Problems installing 10.3 on ibook

Question

I recently got an ibook 900MHZ/256MB/40GB/COMBO that is running 10.2 and Classic 9.2, I've upgraded to 10.2.8 and everything has been working fine, I want to upgrade to Panther(10.3), but every time I try to install I get
panic(cpu 0): Unable to find driver for this platform: "PowerBook4.3".
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000833B8 0x0008389C 0x0001ED8C 0x0026DA4C 0x0024DE04 0x0024DBDC 0x0024E658 0x0024ECCC 0x0023EE84 0x0023EE48
Proceeding back via execption chain:
Execption state (sv=0x00481500)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 7.0.0:
Wed Sep 24 15:48:39 PDT 2003; root:xnu/xnu-517.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC
No debugger configured - dumping debug information
MSR=00001030
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000833B8 0x0008389C 0x0001ED8C 0x0026DA4C 0x0024DE04 0x0024DBDC 0x0024E658 0x0024ECCC 0x0023EE84 0x0023EE48
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x00481500)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 7.0.0:
Wed Sep 24 15:48:39 PDT 2003; root:xnu/xnu-517.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC
panic: We are hanging here...
I have zapped the PRAM and reset-all/reset-nvram/set-defaults in the open firmware screen, and still get the same error when trying to boot the Panther CD for install, I'm all out of ideas and badly need panther installed for some programs. The one thing I have not tried is updating the firmware but I'm not sure if I have the most recent or not.
Please Help
Power Macintosh 4400/200 w/Sonnet G3, 2 Power Macintosh G3 w/Sonnet G4 upgage   Mac OS X (10.2.x)   Custom Built PC(Windows XP Corp), Dell Laptop(Inspiron 1300)

Answer 1

There is no firmware update required for your iBook model. It is possible there is a hardware problem - bad RAM for example or a logic board problem.
Are you starting up the installer from the Installer icon on the CD or are you using the "C" key to boot from the disc? If you are doing the former, then try the latter. Also disconnect all peripherals (if any), be sure the battery is installed, and you are running off the AC Adapter.
If you still have no success (truly strange) you can connect the iBook to one of your other computers via Firewire and install using Target Disk Mode or if you have Panther installed on another computer simply clone it over TDM.
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