Can I install Leopard from an external USB DVD drive?

I am trying to install Leopard onto an older PB G4 whose internal drive is shot. I have an external Pioneer USB 2 drive attached, but when the Leopard Installer prompts me to restart, the installer doesn't kick in and the computer restarts into basic OSX. I've tried to choose the Installer DVD via System Preferences "Start-up Disk" pane, but it doesn't show up. The DVD drive does have its own AC power source.
Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Mac OS X will only boot PowerPCs with Firewire, not with USB. That's the reason it doesn't work.

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Can you install leopard from an external usb disc drive?

I don't know if the disc drive is fast enough for leopard or something. It's taking forever to open the installer, and when I restarted into the installer it just booted back to my desktop. I have an external disc drive I want to try. Can you install leopard from and external disc drive?

****, I just tried it and when I restarted it didn't go into the installer. I think my disc drive in my old mac mini might be too slow. It takes forever to recognize the disc and just to double click on it and it up. And when I tried to install it the first time from the internal drive it just booted right into my desktop again.

Installing SL from an external USB DVD drive

Hi, folks.
The DVD drive in my MBP suddenly stopped working awhile back after I updated to 10.5.7 (won't read any disks at all), and I would like to install SL on it using an external Samsung Writemaster TS-H552U with a USB connection (Firewire is not an option with this unit, as the drive casing only offers a USB connection).
Is this possible, and if so, what I need are step by step instructions on how to do this. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Thanks, Kappy. I'll give that a try, but have one more question before I do:
Do I have to watch out for any reboots during the upgrade? If so, at what point(s) do they occur, and will I need to use the OPTION key again if it does, or does it just do the upgrade in one shot and reboot normally afterwards?
Oh, and I've already installed the latest updates for 10.5.8, and will do a disk and permission repair before I start, just to be on the safe side.
Here's the specs for the Samsung Writemaster TS-H552U:
http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/gadgets/samsung-writemaster-tsh552u-dvd- burner.asp
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Message was edited by: Maddoktor2

Can I install a retail os10.5.6 from an external usb dvd drive?

Since the internal dvd combo drive does not read double layer dvd, I tried to install the new version from an external usb dvd. The installation starts but when I have to restart the computer goes back to the first screen.

Apple does not require any particular type of dvd Just says "an external dvd"
What document are you referring to? The fact that you can read/write with a particular DVD drive does not necessarily mean you can boot from it.
If you have another Mac available, you can probably "borrow" its DVD drive for your OS installation by using FireWire Target Disk mode.

Can't install WIN7 with an external USB DVD

Hi,
Read all posts regarding the install of WIN7. Still none actually worked for me.
1. Details: MacMini late 2009, OS X Mavericks, unusable Apple SuperDrive, external Asus DVD on USB. Stick with drivers for WIN7, created by downloading them from Apple website as BootCamp refuses to create it. WIN7 DVD.
2. Steps I did:
a. I tried using BootCamp. First issues, BootCamp refuses to create the USB with support for WIN7. After hours of searching on forums, I did it myself by downloading an archive from Apple.
b. I tried then just to install WIN7. BootCamp cannot see the DVD. Of course I used external DVD since the SuperDrive is not reading any DVD/CD.
c. Looking on YouTube, I tried a different approach. I created a partition for WIN in DiskUtility, started Mac and pressing ALT. Unfortunatelly the external DVD was not seen, so I could not acces WIN setup files.
d. Found a crazy solution (too crazy to try it) in which I had to add some lines in some OS file: such as MacMini Model Indetifier and BOOT ROM version. It supposed to let my MacMini to install WIN7 from an external DVD. Here is the website for those that have courage to do it:
http://mihail.stoynov.com/2013/04/22/force-boot-camp-into-using-an-iso-image-of- windows-to-create-the-usb-flash-drive-for-mountain-lion-with-updated-boot-camp/
3. It worked on OS X 10.8. I installled WIN7 from that external DVD by using BootCamp without any trouble. Worked like charm.
4. Why I need WIN7. To run FrameMaker10 and CorelDraw X6. I need them in my work.
I would really appreciate any valuable input. I really need to install WIN7 by the end of this week.
Thank you.
Sebastian
Message was edited by: sebdea

Mac OS X will only boot PowerPCs with Firewire, not with USB. That's the reason it doesn't work.

Can I Install Tiger with an exterinal USB DVD Drive??

Hi,
I've accuired a couple iMacs that are currently running Mac OS 9, but are fast enough to run Tiger. The problem is they only have built in CD drives. Rather than going out to find several internal iMac DVD drives, could I buy one exterinal USB DVD drive to install Tiger?
Thanks!

What happens if the firmware isn't updated?
The display may stop working, even for OS 9. It is not easy to fix.
I just installed 10.2 on one of them and it seems to be working. Should I uninstall it and upgrade the firmware and start over?
Check the "Boot ROM version" with System profiler. If the firmware is updated it will be 4.1.9
It is not necessary to remove OSX to install the updates if OS 9 is still on the hard drive. If not, and the OS 9 drivers are there, OS 9 can be installed without affecting OSX.
The update won't install if it is not needed.

T430s: boot from an external USB DVD drive

I wanted to change boot sequence to boot from external DVD drive to install Win8. To access the BIOS I hit Enter (empty password I guess) but in the BIOS everything is greyed out: I can't make any changes. What is going on?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

@kaja69...
As Rich has stated, you have a supervisor password set, and as Jin Li has stated, there is no default password.
For information on the various BIOS-level passwords, please see your T430s Hardware Maintenance Manual (manual pages 36-38).
Per the Community Rules, discussion of passwords is sensitive territory and may risk a thread lock, so please keep that in mind if/as this discussion progresses.
Regards.
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How do install Tiger from an external USB drive?

I'm trying to upgrade from 10.2.8 to Tiger. How do I install Tiger from my external USB DVD drive? Tiger only comes on DVD and my G4 only has a CD ROM as an internal drive. Is there a way to boot from an external USB DVD drive?

bamim2,
you obviously just cracked some known hardware restrictions that not even Apple knew how to do: Don't start up from an external USB device.
The procedure you described is the standard procedure for the startup manager. However, as Apple's article explains this does NOT work with USB-devices on PowerPC (G3, G4, G5) based Macs.

Cannot boot to Windows disc from external USB DVD drive.

I have a MacBook Pro 17" Early 2011 8,3. I have tried to use bootcamp to install Windows 7 from a external USB DVD drive. All I get, like many people, is a black screen with a blinking cursor, as if it never makes it to boot. I tried restarting to the OS selection for holding alt, and tried the DVD again, did not work.
I saw a few posts claiming that this didn't work on some models of Mac because of a EFI problem that would not allow booting from a external USB, which is really stupid because it would seems some models can... And MacBook airs can... Can someone please confirm this for me? Has anyone found a resolution?
If not, APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Yes the MBP is currently running Tiger, I want to flatten this with a fresh install of Leopard. I can view the install DVD when in Tiger currently.
I haven't tried what you have suggested, but I have seen various posts suggesting this approach. I've also seen several posts explain how to create a partition on an external firewire Harddrive and this seems to have worked for various people.
This would however mean that I didn't really need the external Lacie drive at all, as I've got access to my G5s DVD drive over the network. The more I search on this, the more convinced I am the USB drive was a bad idea.
Once again thank for the response.

Can I install Leopard on an external drive to run my computer?

Since it seems my hard drive has totally bit the dust, can I install Leopard on the external drive I use for Time Machine, and run my desktop from that drive? Could I run it from an external drive totally dedicated to Leopard? I am buying a new desktop soon, but I need info off of this machine. Can I plug in my Time Machine drive to my laptop and be able to use it without losing data?

Elizabeth Salcido wrote:
Thanks so much.
Youa re welcome!
I figured I would have to use a second drive. At least when I get my new desktop I will have a drive for Time Machine for both desktop and laptop.
If you really plan to keep the laptop around after you get your desktop, I would recommend replacing its internal hard drive. While running your laptop off an external is possible, it should be considered a stopgap measure. i wouldn't do it on a permanent basis. For one, as you'll find out, it's quite a bit slower than when using the internal drive.

Installing from an external usb cdrom drive

I am able to boot an external usb cdrom drive but I cannot figure out how to mount that usb cdrom drive to complete the install.
My boot command is:
arch-scsi NEEDUSB=auto
I cannot run loaddisk, as it does not find the usb cdrom, so I cannot load the addon utilities (thus I cannot modprobe usb-storage).
I can run /arch/setup but when it gets to package selection, I am unable to select the CDROM source. This machine is not on the net, so I cannot do a ftp install.
Has anyone else installed ARCH using an external USB cdrom drive ?
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you Xentac for you help. I looked up the bug report and understand the problem. Now how do I proceed from here?
Any suggestions on a work around? Should I rebuild the 0.7 beta disk with additions to the initrd? Eventually, I will need to install Arch on about twenty standalone systems. They do not have cdrom's in them, and are not on a network. Sounds like I may have to open up the units and plug a cdrom in for the install
I was thinking of cloning the disk (i.e. open up unit, take hard drive out, put in another system and clone), but it has been pointed out that doing a basic install is a good way of testing the hardware. It doesn't take very long and we have to do testing of our software anyways.
I open to suggestions!

How to install Leopard from an external DVD reader?

Hi,
I've bought Leopard today. unfortunately, it's not yet installed on my PowerBook. As my SuperDrive is dead, I use now an external DVD (Lacie Portable DVD-RW), but it doesn't work. I can read the Leopard install DVD, but when it reboot, it reboot on my current installation.
I've tried the following during the boot sequence:
- alt pressed, but I can only see my main HDD
- c pressed, but I boot on my current installation
Can you tell me if it is possible to install Leopard from an external DVD, and how can I do that ?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Emmanuel Di Pretoro

Can you tell me if the same problem occur with a FireWire external DVD ?
It does not occur on your model of Mac.
(25504)

2011 MBP MC700 13" cann't install win7 from an external usb CD/DVD ROM

My new 2011 MBP MC700 13" cann't install win7 from an external usb CD/DVD ROM,WHY?

Yes, very annoying. Not unworkable though. We've a bucket load of different external devices too, tried all of them.
It's not common to one OS either - can't boot OSX DVD, Ubuntu, Win7.... Only way I can is via the internal SuperDrive when it's actually internal.
Even tried it with just 1 x Hard Disk & an External USB. No joy.
Obviously not annoying enough for me to try and find a solution I just work around it now. Interesting it's been the same on my last three MBPs though - no problem on both the Air's I've owned.

Can anyone boot Leopard from an external hard drive on an iMacPPC?

Can anyone boot Leopard from an external hard drive on a G5 iMac PowerPC? How?

Allan's answer is irrelevant as he refers to Snow Leopard. He must have isread your post!
Yes, you can and I do. The proviso is that the external hard drive is connected by firewire, as a PPC Mac cannot boot via USB.

Problems Installing Win7 using External, USB DVD Drive

I have a mid 2010 15" i7 MBP which I upgraded to from 4GB to 8GB RAM courtesy of OWC. I recently upgraded the 500GB 7200RPM HD with a 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 and using an OWC Data Doubler, I replaced the DVD SuperDrive with the 500GB Hard Drive.
I used an External USB DVD Drive to install OS X SL On the SSD without issues. Also, I got all my updates and software installed and working without any problems.
I've been running great for about 2 weeks now, so I decided to install Windows 7 64bit Ultimate. I ran Boot Camp Assistant and partitioned the 240GB SSD in half 120/120. Everything went fine with creating the partition. I selected to Install from the Win 7 DVD media in the USB DVD drive and rebooted. I got a grey screen. I turned the computer off and turned it back on. Holding down Option, I selected the Install DVD from the Boot Menu. I then got a screen with the Apple Logo flashing intermittently with a Circle/Cross Hatch. So I can't get the Windows Install to start to save my life. I know the External, USB DVD works since I used it to install OS X and I have no problems using it in OS X. I Know the media works because I tried a test install, without activation in a VMWare Fusion VM.
Any suggestions are appreciated?

So here is the answer. The Firmware on the MacBook Pro only supports installation of OS X from External Media and will not install operating systems from 3rd Parties. I tried to install Windows XP, Win7 Ultimate 32 & 64bit, and Ubuntu 11.04 but no success.
Supposedly, the MacBook Air does support installation of 3rd party operating systems from external media, but I have no way to confirm this.
I ended up reinstalling the internal DVD drive installing Win 7 and Ubuntu on the SSD. Using rEFI, I'm able to triple boot all 3 operating systems. Then removed the drive again and reinstalled the 2nd HD. Everything seems to be working fine.
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Can I install Leopard from an external USB DVD drive?

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