Panther to Tiger using LaCie Firewire DVD drive

First, it was suggested I start a new topic, because of using an external Firewire drive. I have the proper Tiger "Retail" install disk. This is for a friends iMac that did not come with a DVD/Combo drive.
Anything anyone can suggest. I'm hoping the following will work:
1. iMac has latest firmware, and is up to date with latest Panther.
2. hook up LaCie external firewire DVD drive, and as long as it is recognized on the desktop of my friends iMac, that I will be able to then insert/load the Tiger Install Disk and double click on it to install Tiger onto the iMac.
3. I additionally have the option of taking over my Intel dual-core MacBook (Leopard installed) and using that in Target Disk Mode with the Tiger disk in the combo drive of the MacBook. Will it then install on the iMac?
4. I appreciate any and all suggestions and help. I read through numerous posts, but all the links for the Applelink article about installing using Target Disk Mode simply take me to the main page of Applelink and I can't seem to find the instructions.
5. I'm just wondering anyone's experience in using an external Firewire DVD drive to use as the install disk for the OSX Tiger installation to an older iMac.
thanks! Patrick.

Hi Patrick, and a warm welcome to the forums!
1. Good.
2. Should work if it's Mac compatable, you'll find out soon enough.
3. Very likely.
4. The iMac should see the MacBook's DVD as bootable when the MB is in Target Mode.
5. It works with many FW Opticals, but a few do not support Mac Booting.
6. Another option possibly, you can clone an image of the DVDs to a FW drive and boot from that for an install too... I've used Toast to do it, but it can be done with Disk Utility.
PS. I doubt you'll have problems with 2 ways to go there, good luck!

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Is it possible to install Tiger using an external DVD drive?

I have one the of the first iMacs and at the time I thought I didn't need a DVD Player. However, now I was thinking of buying an external DVD player/burner. Is it possible to upgrade to Tiger using the external DVD drive since I don't have an internal one?

Hi Celticart,
Welcome to the discussions.
I have an old AGP PowerMac G4 to which I have hooked an external Firewire DVD Drive. I have installed Tiger without any problems, using this drive. I see no reason why it couldn't be done on an iMac as well, (provided it has Firewire).
I don't think you could get it to work using an external drive hooked up via USB.
Cheers!
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Our computers at work don't have internal DVD drives. When we try to install Tiger using an external DVD we can't get past the restart process. We insert the DVD into the external DVD drive and restart our computers. Once the computer restarts, we double-click the Tiger DVD and it once again tells us to restart. My questions is....Can you upgrade to Tiger using an external DVD drive or should I request the CDs from Apple for the upgrade?
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Hi Devra,
first of all: WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSIONS!
Be aware that you CANNOT boot from an external USB-drive: Don't start up from an external USB device. You have to use an external firewire drive. Then insert the DVD and reboot while holding down the Option-key. Select the DVD in the external firewire drive as boot volume.
You also might want to follow this procedure: 10.4 Tiger Upgrade: Decision tree+Checklist . It also covers potential install errors due to outdated firewire-drive firmware.
If this answered your question please consider granting some stars: Why reward points?

Can I install Tiger using an external DVD drive?

My PowerBook is being repaired and I have to use an older G4/733 tower (OS 9.2; CD/zip drives only) from 2001 ASAP. I purchased Tiger and now need to load it, along with the new software. Rather than purchasing an internal dvd drive, can I buy and external dvd drive to install Tiger/new software? I've seen some posts that say "no" and others that say yes, as long as its firewire, not USB. In looking at external drives, I've seen some compatibility requirements that say OS X as the minimum. Some places like CDW and the Apple store don't seem to have an answer for me. Does anybody here know? thanks!
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Internal drives are much cheaper; you can get a DVD burner for under $40 online, vs. well over a $100 for an external, which may or may not boot your specific system.
The NEC ND-3550A or Pioneer DVR-110D will both boot the OS installer DVD when using the "C" Key, or from Startup Disc...
In a QS, you just have to remove the drive tray faceplate before installing the drive; This Apple Article has clear diagrams of the replacement process.

When I plug in my Lacie Firewire 800 drive it causes certain apps to crash. Chrome will immediately crash when I open it, so will DVD player. It's only when I plug in my Firewire 800 drive, USB does not cause issues. What's the deal?

When I plug in my Lacie Firewire 800 drive into my Mid-2009 Macbook Pro running Mountain Lion - 10.8.2, it causes certain apps to crash. Chrome will immediately crash when I open it, so will DVD player. It's only when I plug in my Firewire 800 drive, USB does not cause issues. What's the deal?
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Contact Lacie since it's their product you are having issues with.

Can I use USB external DVD Drive to boot up my G4?

My G4 (PCI Graphics) internal drive DVD-ROM is not working, its dead. I want to replace it with an External USB or Firewire Lacie DVD Drive.
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G4 (PCI Graphics) 400 mhz, 488Mb Memory, 50GB, 9.2.2 & 10.3.9. USB 1.0 & Firewire 400 Ports
G4 (PCI Graphics) Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Hi, Harold -
Bad news - your G4 (PCI) model can not boot to either a firewire drive nor to a USB drive.
Although the G4 (PCI) models do have native firewire, they (and their cousins the B&W G3) are specifically exempted from firewire booting; there is no workaround for this -
Article #58606 - FireWire Booting
Relatedly, a G4 (PCI) machine can be the Host machine in a Firewire Target Disk Mode setup, but can not be the Target machine.
Article #58583 - Firewire Target Disk Mode
USB booting was introduced first on the G4 (AGP) model, and is not available on earlier Mac models -
Article #58430 - USB Info and Benefits of Dual-Channel USB
The only external drive your G4 (PCI) can be booted to is a SCSI drive - but that requires that the machine have an appropriate SCSI PCI card installed.
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Do macs use the worst dvd drives???

this is just a question because i have noticed that a lot of DVDs that i burn on my mac play in my home DVD player, through my lacie external DVD drive and/or my friends PC work perfectly but they wont play in my iMac G5 or my MacBook Pro DVD player.
PS. the DVDs that i use are verbatim 99% of the time. and a lot of the problems are with dual layer DVDs.
PSS. please dont confuse my question with "macs DO use the worst DVD drives" as a statement. i do not mean it that way at all. thank you.

Hi,
It's a bit long story, page #39 of the following document shows you all:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01659847.pdf
Regards.
BH
**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

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Edward Rosenstein,
Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Had you used patchburn on the external DVD drive?
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Next, if you have access to another properly equipped Mac (see link), then you may be able to install using [firewire target disk mode.|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661] Finally, [here is another interesting install possibility mentioned above.|http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20051227162152292] You should be able create your image file like this:
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Message was edited by: donv (The Ghost)

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prf.kishorekumar wrote:
i came here with a hope that I would definitely get some help.
pls.. some one reply1) You got some help. No where do I see thanks or acknowledgment for the information given.
2) Please remember that people on the forum help others voluntarily, it's not their job.
3) Google can often help you here if the forum can't. Using Google I found this interesting link:
http://today.java.net/pub/a/today/2004/05/24/html-pt1.html
It discusses the Swing HTML EditorKit as well as some other free HTML renderers.
Edited by: petes1234 on Oct 24, 2007 7:29 PM

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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
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Panther to Tiger using LaCie Firewire DVD drive

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