Install discs...machine specific?

*This is probably a dumb question, so if you are going to be snarky please don't answer*
(Sorry, disclaimer necessary as I have been bitten before by some posters.)
I have a black macbook and a white macbook. I can only find one set of install discs and a copy of leopard. I think these may be for my black one, but it's the white one I need to do a reinstall on. Are these machine specific or doesn't it matter? Thanks!

Thanks! The white one is password protected and the password has been forgotten (teenagers!). This one was purchased last year brand new and has Leopard as the OS. I have a set of gray discs from 2006 (which is why I think these are mine for my black macbook) and a purple Leopard disc that has "drop in dvd" and "part of a hardware bundle" written on it. So I believe this is also for the black mac as it was purchased as a refurb in 2007.

Similar Messages

OS X 10.4 Install Disc: model specific?

Hi!
My beloved PowerBook G4 was stolen last year, but i still have the "Mac OS X Install Disc" 1&2, installation discs that came together with the computer.
Would these discs, should i ever need it, eventually work in my Intel-based MacBook Pro?
Are the discs model-specific, processor-specific, computer-specific or whatever other -specificity available?
Thanks for reading,
Julio.

Install disks are model specific, but more to the point OS Tiger was never released as a retail package for Intel Macs.
Only the original Tiger install disks that came with the first Intel Macs will work.
The install disks you have are PPC only.
Depending on how old your MacBook Pro is, you would not in any case be able to install Tiger if that MacBook Pro originally came with Leopard:
Don't install older versions of Mac OS than what came with your computer:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2186?viewlocale=en_US
So, consign Tiger to the history books where it belongs!

HELP! My iMac wont respond to install disc or any commands

I know I'm taking a trip in the "Way back" machine. But I'm pretty resourseful and haven't been able to find my problem. Either I need a Mac super genius or it’s something stupid simple that I’m overlooking.
Specs:
iMac G4 Serial# XXXXXXXX Sep. 2003 – July 2004
1.25GHZ/ 256MB/ 80GB 17” Screen
PowerPC 7445
History: I bought this used with the computer’s monitor backlight out. I could still barely see the sign-in page when I looked at a certain angle, so that was an indicator to me that the OS was working. So I replaced the monitor. At the same time because of owner exchange I had to replace the hard drive with a fully wiped blank one (Deskstar ATA/IDE). I purchased an install disc set 10.4.8, which according to Apple this computer is compatible with 10.2.3 thru10.5.8.
Problem: After reassembly, the replacement monitor works fine. But the system won’t respond to anything. All I get is the gray screen with the apple smiley face folder that alternates with a question mark. It won’t respond to the install disc, or any commands for that matter. Of course I double, triple, and quadruple checked my connections from reassmebling. Here’s what I’ve attempted, all ending up with the same screen display.
During power-up
C (…of     course to boot from the install disc. It just ejects the disc after about     30 seconds)
CMD-OPT-SHIFT-DEL
D (wont     respond to hardware test)
CMD-S     (won’t go into single user mode. It just goes to the same gray screen)
OPT (this     is the only way I get a different screen. It shows the recycle page symbol     and continue symbol. It will recycle the OPT process to stay on this     screen, but it won’t continue if I press that selection – nothing happens
I’ve reset the PRAM
I’ve tried different keyboards (all Apple)
I’ve tried plugging the keyboard into different USB slots
I’ve replaced the Hard Drive with yet another just in case. I’ve tried alternate jumper settings on the hard drive. The original wasset to “Cable”, so I set it to that. But I also tried “Master” jumper settings– no change in results. I can’t say for certain that I hear the DVD/CD drive spin up. But I figure even if I had a bad install disc or bad optical drive, I should still be able to get to the black screen single user mode, yes? So I’m at my wits end. Can any of you Mac geniuses out there please help me? Thanks
<edited by Host>

Install discs are specific to the machine they came with. You cannot use them on any other machine, so the ones you bought are useless. Buy a retail black faced copy of either Tiger or Leopard and you should be able to boot your machine, you need to format the drive as Mac OS extended (Journaled) when you first boot from the new retail disc.
I have also asked that your serial number be removed, it's not a good idea to post it.

How to restore from Time Machine WITHOUT install discs using a second Mac

It's a question that is asked repeatedly all over the web by Mac users like me that bought in to Time Machine (TM) on the assumption that if their computer died one day it would be a piece of cake to restore from it, only for that day to come and then to be told "ahh, okay the first thing is to get your computers install discs..." (loud crashing sound of world falling around ears).
I've never been able to afford a new Mac and both of my machines were bought second-hand. Neither came with Leopard (both have Tiger and have been upgraded to Leopard via the net). This was never supposed to be a problem as I've been backing up with TM. However it appears that Tiger discs are as much use as an inflatable dart board when it comes to using TM. So I've been faced with the possibility of having to spend £130 (about two hundred Pres Sheets, Yankees) on the Leopard install discs just so that I can have the option of restoring from TM. Bonkers.
However after much nashing of teeth, a very long weekend learning all sorts of things about 'Target Mode', 'Single User Mode', 'Verbose Mode', 'Open Source 9' etc the following solution has worked without the need to go out and buy those over-priced discs...
What you will need:
1 broken Mac requiring restoration
1 second donor Mac running Leopard (or Snow Leopard so long as the broken Mac can run it)
1 firewire cable with the correct fitting at either end to attach both Macs together
1 Time Machine backup
Note: The following is for when you have given up trying to boot from your hard drive. In my case I couldn't boot in to Safe Mode etc. so was forced to format my drive and re-import everything. If you've read this far I'm assuming your at the same point as well and have tried everything else that's out there first.
Also - both my Macs are Power PC's so can't run Snow Leopard, so I can't say 100% this will work with SL (Intel) machines. From what I've read Snow Leopard will work with this procedure too, but if you've found differently please feel free to add your experiences below...
STEP ONE: Format the corrupt Hard Drive or replace with a fresh HDD
*Link the two computers with a firewire.
*If you're replacing your HDD, remove your corrupted hard drive from the 'broken' machine and insert a new one.
*Power up the broken Mac whilst holding down the 'T' key. This will start it up in Target Mode and you'll get a nice firewire symbol floating around that machine's screen.
*Power up the second 'healthy' Mac. This will be our 'donor' machine. When it starts up after a few seconds you will see the hard drive of the broken Mac appear on the donor Mac's desktop.
*Using your donor Mac's 'Disc Utility', format the broken Mac's hard drive (now's the time to partition it etc. if you want to).
STEP TWO: Clone your donor Mac
Your broken Mac is no longer broken and now needs a new OS. But you don't have the discs, right? Well get this... you can clone your donor mac on to your machine, even if they are totally different i.e. a laptop on to a tower.
*Again using Disc Utility, click on your donor Mac's hard drive. The restore tab appears as an option.
*Click on restore and drag the donor Mac's hard drive that contains the operating system in to the Source box.
*Drag the newly formatted hard drive on the broken Mac in to the Destination box.
*Click restore. Your donor Mac's hard drive will now be 'cloned' on to your no-longer-broken Mac. Once this is done, eject the first Mac's hard drive from your donor Mac's desktop. You no longer need the donor Mac.
Ta daa! Your machine now starts up happy and smily again. Time to restore all that stuff that's been sat on your Time Machine drive...
STEP 3: Restore from Time Machine using Migration Assistant
This is the really clever part that prompted me to write this piece in the first place. Time Machine IS accessible without those Leopard install discs you don't have. You need to use something called 'Migration Assistant'.
*Start up your machine as normal and you'll see it is an exact clone of the donor machine. Weird huh?
*Attach your Time Machine hard drive. It will show up as an icon on the desktop and because of it's size, you'll be asked if you want to use it as a Time Machine backup. Err, NO YOU DON'T! Click 'cancel'.
*Open Migration Assistant (if you can't find it just type it in to Finder and click). There are three options, the middle one being to restore from TM or another disc. Yup, you want that one.
*Migration Assistant will now ask you what you want to restore in stages, firstly User Accounts, then folders, Apps etc. It will even import internet settings
And that's you done. Let Migration Assistant do it's thang... altogether I had about 140gb to restore, so it wasn't exactly speedy. This wasn't helped by the fact that my TM hard drive is connected via USB (yes, I know). Just leave it alone and it'll whirr happily away...
Before I go - you don't have an option of when to restore from, and will restore from the last Time Machine save. At least then you should be able to access TM and go 'backwards' if you need to.
Also - for a Mac expert, the above will be up there with 'Spot Goes To The Farm' in terms of complexity. However, for the rest of us the above is only available in fragments all over the net. By far the most common response to 'how do I restore from Time Machine without install discs' is 'you can't'. If I'd found the above information in one place I could have saved a lot of hair pulling and swearing over the last couple of days, so forgive me for sharing this workaround with the rest of the world. Meanwhile your expertise will come in very handy for the inevitable questions that will get posted below, so please feel free to help those people that won't be sure if this solution is the right one for them. I'm no expert, I just want to help people that were stuck in the same situation (and looking at the web, there's a LOT of them).
Hope this is of use to someone, thanks and *good luck*!

Most maintenance and repair, restore and install procedures require the use
of the correct OS X install DVD; be it an original machine-specific restore/install
disc set or a later retail non-specific general install disc set.
By having an unsupported system, perhaps installed via an illegal download or
other file-sharing scheme, where no retail official discs are involved and the
initial upgrade was done by other means outside of the License Agreements,
you are asking us to discuss a matter of illegal installation and use of a product.
There are no legal complete OS X system download upgrades online; only bits
that are update segments to a retail or as-shipped machine's original OS X install.
+{Or an installation where a previous owner had correct retail upgrade discs, &+
+chose to not include them with the re-sale of the computer it was installed in.}+
However, to answer the initial question. To get and use an externally enclosed
hard drive in suitable boot-capable housing, and get a free-running Clone
Utility (download online; often a donation-ware product, runs free) you can
make a bootable backup of everything in your computer to an external HDD.
This is the way to make a complete backup to restore all functions to the computer.
The Time Machine has some limits, in that it can restore only that which it saves.
It does not make a bootable clone of your entire computer system with apps and
your files, to an external drive device. A clone can. And some of the clone utility's
settings can also backup changes to an external drive's system; if that other drive
is attached to the computer correctly.
Carbon Copy Cloner, from Bombich Software; and also SuperDuper, another of
the most known software names you can download and use to clone boot-capable
system backups of your computer's hard disk drive contents, are often cited.
However you resolve the matter of the running OS X system in your computer,
derived from what appears to be questionable means, is part of the initial issue.
Since you do need to be able to fix an existing installation by unmounting the
computer's hard disk drive and run the computer from the other (install disc or
system clone) while it is Unmounted; and use the correct Disk Utility version to
help diagnose and perhaps be able to fix it. You can't use a Tiger version Disk
Utility to fix a Leopard installation, and so on.
So, the situation and replies as far as they can go (since the matter does
constitute an illegal system, if it was arrived at without correct discs) is a
limited one. And file sharing of copied Mac OS X (and other) software is
also considered illegal.
And, one way to get odd malware and unusual stuff, is to get an unauthorized
system upgrade from an illegal source online. You never know what's inside it.
The other reply was not a personal attack; the matter is of legal status and as
you have a product with a questionable system, the answer is to correct it.
And if you want to save everything in your computer, make a clone to a suitable
externally enclosed self-powered boot capable hard disk drive. With older PPC
Macs, that would best be to one with FireWire and the Oxford-type control chips.
However that works out...
Good luck & happy computing!

I have an SL install disc; how many machines can I install it on?

I have an SL install disc; how many machines can I install it on?

frederickmitch wrote:
I have an SL install disc; how many machines can I install it on?
If it's a white disk with 10.6.3, technically as many Mac's that came with 10.6.3 or below that can run 10.6.
Legally, only one.
If it's a grey disk, then only the same model of Mac, as there are no hardware drivers for other Mac models on the grey disks.

Creating a bootable Lion install disc/disk and using it

Hi all,
Below is a copy of a method ds store posted for creating a bootable Lion install disc. Some questions:
1. Is this a polished final version of the process, or are there other steps which could/should be added?
2. Are there any disadvantages to going this route instead of installing directly onto a Mac?
3. After creating a Lion install disc/disk via this method and using this saved dmg to install Lion on a Mac, will it set up the Mac exactly the same way it would by downloading/installing directly from the Apple Store (sounds like a "duh" question, but nothing would surprise me with Lion)?
4. Exact size of this dmg (in case I want to use a flash drive instead)?
I have been avoiding Lion, hoping it would shape up. I'm still not satisfied and will not run it on my main machines. (Of course ymmv; I'm not looking to be talked into or out of using Lion.) However, I am ******* (hmmm, I guess l-u-s-t-i-n-g is a bad word!) over a new Mac Mini, which will have Lion installed, with no chance of running SL on it due to the new hardware revision. Thus, I'm either going to have to make peace with Lion or forget about a new Mini. I guess I'll have to give Lion a try, but I still don't want to actually run it on any of my machines; thus, I want to run it from an external drive, playing with it as I have time/desire, leading to more questions.
5. Using the install disc/disk created above, will it set up Lion on a DVD, flash drive, or external HD exactly as it would on a Mac (Recovery Disk, etc.)?
6. How much space is needed on a destination disc/disk to install Lion?
7. Is it possible to boot from a different volume, mount this dmg, and install Lion from it?
8. Any advantages/disadvantages doing it this way (#7) as opposed to booting from the Lion install disc/disk created above?
9. Another method I'm thinking of using is to (after cloning my SL installation) actually install Lion on my MBP over my current SL installation (shudders violently ), clone it to an external HD, then erase/zero the MBP's HD and clone my SL install back to my MBP. Has anyone done this? Again, I'm concerned that Lion will do something goofy and leave some kind of footprint behind, like maybe messing with firmware; cloning my SL installation back to my internal HD would not reverse a firmware change.
10. Any constructive suggestions on anything related to any of these steps is welcome!
Yes, I've searched and read a number of responses, but I'm hoping much of the "discovery" phase is over, and there are some "solid"/refined answers by now. My bottom line is to be able to play with Lion without having to depend on it.
Thanks!
Backup Lion Bootable 10.7 Disk
Purchase and download Lion from the Mac App Store on any Lion compatible Mac running Snow Leopard.
Right click on “Mac OS X     Lion”     installer and choose the option to     “Show Package Contents.”
Inside the Contents folder     that     appears you will find a SharedSupport     folder and inside the     SharedSupport folder     you will find the “InstallESD.dmg.” This is         the Lion boot disc image we have all been waiting for.
Copy “InstallESD.dmg” to         another folder like the Desktop.
Launch Disk Utility and click     the     burn button.
Select the copied “InstallESD.dmg” as the image to     burn,     insert a standard sized 4.7 GB DVD,     and wait for your new Lion Boot     Disc to come     out toasty hot.
With this disc you can boot any Lion compatible Mac, andinstall10.7 just like you installed previous version of Mac OS X. Youcan even use Disk Utility's Restore function to image your Lion bootdisc image onto a external drive suitable for performing a cleaninstall on a optical-drive-less MacBook Air, or Mac mini server.

tjk wrote:
5. Using the install disc/disk created above, will it set up Lion on a DVD, flash drive, or external HD exactly as it would on a Mac (Recovery Disk, etc.)?
DVD: no, flash drive: if it's large enough, external hard drive: yes
6. How much space is needed on a destination disc/disk to install Lion?
Whatever Apple minimum requirements are.
7. Is it possible to boot from a different volume, mount this dmg, and install Lion from it?
possibly, never tried it, it is a dmg so it's a volume all to itself, except it can't install to the same media it's on and can only install to something formatted with GUID and a OS X extended format, like a flash drive or hard drive large enough.
DVD's can't be formatted with a GUID EFI partiton
8. Any advantages/disadvantages doing it this way (#7) as opposed to booting from the Lion install disc/disk created above?
Speed limitation of the media and bus your using, USB 1 is a slower than a hard drive with 7,200 RPM on a Firewire 800 port
9. Another method I'm thinking of using is to (after cloning my SL installation) actually install Lion on my MBP over my current SL installation (shudders violently ), clone it to an external HD, then erase/zero the MBP's HD and clone my SL install back to my MBP.
The problems come from installing Lion over a existing Snow Leopard setup that isn't quite pristine enough for Lions quirkyness, has tweaks or other software installed that breaks 10.7, requiring you to fix it.
You can try it, you've got the 10.6 clone to option boot off of and restore from.
Cloning back and forth is a performance enhancer, not a problem solver.
Ideally it's best to clone 10.6, disconnect, zero and install 10.6, same user name, then up to 10.6.8, then to 10.7, then install programs from fresh sources/copies and then files returned last from backup off the clone (no migration assistant or it brings trouble back)
This will ensure the best possible performance possible with the least trouble as everything is wiped and installed fresh. Only problem being your files it there is something wrong with them, which is easy to remedy to the cause as it's the only thing not pristine.
Once you've got a pristine system, then clone that twice, once for a immediate update other for falling back a week, two weeks or even a month back.
Has anyone done this? Again, I'm concerned that Lion will do something goofy and leave some kind of footprint behind, like maybe messing with firmware; cloning my SL installation back to my internal HD would not reverse a firmware change.
Firmware is hardware specific not OS specific, of course it's possible a old version of a OS won't work with newer firmware, like 10.5 for instance perhaps because Apple has dropped all work on PPC code.
10.6 and 10.7 are just fine with most all present firmware, however there will be a time where a new firmware update could disallow 10.6, likely when iOS X 10.8 Bobcat arrives.
10. Any constructive suggestions on anything related to any of these steps is welcome!
Yes, I've searched and read a number of responses, but I'm hoping much of the "discovery" phase is over, and there are some "solid"/refined answers by now. My bottom line is to be able to play with Lion without having to depend on it.
Cloning only clones the Lion OS X Partition, not the Lion Recovery Partition.
A comptuer that is Lion capable will boot off a media with no Lion Recovery Partition.
You need to create a Lion Disk Assistant USB which copies your Lion Recovery Partition.
It's in my post.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

Is iLife '08 Included On The Install Disc?

I got this new iMac about two weeks ago. It came with iLife '08 included. For a couple of reasons, I did an erase and install and discovered I no longer had iLife '08, I called Apple support and was told that iLife '08 was on the install disc and when I called back and said that I could not find it (I installed all the software that was checked), I was told that a separate iLife '08 disc should have been included in the box. Apple is sending me another iLife '08 disc through the mail, but I really am curious if I missed something and that iLife '08 was on the install disc and which Apple support member was correct. The install disc came with 10.5.2. When I bought my first iMac G5 back in 2005, a separate iLife '05 disc was included.

I would also look at your installer discs for signs of iPhoto, and Garageband using the software called Pacifist from http://www.charlessoft.com/
If they are not visible, it may be you misplaced a disc, or the company you bought it from had it missing from the box they sold the machine to you from.
Note, the retail version of Mac OS X does NOT include iLife. Various retail versions of Mac OS X have included iPhoto 2, iMovie 3, and iTunes, which are outlined here, but iLife itself as bundled with Mac OS X has only come on Mac model specific discs:
http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=-1&messageID=6493795

PowerBook G4 won't boot from install disc, kernel error

Hello all,
I have a PowerBook G4 that I am trying to wipe/restore before I try to sell it. Here are the basic specs:
1.67 GHz PowerPC
512 MB DDR2 SDRAM
OS X v10.4.11
I have the original Mac OS X install discs, v10.4.4--AND I have a set of install discs from a different computer, Mac OS X v10.4.10.
I can press the power button and boot normally without any problem. If I put in disc 1 of the install disc set and hold down the C key when powering up, I get a kernal panic message. If I eject the disc and try rebooting, it boots normally again. I've tried booting from disc 1 of both sets of install discs (v10.4.4 and v10.4.10) and get the same kernal panic message when I hold down the C key.
Other than the battery not holding a charge very well, the computer works fine (that is, the CD drive is in good working condition). Does anyone have any ideas as to why I can't boot from the install disc?
Thank you in advance for any help!

Hello,
First of all, are these restore disk you have specifically for your model of PowerBook? This are not any other Mac other than a PowerBook?
If they are for your PowerBook G4, then try first putting the disk in the drive and holding down the option key.
This will bring up a menu. This menu will show you the hard drive and CD drive. You should see an icon with a CD with 'Mac OS X Install' Select it. See if that boot from the disk.
If that fails then try resetting the PMU. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431
Which I believe should be taking the battery and power off the machine and holding down the power button for five seconds. Placing the battery back in and power adapter, then rebooting.
Best of luck

Can I install Tiger on a G4 using Mac Pro or MacBook Pro install discs?

I gave my old G4 dual500MHz processor running system 9.2.2 to my brother some time ago and he really wants to upgrade to tiger. I bought a copy of Tiger when it first came out but I have lost the disc. I currently have 3 macs and they're all intel machines so I don't have install discs on hand that are pre-intel. I would like to do a complete overhaul of the G4 but I am worried that the install discs I currently have might not work on it. I also have Disk Warrior and Drive Genius and plan to run them extensively on that machine as well. If not, can I start the G4 up as a target disc and do the install from my mac pro? Or is there a way to download a disc image of the older system and install it that way?

If you bought a retail copy of Tiger & are not using it for another Mac, you do hold a Tiger OS license you could transfer to your brother legally. However, your brother still will need disks that install the PPC version of the OS for it to be installed on the G4, & for troubleshooting or some maintenance tasks. Intel-specific installer disks do not meet this requirement.
If you can document your purchase (like if you have a receipt for it from an authorized Apple dealer or the proof-of-purchase certificates) you may be able to purchase a replacement disk through Applecare.

Emac Frozen on Install Disc 2

Okay,
I got my first school up and running thank you to this site, so her goes number two.
I have tried to do a clean install on another Emac. It will install disc 1 perfectly, but when I try disc 2, it always freezes, at different points.
Now, because this is from our lab, I do not know exactly which of my install disc sets it came with. I have tried
10.3.3 - erases, then frozen on disc 2
10.3.5 - erases, then frozen in disc 2
10.4 - ditto
I've tried each many times.
I have it running in 512 (2x 256) memory. The memory it uses has only one open tooth like this IIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.
Most of my other eMacs use the other memory with "two open teeth."
Looks Like this:
IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.
Any and all ideas appreciated.
Will

Hey electrolite,
Well the memory you reference w/ the one slot is PC2700 and w/ 2 is either PC 100 or PC133 (If it's working the PC133 can downclock to PC100 speeds).
I use multiple retail installers w/ multiple clones to administer all the Macs at our school. This is because scratches on the installers will drive you nuts w/ exactly the problems you're seeing. And the "machine specific" installers, don't get me started. I have a stack of about 50 of them that are seldom used.
All your machines will run Tiger so I'd just run w/ that.
Lately I've also been using "restored" images of the installers that I have placed on dedicated hard drives to do installs. So FireWire and no scratched disks to deal with. I even skip the part at the beginning "verifying your disk".
Richard

How to reinstall snow leopard without install disc

Hi guys,
I recently took my computer in to an authorised repairer (MyMac Flinders St., Melbourne Australia) to get my LCD screen replaced under warranty, as it had developed a yellow line running down the right hand side of the screen. Whilst it was in the shop I decided to have a new 1TB hard drive put in, and get the OS updated to Snow Leopard (they loaded it up, I did not get install disc). Since then, I have had massive problems with my computer. The computer sometimes would not turn on, turn off, or simply freeze. I took the computer back in and was told it was a software issue, so they did a format reinstall, and told me the problem was fixed. Within hours of getting the computer home, the same problem occurred. I took it back, was told the same thing, and with the same end result (computer not working). I then took it into the Apple store in Chadstone Melbourne, and was told it was the hard drive that was at fault, and not the software at all. I then tried to get the hard drive replaced through MyMac Flinders St., as I now thought it might be the hard drive that was the problem, and with great reluctance and many minutes on the phone they finally agreed. I had big problems getting this agreed to, because my computer was now out of warranty. So, I guess this is a two part question:
1. I've got the computer back now, with the new hard drive, and it seemed to be working fine, but i've since discovered my phone was not syncing up correctly, and was told by Apple support to check my iSync.. to which I was greeted with the error message "iSync can't be launched iSync Manager not available" to which Apple support gave me a step by step instruction download to fix:
In the Finder, choose Utilities from the Go menu.
Open Terminal.
In the Terminal window that opens, type or paste the following command on a single line:
/System/Library/Frameworks/SyncServices.framework/Versions/A/Resources/resetsync .pl full
Press Return.
When the operation is complete quit Terminal
The only problem being.. the Apple Terminal was missing. The program logo was there, but unable to launch. I figure my best bet will be to do a reinstall of Snow Leopard, but I am unsure of how to do this without the physical install disc. I have a backup on an external hard drive.
2. With my computer being now out of AppleCare warranty, I would like to know my options if this problem is unfixable, as my computer was fine before I took it into the authorised repairer, and also in warranty. I don't think I should wear the financial costs of replacing this computer.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Steve

I assumed it was normal to load up an OS without giving the disk..
Absolutely not.
Are you 100% sure they have acted outside the law here?
If you are absolutely sure that they didn't give you a disk, then yes, what they have done is essentially software piracy. Of course, it could simply be construed as a mistake. It is not unusual, however careless it might be, for repair folks to assume you were running SL when they reinstall your system.
However, if you specifically asked them to upgrade you to SL, as it sounds like you did, and they charged you a fee for that upgrade but didn't give you a disk, then that's theft pure and simple.
Oh, and that link you sent for AHT.. It's telling me I'd have to have the install disk to run the hardware test. Is there a way to do it without the disk?
It requires one of the gray disks that shipped with your machine, not the retail SL disk that you don't have. If you have misplaced those disks, then you're a bit hosed... Apple will replace the gray disks for a small fee, and that's the only way you're going to get AHT.
Newer machines apparently have a small hidden partition with the AHT boot system on it, but if your machine didn't ship with SL, I don't think it'll be one of those.

MacBook Pro will not read Snow Leopard install disc.

Trying to install Snow Leopard on daughter's MacBook Pro, which is still on 10.5.8 so that she can install Lion. Her computer refuses to read the Snow Leopard install disc and keeps kicking out the disc.

Are you using a retail 10.6 disk that looks like this?
and not the gray install disks that look like this? The Gray Disks are machine specific and only have the drivers for the Mac that they shipped with.

Not sure how re-install 9.2.2 on OLD G3 PowerBook... No install Discs

I'm trying to help out a friend who somehow got his hands on an old 233 MHz G3 PowerBook. It's running 9.2.2 now but it has a bunch of crap on it that needs to be removed. So i figured a re-install would fix things up nicely. .. Only problem is, there are no install discs!! I have my old G4 OS 9 install disks, but am afraid that i will seriously screw things up trying to use them on an older G3. I download the 9.2.2 update from here, thinking i could just run that, but it's been so long since I've even looked at OS 9.. I don't remember what to do and how to do it. And... I just have an overwhelming feeling that i can't do it without the install discs, because i know i couldn't do a clean install of OS X without the start up disc.
I just need to dump all the unnecessary programs, files, extensions, etc as the only thing my friend will use this for, is getting online from time to time.
Can anyone give me any advice or offer any suggestions as to what i should do?... or tell me whether it would be ok to use the G4 OS 9 install discs?...
Thanks in advance...
M

Hi, Michael -
I just have an overwhelming feeling that i can't do it without the install discs....
Correct.
All OS 9 downloads are updates only; none of them are full install versions. The last OS version available for download as a full install is OS 7.5.3.
Using your G4 CDs is not a good idea - most OS Install CDs that shipped with a machine are model-specific. Some can do a universal install of the OS, but the main problem is getting the machine to boot to the CD - if the OS on the CD is hardware-specific, it isn't capable of booting a different model.
If you can get it to boot to the CD, and the installer to run, you'll find the instructions on how to do a universal install of OS 9 at the top of this webpage -
Ron Jackle's Home Page
<hr>
If the CD won't boot the G3, then you will need to acquire a retail OS 9 Install CD in some version, then apply download updates as needed to bring it to OS 9.2.2. Since you want the machine to end up at OS 9.2.2, it would probably be best to acquire a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD (that's the most recent retail Os 9 Install CD); you would then need to apply only one download update, the one for OS 9.2.2.
You can often get retail OS 9 Install CD's at sites like these -
http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/index.html - Apple Reseller
http://www.applerescue.com/
EBay is another possibility.
Regardless of the source, be sure to get a retail OS 9 Install CD - those are white, with a large gold 9 on them; the retail OS 9 Install CD's have a universal installer; model-specific Install CD's do not.
In case you need the updaters -
Article #75103 - Mac OS 9.1 - Download and Info
Article #120030 - Mac OS 9.2.1 - Download and Info
Article #75186 - Mac OS 9.2.2 - Download and Info

Power Mac G4 won't startup from OS X install disc

I have a Power Mac G4 that needs to have the Classic environment on it. I've done some checking and apparently this isn't possible with 10.4, so I'm trying to install an old version of teh OS. I have the Power Mac G4 OS X 10.2.1 install discs that came with the computer, as well as the Mac OS 9 Install disc.
When I try to boot from the OS X install disc, nothing really happens. I've tried running the application on the disc taht automatically restarts the computer to the install disc. I've tried restarting while holding down the C key. I've tried selecting it as the startup disc in system preferences. I've tried holding down the option key when restarting, and it doesn't even list the install disc as an option.
The only thing different that happens when I try any of these methods (except the option key, where nothing different happens at all) is when starting up, a small bluish-purplish folder with the "mac face" on it shows up for about 5 seconds, and then it continues on to start up normally in my current OS 10.4.9, just like it would when doing a normal restart.
Oh yeah, and I've tried this with multiple copies of the OS X install discs that are specifically for G4s and the same thing happens, so I'm pretty sure it's not the CD.
Can anyone help me in my quest to get a version of OS 9 running on my computer? Thanks in advance for the help!!!

Hi, molfeselab -
I've done some checking and apparently this isn't possible with 10.4...
I have no idea where you might have got that info, but it is not correct. OSX 10.4 (Tiger) does indeed work with Classic. Classic needs to be OS 9.1 or later; OS's 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 have better compatibility in that role.
I've tried this with multiple copies of the OS X install discs that are specifically for G4s...
Your machine will not be able to use any original OSX Install CDs that are for a different model G4 - the original disks that ship with a machine are specific to that particular model.
Since your G4 apparently came with a separate Software Install CD for OS 9, that is what you should use to get OS 9 onto the hard drive. Boot to that CD, then run the installer app - Mac OS Install.
Depending what version is installed by that disk, you may want to update it to a later version of OS 9 via download updater. However, if your G4 originally came also with OSX install disks, then the separate OS 9 Install CD is at least OS 9.2.
It would help to know the exact model G4 you have, including processor speed and number of processors.
Article #58418 - Power Mac G4: How to Differentiate Between Models
Article #42739 - Power Mac G4: How to Differentiate Between Models (part 2)

Software Install Disc Won't Boot

Please help, I found a Power Mac G4 that somebody had thrown away(M# 5183 450 MHz DP/2X1M Cache/128 MB Ram It has vertical sound ports and a AGP Card. Has the year 2000 on back) . It would not boot, I found a pinched wire on the power supply, now it boots with some version of X. But it is password protected, I want to wipe the drive and install an OS from an install disc I got off ebay(For a Power Mac G4 year 2000 SSW version 9.04 691-2739-A).
Now the fun begins. The CD will not boot with C depressed, I've tried resetting the PRAM, and sometimes I get a screen telling me to reboot and after I do the protected os will load. I tried booting with cmd-opt-O-F; this said I had a power mac 3,3 3.1f1 BootROM built on 6/28/00. Tried booting with options depressed it just shows me the drive I want to get rid of. Tried cmd-opt-shift-delete on startup nothing would load as long as the keys were down, the protected os loads when they are released. I also tried moving the jumpers on the hd from master to cable select.
Do I need an osX install disc to get rid of X ? any thoughts would be appreciated .
G4 Mac OS 9.0.x

Hi, macaraina -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
Your G4 450MHz DP machine is a Gigabit Ethernet model. Those models originally shipped with a model-specific version of OS 9.0.4; later models may have shipped with OS 9.1.
I suspect the CD you got on eBay is not valid for your machine.
In addition, the version of Drive Setup that came with OS 9.0.4 and earlier had a defect - when used to format a drive as Mac OS Extended (which is the correct format for OS 9 and also valid for OSX), such as when wiping a drive, it can leave the drive vuknerable to getting a wrapper error.
Article #31056 - HFS Wrapper Partition Damaged
For those reasons, particularly the second one, I suggest you get either a retail OS 9.1 Install CD or a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD - either is suitable for your model. All retail OS 9 Install CDs those are white, with a large gold 9 on them; the retail OS 9 Install CD's have a universal installer; model-specific Install CD's do not.
You can often get retail OS 9 Install CD's in various versions at sites like these -
http://macsolutions.com/
http://www.allmac.com/
http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/index.html - Apple Reseller
http://www.applerescue.com/

Install discs...machine specific?

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