IBook G4 won't start after 10.5 install

Question

I just installed 10.5 onto my 1Gz iBook G4. Since the optical drive does not function on the iBook, I used my MBP for the install and mounted the iBook in target mode. I reformatted the iBook HD using a GUID partition table and did the install on the newly formatted drive. When the install was completed, I unmounted the iBook and tried to restart it.
Now, I get a question mark alternating with a folder/smiley face. The drive will not mount/startup. I redid the whole install again, reformatting the drive in the process, and I still get the same thing.
The only thing I can think of is that I can't install onto a G4 from a MBP. Perhaps there is something specific about the install that I need to have the host machine be a PPC. But I didn't think it mattered.
Any other thoughts?

Answer 1

I never suggested the formatting was the issue.
But the point I'm trying to get across in this answer, in case it will help someone else, is that if you are installing to a PPC machine, the boot machine must be a PPC machine (and vice versa for intel). You cannot boot a MBP and install onto an iBook in target mode. The system will expect the disc to be partitioned as GUID, and it won't install unless you do.
The solution for a computer with a broken optical is to use another machine with a working optical, putting that machine into target mode. Then you can boot off the machine with the broken optical, from the DVD drive on the other machine. Now, your boot machine will be PPC (in this case) and you can install on an Apple partitioned drive.
This is probably obvious to many, but it took me awhile to figure out, and maybe it will help someone else.