How do I resolve Tiger installation errors?

Question

System:
Ibook G3 with OS X 10.2 (Panther)
640 MB RAM
Task:
Upgrading to OS X 10.4 (Tiger) with OS X Tiger install disks sent to me from Apple.
Problem:
Install seems to be working fine but then gives an error message.
Error message:
"There were Errors during the installation." "Please try again."
Attempts:
-Disk Repair with Disk Utility -> There were no errors.
-Permissions Repair with Disk Utility -> Fixed some permissions, but still doesn't work.
Symptoms:
-When I try installing again, it always asks for disk 2 (unless I boot directly into disk 1 to try it all from the beginning)
-I cannot boot back into the operating system. Even if I try starting up without the disks, it runs the installer and asks for disk 2.

Answer 1

Hello, here's what I'd try...
  1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
   2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
      *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
   3. Click the Erase tab.
   4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
   5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
   6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, select the Security Options button, choose Zero Out Data, Erase... after completion hopefully you'll be able to install.
That second Disc thing happens frequently, the best way around it is to do a Custom install, and eliminate enough Printer Drivers, Languages, Fonts, and Applications you don't need... then it may skip #2 altogether.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1442