, the backup will prove invaluable.
Next, if you are the cautious type, run a disk repair on the volume targeted for installation. You can use an n alternative startup drive or your Mac OS X installation disc. If you are starting up from your Mac OS X install disc, put the disc in your optical drive and restart holding down the "C" key. After your system starts up and you've selected your language, go to the "Utilties" menu and select "Disk Utility." Use the "Repair Disk" function. After disk repairs are complete, restart from your normal startup drive and continue.
Avoid performing any other operations (in Mac OS X or third-party applications) while the update process is occurring.
Performing other tasks during the update process potentiates various issues, including problems with prebinding (which is happening during the "Optimizing the system" phase of the update process) and others that can occur when files are being replaced by the update are also being read/written by the currently logged in user. You should not only refrain from launching applications or working with files during the update process, but also from putting the system to sleep, disconnecting/connecting devices, and other potentially interruptive actions.
In addition, before installing the update, make sure all Apple-installed applications and utilities are in their original locations. Moving one of these applications to a different location on your hard drive can lead to an incomplete update. Also, disconnect any FireWire/USB devices before applying Mac OS X 10.4.9 (except for your startup drive, if it is FireWire or USB, and your keyboard/mouse), then re-connect the devices one by one (checking for issues created by any particular device) after the update process is complete and the system has restarted. Also, note that the first restart after applying Mac OS X 10.4.9 may be abnormally long. Subsequent restarts should take place at normal speed.
And this further article from MacFixit is also very important:
When a Mac OS X update won't install with "Volume does not meet requirements for this update" message
The error message "Volume does not meet requirements for this update" may appear when attempting to install a Mac OS X updater or a full release from disc. Generally the problem falls into one of the following categories:
Make sure you are using the right updater (Server vs. client) There are usually a few varieties of the same Mac OS X update version. Make sure that you are not trying to install the Intel client build on a PowerPC-based Mac, or the Server build on a Mac OS X client system.
Although we generally recommend using the standalone Mac OS X updaters rather than Software Update, the latter method will generally correctly identify the copy of Mac OS X applicable to your current system state.
Retail vs. shipped-with-system (build numbers) Different Macs ship with different builds of Mac OS X, and one build may not be compatible with a different system. The build that ships with a MacBook Core 2 Duo, for instance, may not properly install on a Mac Pro. Hence you may receive the "Volume does not meet requirements for this update" message when mixing and matching systems and discs.
Some retail copies of Mac OS X 10.4.x may also be unable to install on some systems that require newer builds.
In addition, it appears that while some builds will install on specific systems, those systems will then refuse to accept subsequent updates. To ensure compatibility, inspect the following matrices:
• Mac OS: Versions, builds included with Intel-based Macs
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303315
• Mac OS: Versions, builds included with PowerPC Macs (since 1998)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25517
and note that you should not use a Mac OS version earlier than the one included with the computer.
Combo vs. Delta Remember that delta Mac OS X updaters can only update systems version-to-version, e.g. Mac OS X 10.4.8 to Mac OS X 10.4.9. Combo updaters can bring any version within the scope of a major release (Panther, Tiger, etc.) up-to-date, e.g. Mac OS X 10.4.3 to Mac OS X 10.4.9.
Attempting to run a delta update on anything other than the directly precedent version may result in the "Volume does not meet requirements for this update" message.