EMac 10.2.8 error during upgrade to 10.3, need help

Question

I have a eMac PowerPC G4 with 10.2.8. Using Mac OS X Panther 10.3 discs (3 discs, Install Disc 1, 2, and 3), I attempted to upgrade. I backed-up everything on my computer and then pop-ed in Panther disc 1. It did its thing and then a prompt asked for me to insert disc 2. I did and installation started okay. Then it stopped and said "There were errors installing the software." It gave me no options but to quit. When I open "About This Mac" it says the computer op system is 10.3.
What to do? Is my computer half installed, trapped in this world and the next? What should my next steps be?
Thank you very very much in advance of any possible help!!!!

Answer 1

I'll suggest two options:
1. Erase the drive and restore your old system from the backup. Before attempting to reinstall OS X Panther do the following:
Boot from your OS X Installer. Be sure to use the installer for the version of OS X you have installed. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (or Utilities menu if using Tiger.) After DU loads select your OS X volume from the list on the left, click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now proceed with installing OS X Panther using the Upgrade option or the Archive and Install option.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (3.0.3 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.1.1 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Do the following:
a. Boot from your Panther installer Disc 1. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Installer menu.
b. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
c. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
d. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
e. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
f. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
g. When the formatting is completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed to do a clean install of OS X.
h. Once you complete the installation download and install the 10.3.9 Combo Updater from Apple.
i. After installing the combo updater you can transfer your personal files from your backup. I would recommend re-installing your third-party software being careful to install only those that are known to be compatible with Panther. Otherwise get upgrades to Panther compatible versions.
I highly recommend the second option because it will provide a clean system from the start without any possible problems associated with upgrading over an older system that could be corrupted.