I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to erase and install 10.4 on my iMac G5

Question

After running into various bad experiences (apps quiting and app installers refusing to complete the task) I tried the usual fixits. I began with the Disc Utility and it repeatedly told me "1 HFS volume checked - Volume needs repair". After a little digging online, I opted to make the $100 purchase and got DiscWarrior. DiscWarrior said the volume and the hardware are fine now All is repaired. Soon after the problems reoccured. discWarrior again. All is fine. Problems soon follow. After a little more digging, I went to the last resort. I backed everything up and attempted an erase and install from the os disc that came with the computer. Now I'm getting a message telling me the installation was unsuccessful and to restart. I've gone throgh this hoop several times. Any thoughts?
I was running the 10.4.5 downloadable upgrade previous.

Answer 1

Although not definitive open Disk Utility, select the hard drive entry (the one with the mfgr.'s ID and drive size), then click on the First Aid tab in the DU main window. In the DU status bar note the reported SMART status. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing and needs replacing. If it does say "Verified" then it's highly unlikely that the drive is bad. However, the drive may have developed a bad sector. If you're willing to continue the journey then try the following:
1. Boot from your Tiger DVD. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
After the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now proceed with the OS X installation. After selecting the destination device click on the Customize button. Deselect items you don't require such as additional language localizations, Asian fonts. Only select the printer driver families you require for your printers.