How do I install 10.5 on 12" PB lacking an optical drive

Is there a way to install OS 10.5 on a 12" Powerbook without a functioning CD/DVD drive? I have an OS 10.5 retail install DVD and several firewire external drives I could use.

Backup your data*.
Ensure all your software and hardware has been tested with 10.5 and you are able to get relevant drivers for it.
Make sure your Powerbook has at least 512 MB of RAM.
Get a Firewire DVD drive able to boot the 10.5 retail installer which looks like * and does not say Update, DropIn, or OEM on it.
Firewire DVD drives that support booting Mac OS X include ones by http://www.macsales.com/ and http://www.lacie.com/
Once you are able to install 10.5 on your machine, make sure all but the optical drive in question are disconnected from the machine.
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

Similar Messages

How do I install software from DVD on mini with no Optical Drive

I purchased Aperture on DVD at an Apple store in 2007 when the App store did not exist. The new Mac mini does not have an optical drive. I did not migrate applications from my previous Mac mini because it doesn't seem to let you choose which applications. (I had several legacy migrations involved and didn't want that junk on my new mini.) The App store, of course, does not know I've already paid for Aperture and wants to charge me to download it. I discovered you cannot install from another computer's DVD just by mounting that DVD on the target computer. It will tell you it can't install over the network. It also won't let you drag the contents of the DVD onto the target computer (which worked with Office 2011). It will tell you that method of installation is not supported. All Apple could suggest was to buy an optical drive which would have been almost anoher $100. Apple support doesn't seem to understand why Aperture is not in my iTunes purchase history (because iTunes didn't exist for Aperture then!)
I just had a wonderful discovery. I found this support article that details how you have to turn DVD sharing on under Sharing Preferences on the computer that does have the optical drive, then you can use the Remote Disc under Devices on the target computer to request use of that drive. Finally, the installer will run.
I'm putting this info here because I searched but was unable to find this subject in the Support Community. I'm sure someone has asked this question, but I couldn't form a query that would find it.
Article from Apple with instructions for Remote Disc
Now if someone could just tell me how to get the App store turned on for my copy of Aperture so I don't have this issue in the future when no Apple computer will have an optical drive!
Message was edited by: WorkerBee

Actually, when I followed that link, one of the related links in More Like This was a real find! An actual download of Aperture, albeit a trial, but that would have solved my problem too. I tested it and although it's embeded in a support article, the link to the trial version of Aperture still works.
Thanks! Great info here if you can find it.

How do I Install OS 9.2.2 on iMac G3, Optical Drive Not Working

Okay, this is the issue I have...
I have an iMac G3 that has a complete blank hard drive in it. How, I formatted it.
I also have Intel iMac with Snow Leopard and ofcourse, I have OS 9.2.2 CD.
Trouble is, the optical drive in G3 doesn't work now. Is there a way I can install OS 9.2.2 using my Intel iMac to G3's Harddrive. I don't mind opening the G3 to remove the hard drive.
I really need help over here and appreciate the suggestions.
Thanks,

Help? Here's the situation. I've got a iMac G3 with OS 9.2.2. While trying to reinstall my speech software (blind user) in the system folder, I think I accidentally moved the finder to the trash. Basically the OS ate itself. Panicked, I restarted and it all went to pieces.
When I tried booting the system, it gives me the start screen like it's loading, and then once loaded, gives me a blank background and blank menu bar atop. A few times the message: Error 10 "Finder" has come up and I'm stuck.
To make things more interesting, my internal disk drive is no longer there, so I'm using a firewire external drive (Dell, does that matter?) and trying to reinstall the system from the disk.
While in this process, I've reset the PRAM, I've booted holding down C, nothing changed. I booted holding down Option and got the choice to boot from the firewire drive, but when selected, I got a nice little floppy disk icon with a flashing question mark. The computer then resorted to booting from the half-deleted system, and I'm back to square one.
Lastly, I booted holding down T, and now I have a blue screen with a big yellow firewire icon bouncing around like a screen saver and I am stumped.
Please help. My next attempt to reboot will be dropping it from a 10-story building. Thanks in advance!

How can I install winxp to bootcamp on imac with bad optical drive?

I have a mid-2007 20" aluminum Intel-based iMac and I'm having trouble getting a clean install of MacOS10.5.8 and Win XP (through Bootcamp) on a new drive.
The problem stems from the fact that I have no internal optical drive. My Superdrive began acting up a while ago (couldn't recognize, read from, or write to DVD). I replaced the drive, but the problem persisted. Calling Apple Support, they determined (guessed?) the problem was the logic board, and, as the machine is out of warranty, isn't worth replacing. No big deal - I've been using an external USB optical drive when needed.
However, my hard drive is beginning to experience issues (SMART Failure), and I want to reinstall everything MacOS, Bootcamp/Win XP on a clean new drive. The problem is that I cant resinstall Win XP to Bootcamp without an internal drive (which seems unlikely to ever work). I've tried creating a bootable USB key with the XP installation files going through the Bootcamp installation process using the WintoFlash/rEFIt method, but to no avail (won't recognize boot from USB).
Is it possible to remove the internal hard drive, boot from MacOS (10.5.8) on an external drive, and connect the optical drive to the sATA port where the internal drive was? Or is there a second sATA port on these logic boards? Or can I somehow connect the USB optical drive in a way that the iMAC thinks it's internal? I'm not afraid of digging into the iMAC (changed HDD and Superdrive already).
Is there anyway to test the pATA connection on my logic board to find out if it's really the problem? If it's not, maybe I can install WinXP on a second Windows formated drive, to take the space of the internal Superdrive.
There must be some good ideas out there somewhere. Barring that, my only other option is to use Parallels and take the performance hit that comes with running a virtual machine. UGH!

Actually, when I followed that link, one of the related links in More Like This was a real find! An actual download of Aperture, albeit a trial, but that would have solved my problem too. I tested it and although it's embeded in a support article, the link to the trial version of Aperture still works.
Thanks! Great info here if you can find it.

Installing Boot Camp on MacBook Air with no optical drive

Hi,
Recently the hardnesses of life forced me to use some Windows-only software. I'm on MBA with model identifier MacBookAir3,2. Don't have optical drive.
How can I install BootCamp and Windows 7 on it without optical drive? I could, using another computer, copy installation disk on to USB-disk if this can solve problem, but I'm stuck about how the process would go. I understand my Air should boot from something Windowsy when it has BootCamp installed, from where will it boot in this case, from USB-disk?
Regards,
Eskr.

Hi,
have a read at Apple BootCamp Setup Guide for MacBook Air http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Boot_Camp_Install-SetupLate2010.pdf
And the procedure is described here http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-20020513-10355804.html
For preparing the USB-Stick you have to have access to a Windows-PC.
Regards
Stefan

How can I install new windows on NB200-10z without a CD drive?

Hi,
I have a mini laptop "Toshiba nb200-10z" and it doesnt startup anymore.
I would like to do a recovery, but it also doesnt work.
I know there is a shortcut like press the 0 button when the laptop is starting up.
With this shortcut you can start the recovery to reset the software.
But when I press the 0 button it gives me an error.
So I think the recovery drive/partition is lost.
How can I install new windows on this minilaptop without a CD drive?

I have found a much easier way to install Windows 7 from a USB Flash drive. Unlike other methods where you have to write complicated commands, this method can be completed even by those who have very little computer background.
The whole process takes only two steps, run UNetbootin, load the Windows 7 ISO file, and finally restart your computer.
Before you begin, you will require the following:
USB Flash Drive (4GB minimum)
Windows 7 ISO Image file
UNetbootin
Note: If UNetbootin doesnt work, try out the Microsofts official tool called Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool.
Now insert the USB drive, run UNetbootin, and select Disk Image as ISO. Browse your local drive for Windows 7 ISO that you downloaded and click Open. Now Select Type as USB and choose the drive. Once done, it will look like a bit similar to the screenshot shown below.
Click OK and it will begin extracting all installation files to the USB drive. The whole process will take some time (10-15 minutes), so have patience.
Once the installation is complete, reboot your computer. Now while your system is starting up press the appropriate button (usually F1, F2, F12, ESC, Backspace, or Escape) to bring up Bios Boot Menu.
Change the startup order to boot USB by default, usually you will have to press F6 to move the selected USB device on top. Once done, save changes and restart the system.
+Message was edited: link has been removed+

How do I install my LG Super Multi BLADE Mac compatible external drive without the install disc?

I can't find my install disc! How do I install my LG Super Multi BLADE Mac compatible external drive without the install disc?

You don't have installer discs with that model. What do you need to do? USB and Thunderbolt external drives do not require any special software. If you need to partition and format them, then use Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.

How can i install ios 8 downloaded from another source through flash drive?

how can i install ios 8 downloaded from another source through flash drive?

You can not download from a flash drive. You can do over the air, or you can connect your iPhone to your computer and download iOS 8.1 via iTunes.

How do I install CS6 on my new imac without a disk drive?

I purchased cs6 on dvd from adobe under a year ago and now want to install it on my new imac.How do I install it on the imac without a disk drive?

Giddy,
You can go ahead and follow the link below to download the CS6 for you.
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4295655#4295655
-Mandhir

I bought the disk Photoshop CS6 extended how do I install it on an new comp with no disk drive?

I bought Adobe Photoshop CS6 and installed the disk on my old computer. How do I install the program onto my new computer since I do not have a disk drive to put the cd into? There is nothing on the website that I can find to help me....I really enjoy the program and didnt even realize I didnt have a disk drive in this computer....(I know its something I should have known before I bought the computer....but it slipped my mind till now when I actually need it.) Thank you....Heidi

Hi Heidi,
Welcome to the Community!
That's not a problem, you can certainly download the product online. Please go to http://prodesigntools.com/adobe-cs6-direct-download-links.html and download Photoshop CS6 from there.
Remeber to follow the instructions mentioned under "Very Important section" otherwise download won't start.
Thanks!
Ankit

How do I install original system software on a replaced MacMini Hard Drive?

My Mac Mini model A1347 Hard Drive crashed last week. I drove 250 miles to an Apple Store which did not have a replacement drive in stock and was too busy to fix it if they did, so they referred me to an authorized technician in the area. He had a drive, but not the time to install it. But he was kind enough to give me very precise instructions which I followed carefully and now have the drive installed and apparently running fine. I also have a very good Time Machine backup for this computer.
Now - my question is how to I reinstall my software on this computer, since the new drive is blank? I have the original install disks, but the instructions assume I want to reinstall over the existing system, or erase and replace it. Nothing about putting it on a new drive.
When I start up the computer, it asks me for a startup drive (the ?? icon). When I put in the original install disk, the Apple logo appears and it starts trying to load, but never does, and eventually my monitor goes to sleep with nothing happening.
Any trick I'm unaware of?
I've also tried the startup with the C key down. Same thing.
Thanks.

You did not tell us what version of OS X you were using. If it was Mountain Lion then you should be able to boot from your Time Machine backup as follows:
Boot Using OPTION key:
1. Restart the computer.
2. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the
"OPTION" key.
3. Release the key when the boot manager appears.
4. Select the disk icon for the Time Machine backup drive.
5. Click on the arrow button below the icon.

How can i install windows 7 on 2009 imac with out opitcal drive

Im trying to install windows 7 on my late 2009 Imac.
I have a single ssd installed which i partitioned (or try to) but i cant seems to get it right.
i tried VirtualBox,parrells,VMware method but seem to run into errors all the time.
i tried changing the bootcamp info file so that i can boot it via usb but no luck
could someone pls explain to me how to do this
my superdrive wont read a bought copy of windows 7
Thanks
Col

If your computer with an internal optical drive you must use that to install Windows in a Boot Camp partition.
If you are having problems with Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox virtual machines you should visit their respective sites for assistance.

How do you install os on an imac with a new hard drive

The hard drive failed on my iMac. I installed a new harddrive - how do I install the OS on the iMac. I never received boot disks.

I assume you bought the machine new and it's a 2012 or later machine. If so then you can use Internet Recovery. If you bought the machine with Snow Leopard or below you received install discs however you probably misplaced them. If that is the case (machine originally shipped with SL or earlier) then call AppleCare and for a nominal fee your discs can be replaced.If you need to use Internet Recovery then click Internet Recovery for instructions.

How do I install Canoscan film scanner on macbook using external disc drive?

How do I install a CanoScan film scanner using external disc drive ?

sorry, not being very clear. I have the scanner and am trying to instal the operating programme onto my new macbook. It was fine on my 6 year old one! I put the setup disc in the external drive. I can now get it to load 80% but it then stops. I have then tried to eject the disc - it won't let me as it says it is still setting up - but after 2 hours still says the same and clearly is doing nothing. I can't quit the setup programme - the only way I finally managed to quit was to to force quit the computer to shutdown and then when I start up again I can eject the disc.
Any idea how I make it load the 20% of the setup that it is currently refusing to do?

I want to get windows vista on the macbook pro with retina display but my first question is this that how do i install it without using a DVD OR CD disk drive, and my second question while installing windows vista do i have to tick mark the install win 7

hello i have a few problems and i hope somebody has a solution my first problem is that how can i install windows vista without using a disk drive and my second problem is that should i tick mark the option which says Install windows 7 while using boot camp please reply, Thanks,

When running Windows in a virtual environment Windows and OSx share your computer's resources such as RAM. Therefore your games can not use all your computer's resources when running.
If you install Windows natively then Windows and your games can and do use all your computer's resource such as RAM.
But as already said, older operating systems are not supported and will not run natively using Boot Camp Assistant. You must use Windows 7 if installing natively in Lion or Moubtain Lion.

How do I install 10.5 on 12" PB lacking an optical drive

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for