Can't Install OS X Panther

I have an old ibook G3 (Dual USB) that I picked up used from a computer thrift store. They sold me it with Ubuntu 8.04 on it. I want to get Panther installed on it but when I insert the disk and press c it does nothing. I even had an old copy of OS 9 that I tried and I got the same results. What do I need to do to get Panther on my ibook? The only other thing I can think of is erasing the hard drive, but I do not know if that would work. My specs are a 500 megahertz G3 with 512 megabytes of RAM and a 20 gigabyte hard drive. Thanks for any help.

borgunion, welcome to Apple Discussions.
Are the Panther install CDs a retail version (black with silver X), or a machine specific version (gray), which won't work. Same for the OS 9 installer if it is gray. A retail version of OS 9 is white with an orange 9.
Also, you need to check if your Mac requires a firmware (Boot ROM version in System Profiler) update. Mac OS X: Available firmware updates
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117 If an update is required, the update must be installed (using OS 9) BEFORE you install OS X.
Your iBook meets the Panther requirements.
 Cheers, Tom

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Can't install 10.3 panther or 10.4 tiger what can i do? Help!!!

Hello guys i have a G4 powermac 450 mhz AGP graphics 448mb ram and i can not install osx on my system. I have tried everything. (i have tried three different sets of panther).
It will startup with the OSX 10,3 disk but after te zilver apple in the screen i get a blue screen with a rotating indicator and than it wont get any further.
With the 10.4 tiger dvd it also starts-up and than when i get the blue screen te computer is turning himself off.
the mac has a 30gb HD and a DVD-ram drive. No pci cards installed.
OS9.2 is now installed. I think i have the newest ROM version $0004,28f1
Does anyone have a idea?
(sorry about the bad englisch)

Thanx for the replys but nothing workt. I've tried some memory switches and only a original 256mb ramm dimm but nothing workt.
I also tried three different harddisks without suc6.
The problem is that when i start up from the install cd it doesnt show a install screen only a blank blue screen with a rotating indicator in the bottom.
I also tried 4 different cd/dvd/ players olso without suc6.
when i installed osx 10.3 on my own harddisk on my work (on a old G3) en i placed it in my own G4 he only starts-up in a darwin kennel (or something like that).
CAN ANYONE HELP ME!!!

Can I install Panther on my Lombard 400?

I was just given a hand-me-down Powerbook G3 Lombard 400 Mhz(bronze keyboard), wiped of all external applications. It's got 192M of built-in memory (64MB bottom, 128MB top) and 257MB virtual memory on the HD. HD is 8 GB original, plus 3.4 GB extended HD, which was installed later (I think). I've upgraded to OS 9.2.2, and have it networked to my home wireless network with Airport 2.0.4 and a Lucent PCI card.
But I'm wondering whether I can upgrade this machine to OSX 10.3 Panther. I believe that my friend has a set of retail disks that I can use (legally). Do I have enough memory/processing power? Can I upgrade directly from 9.2.2 to Panther, or would I have to install 10.1 or 10.2 first? (Don't have those disks.)
If so, here's the next problem: all I have is a zip drive -- no CD or DVD. So here are the questions: Can I install OSX by copying the disks to zip disks (I have a USB zip drive at my office) on my work PC, and then installing from zip disks? (I believe I saw on another forum that I can't install from a USB CD or DVD drive.) If the zip approach won't work, any other ideas? (I've got an Intel Mac Mini running Leopard at home -- don't know if that would help.)
Or should I just give up and stick with OS9? I'm not up for installing more RAM, spending money to buy a Lombard CD/DVD drive on Ebay, etc.
Thanks for any advice!

A Lombard with 192mb RAM should be able to run up to Panther 10.3.9. More RAM would be better.
If the disks are retail (full-install), you don't have to have any previous OS installed. Mac OS 9 is separate, so you can have both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 installed and switch between the two at will.
I don't see any way to install using a Zip drive. A Zip disk only holds about 100mb. A CD holds 600-700mb. Also, you can't boot from a USB drive.
The only way I can see to install on a Lombard without an optical drive is to remove the internal drive, install it into a FireWire external drive case, and connect it to another PowerPC (not Intel) Mac to perform the installation. Then, put the drive back into the Lombard.
Also, since you have a nice Mac mini for Mac OS X, it might be good to keep that Lombard a pure Mac OS 9 machine. In its current config, it's a great Mac for Mac OS 9.

Can I install Panther & OS 9.2.1 on a Firewire partition?

From reading other posts, it seems that Panther/Classic can be installed on a partitioned Firewire drive. Not quite sure how do do that as other posts were about different issues.
Info
There's a G3 beige tower that there is no space for, but I'd like to run some of its apps, files and games on a Firewire drive on the iMac. There are backups for all the G3 data on CDs, and on 135MB removable drives. There were 2 HDs in the G3. The HD running 9.2.1 died; the other is running OS 7.1. The machine boots from the 9.2.1 CD, but not from Panther.
Questions:
1. One can never have too much backup, so will partitioning the Firewire drive leave enough free space after Panther and Classic are installed? *see # 2
2. I assume it's better to use Panther rather than Tiger, as it's a smaller OS. The Firewire drive has 65GB capacity, with 44GB used for a Leopard 10.5.8 backup. About 20GB is available. And best to leave at least 10-20% of that space free.
3. Would an 8GB flash memory stick work to backup Panther and 9.2.1, as well as apps, files, etc.? Nothing is large on the G3--would not need about 70% of the software that was originally installed on it (printer, scanner, browsers, modem, etc.)
Is this a workable idea?
Thanks!
G

Hi G, The floods are in the north and I live in the south so everything is good here, but it seems half the world is either flooded or snowbound.
The La Nina effect in the Pacific is one explanation for the Australian deluge. Whether the extensive snow in the northern hemisphere is related, I'd be guessing.
As to your ambition, maybe find someone with a working Panther OS and clone it to an external with SuperDuper, and see if that works for you. As I've said, I have my doubts and think preserving your old hardware is perhaps the most straightforward thing to do.
If your old G3 is taking up space, maybe acquire an old laptop just for the purpose.
Every so often I fire up my iBook, so as to run an old app under Classic.

Can't install Panther- or kinda did?

I hope someone can help- I've spent days futzing with my computer and combing the discussions and support articles and am still stumped.
I recently received a used white iBook G3 from a friend with OS 9.1 on it. I want to upgrade it to Panther. I read in these forums that I needed to upgrade the startup disk to 9.2 in order to be able to start up from the Panther cds so I did that. I still could not get the computer to start up from the cd in order to install OS 10.3. I tried choosing in startup, pressing c as i restarted, pressing option as I restarted, no luck. Then I tried as I read somewhere here, pressing X as I restarted- and joyful day, I got the music and the OS X welcome. I got through the next couple pages asking me to set up internet, mail and to register (which I couldn't complete bc I wasn't hooked up to the internet) and then I was at an OS X desktop without actually having installed, didn't get to customize, choose archive and install or anything. Turns out I'm now in 10.0.3 and don't seem to be able to install Panther or install anything from the 2nd or 3rd cd! Was anything installed? I don't have iPhoto or many other things. Did a half install take place? Restarting from cd 1 does nothing. And I can't install anything off of cd 2 or 3. Please help!
What actually happened? And how can I complete this attempted installation?

Your post is quite confusing as you say you want to install Panther but somehow installed 10.0.3. ("Turns out I'm now in 10.0.3 and don't seem to be able to install Panther or install anything from the 2nd or 3rd cd!") First, unless you installed many of the extras all of Panther will install from one or two CDs.
Second, you don't need OS 9 at all. If you plan to run OS 9 applications and use Classic while running OS X, then you need to install OS 9.1 or higher, but OS 9 is not required in any way for OS X.
Because you've provided no useful information on the actual model and configuration of your Mac, it's pretty difficult to go much further. Installing Panther requires a minimum of 128 MBs of installed RAM and at least an 8 GB hard drive. For any practical use you really need about 512 MBs of installed RAM and a 20 GB hard drive.
I suggest you might try all over and do the following:
Insert the Panther Installer Disc One into the optical drive and restart the computer. Immediately after you hear the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Don't release the key until you see a spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu. After DU loads select the hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the left side list, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window, set the number of partitions to one (1) and the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the respective drop down menus. Click on the Partition button. After partitioning has completed quit DU and return to the installer.
Proceed with the installation until you reach the point where you select a destination drive. Click on the drive then click on the Options button. Be sure to select the Erase and Install option then click on OK. Continue with the installation. In the next dialog you should see a Customize button. Click on it to customize your installation. Continue and finish the installation. If files are needed from a second disc you will be prompted after the computer restarts.
At the top of this page you will see a navbar link titled "Manuals." Click on it and you will be able to track down a PDF copy of the User Guide for your computer as well as guides for OS X. I recommend you obtain the manuals and read them thoroughly.
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Can I install final cut express 2 on Panther 910.3.4

Hi there,
Long time, Can I install final cut express 2 on Panther 910.3.4
Thanks
Fabricio

Hi Fabricio,
I assume you have 10.3.4 and not 910.3.4 on the machine you want to install it on? If so, here are the system requirements I see for it:
Final Cut Express 2.0.2
System Requirements
* Macintosh computer with a 350MHz PowerPC G4 or G5 processor and AGP graphics card.
* RT Extreme requires a 500MHz PowerPC G4 (550MHz for PowerBook G4) or G5 processor
or any dual PowerPC G4 or G5 processors.
* Mac OS X v10.2.5 or later.
* QuickTime 6.4 or later.
* 384MB of RAM (512MB required for RT Extreme).
* 40MB of available disk space required for installation.
hope that helps some,
LS

Can you install Panther on an eMac using retail disks?

I've had problems in the past installing Panther onto an eMac using retail disks.
is there a problem doing this??
past issue - once installed, and booting for the first time, the screen on the eMac would only show the center 50%, the cursor would not go outside of it but there were buttons and icons outside of it. i had to install from the eMac disks and then upgrade to server. (i was doing a OS X Server install onto an eMac then)
current issue - i can't boot from the Panther disk 1!!! checking to make sure it is not the disk..... my client was in the middle of installing Panther, and in the middle of disk 1 it froze and i think gave a KP based on his report of what happened.
thanks
bob

When you get the blinking mac face/question mark when booting, this means that your machine can't find the startup disk it's looking for - whether cd or hard drive. After a moment, it then searches until it finds any startup disk. You can lose your Classic - OS9, while doing operating systems loads if you don't restore it from your original system disks that came with your machine. There may be problems trying to go back to 10.2 from 10.3. It's not a problem I've had, but someone was telling me that the major upgrades (Jaguar to Panther) may have firmware updates that aren't compatible if you try to reload the older OS. It's best to install Panther, then reinstall your applications from the original disks that came with your machine.

How can I install Tiger 10.4.11 over Panther 10.3.9

How can I install Tiger 10.4.11 over Panther 10.3.9 ? I tried using a 10.4.2 install disc that I was going to update to 10.4.11, but got message that this would not work on this computer.
Thanks
Bob

Upgrade 10.3 to 10.4 Drop-in Install...
2Z691-5341-A
You must already have Mac OS X 10.3.x Panther installed on your Mac to use this 10.4 Tiger upgrade. Your Mac must also meet the system requirements (detailed below) for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
Compatibility
eMac (2005), iBook G4 (Late 2004), iBook G4 (Mid 2005), iMac G5 17-inch (ALS), iMac G5 20-inch (ALS), iMac G5 (17-inch iSight), iMac G5 (20-inch iSight), iMac (Early 2006 17-inch), iMac (Early 2006 20-inch), Mac mini, Mac mini (Late 2005), Mac mini (Early 2006), MacBook Pro, Power Mac G5 (Early 2005), Power Mac G5 (Late 2005), PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD), PowerBook G4 (17-inch Double-Layer SD)
http://www.welovemacs.com/m9639za.html

Help, can't install OS 10.2 on my 2003 Imac G4

Hello Lads,
I picked up a 2003 IMac flat panel at a college auctio, and it's hard drive is wiped. I tried to install 10.2 retail disc, and the mac does not recognize the disc. I know the computer is OK, as my 10.5 disk is recognizes on the boot up, can't install of course, but it goes to the install page. The 10.2 does nothing, no disc icon on any of the boot up options?
The tech at Mac said 10.2 would be fine, but isn't any suggestions? do I actually need 10.3?
Thanks to anyone who answers.
Donald Bowman

The original OS X version that came with the earliest 2003 iMac was 10.2.3. The last 2003 model required 10.2.7. So depending on which exact 2003 model you have you would need either the original discs that came with the computer or a retail copy of Jaguar at least one sub-version greater than the one originally installed - 10.2.4 or 10.2.8 - or you need any version of Panther or Leopard. Of course the machine's RAM configuration must meet the minimum requirements of 256 or 512 MBs, respectively, and to use Leopard the computer must have an 867 MHz or faster CPU.

Can't install OS 9 on external firewire disk

I am running Panther on an iMac G3 450. Some older software and games just don't run correctly in Classic mode, so I would like to install OS 9 on an external firewire drive. The original OS 9 disk from 2000 doesn't run with Panther. When booting from the OS 9 install disk, it can't read the firewire drive. How can I get the OS 9 boot disk to read the external drive for an install? Or - can I install OS 9 on my hard drive without affecting my OS X and all my software and files? Thanks.

Hi, sageimac -
The original OS 9 disk from 2000 doesn't run with Panther.
Correct. The installer on any stand-alone OS 9 Install CD, retail or original model-specific, will not run in OSX - it will run only when the Mac is booted to OS 9, such as to the OS on the CD.
When booting from the OS 9 install disk, it can't read the firewire drive.
The OS on OS 9 Install CDs contain the necessary software to 'see' a firewire drive connected to a native firewire port while booted to the CD, provided the drive does not need any additional software. If the firwire port was added via an upgrade card, OS 9 may not be able to see it without additional software.
When you added the firewire drive, did you reformat it using Disk Utility under OSX? If so, if the option to install OS 9 drivers was not selected, then that drive can not be mounted whenever the machine is booted to OS 9, such as to an OS 9 Install CD.
Article #106849 - Disk Is Available in Mac OS X But Not in Mac OS 9
Unfortunately, since in that case the drive probably did not have OS 9 drivers on it previously, there may be no solution but to re-initialize that drive - but it won't hurt to try re-installing OS 9 drivers while booted to the OS 9 Install CD, using Drive Setup's Update Driver function.
If it is necessary to re-initialize the drive, it can be done using Drive Setup while booted to the OS 9 Install CD, or by using Disk Utility while booted to OSX (be sure to select the option to install OS 9 drivers in this second case. This will erase it, so be sure to first back up your data. In either case select Mac OS Extended as the format.
Or - can I install OS 9 on my hard drive without affecting my OS X and all my software and files?
Yes - OS 9 and OSX are designed to co-exist on the same volume.
You should have no problem doing that, provided there is sufficient space on the hard drive. I do not consider my OS 9 to be overly fat; however, the System Folder still occupies about 0.4 to 0.5GB. OSX runs best when 5GB or so is left free on the drive. So, if you have 6GB or more free space on the internal drive, there should be no problem doing that.
Use the Clean Install method to install OS 9 from your original Software Install CD (not the Software Restore CD), or from a retail OS 9 Install CD of adequate version.
Note that a Clean Install of OS 9 removes nothing. It installs a brand new, 'clean' System Folder, renames any already existing one to Previous System Folder, installs a new set of standard OS 9 utilities if they're not already present, and little else.
Article #58176 - Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: Performing a Clean Installation

How do you install OS X Panther on an iBook G4

The iBook g4 is either late 2004 or early 05. It has OS X Leopard but I want Panther ( or mabye Tiger ). I just bought it so I dont know a lot about the history.

Hello
Welcome to the Support Communities.
In order for you to install 10.3 Panther or 10.4 Tiger you will need the retail version of either Operating Systems.
Now this is a mid 2005 iBook, the chances are the system disk supplied would have been 10.4 (Tiger) else in if it's a 2004 to early 2005 then it would have been 10.3 Panther.
You may find it hard to get hold of a copy of the system disk for this iBook, you can't buy them through Apple anymore. There are some vender online who may still stock both retail and system restore disks.
Best of Luck

Can I install Fedora Core 3 on my bdriver

Hi,
My windows have 3 partitions C: is the win system, B and D, My D driver have jdk 1.5 , tomcat, and MS sql on it, but my B driver still have about 30 GB space on it , on this case can I download and install Core 3 on it?? not bother My Windows system
all my partition are NTFS formate, can NTFS be identify by linux??
thank you for the help!!

Can you install Panther on your G4? Yes, you can. However, you should be aware of a few things before you do.
If you have the G4 Cube, G4 with Mirrored Drive Doors, or G4 with AGP Graphics, you'll need to update the firmware before installing OS X.
Mac OS 9 and X can coexist on the same volume. However, be advised that duplicate applications might cause problems with both OSes as libraries and preferences may cross over (e.g. MS Office). You might consider a clean install to avoid the problem altogether.
As to IE, the last version released for the MacOS was version 5.2.3 for OS X. This may or may not address any issue you have encountered with browsing. Most web sites will look for IE 6.0 for Windows and then report (erroneously) that you do not have the latest version. To get around this, use Safari (built into OSX) or any Mozilla-based browser (Firefox, Netscape, or Mozilla).
Good luck,
Nate
PowerBook G3 (FireWire) Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Can I install OS9 on a Brand new iMac to run Photoshop 6.0.1?

Hi there;
Today I purchased a brand new iMac. I have been installing my old applications and found that I cannot install Photoshop 6.0.1. The following is the message shown:
"You cannot open the application "Install Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1" because it is not supported on this system"
My old iMac is a G3 and runs on a Panther. Can I install Mac OS 9 on this new Mac so that I can install Photoshop 6.0.1? If yes, how can I do it?
Regards.

Hi KP4ABC;
Since the official position of Adobe is that they are no longer supporting PS 7 at all, I would think your chances with PS 6 are right up there with the snowball in that hot place. In order to get anything that works with any reliability you will have to upgrade, probably to PS CS3.
I have to say that PS CS3 is a significant upgrade over PS 7 which is as far back as I go with Photoshop.
Allan

G3 and what OS can I install

G3 flower version, what OS can I run I have a PowerPC 750 (G3) 400 MHz with 256 mb ram. it has cd only no DVD, I am a little new to macs. what can I install and also where can I get it?

G3 flower version
If it's a +Flower Power+ (case has colorful flower-like pattern), it should be 500 MHz (unless the motherboard was swapped). Here is no information about that model.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac500_fpbd.html
It's a good iMac G3 model, but you may NOT want to invest too much money into it at this point. Even if you max it out to 1GB RAM (2 x 512mb), put in a bigger hard drive, and install the latest supported software, it will still not handle everything you need a computer to do these days. If you understand the limitations, it can certainly be useful. But if you are expecting it to play YouTube videos in high-res full screen, you will be frustrated. And if you spend $300 on software and hardware upgrades, you are half way to a new Mac mini that come with the latest hardware and software.
Having said that, you can install up to Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4.11). More RAM would be good to have with Mac OS X. You will have to get a copy of Tiger on eBay or other online source. You need to get a disc that is from a retail package. A retail disc is black with a big silver X. Unfortunately, retail discs for Tiger are usually on DVD, and a CDROM set is hard to fine these days. You can also run Panther (Mac OS X 10.3.9). The retail Panther came on a set of three CDROMs. In either case, do not get a disc that came with another Mac model (usually grey in color); they usually do not work on a different model. I would not get a version of Mac OS X before Panther.
You can also run Mac OS 9, version 9.1 or later.
Does it currently have an install OS?

Can't install OSX on a MacBook??

I'm trying to help one of my students. He purchased a MacBook (white) from his neighbor and asked me to install the software that belongs to the computer. The computer did not come with any of the original disks and it seems that it has been erased. I can't get it to start up and when I've tried to install the software using a set of MacBook disks that I have, but I keep getting a message that says that "I can't install the software on this computer". I've run the Disk Utilities that comes with the disk, but I can't seems to find too many options.
I don't have any idea what to do now and I feel bad about his computer. I've tried to see what's on the computer by using the Target Disk mode and so far I can't see anything on the computer. Like I said...I think it was erased completely. The computer seems to be pretty new, but that is all I have about it.
Please help!!! I really need some expert advice on this matter. Thanks for your help...

Although you have MacBook install package, the install package that ships with a new Mac purchase is model and build specific with build being the key word so your MacBook install package must be for a different MacBook build and will not work.
A difficult lesson to learn for those who purchase a used Mac that doesn't include the original install package that shipped with the Mac when new and if older than the current OS X version installed, say an upgrade with Tiger over Panther installed, the Tiger retail install package should also be included with the purchase.
Several important reasons for this with this particular reason being a very important one. The student may need or want to re-install the OS and all included software via an Archive & Install or an Erase & Install or install a particular application only along with needing the install package to run Disk First Aid repair.
Since it appears the seller erased the drive which requires the install package that shipped with this Mac when new, your student needs to ask his neighbor where the install package is which is worthless to the neighbor without the Mac model and build it is intended for.
If not, contact AppleCare to request a replacement install package for this Mac model and build.

Can't Install OS X Panther

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