Help with 10.5.4 clean install on an ibook g4

ibookg4help · #1 August 13th, 2009, 03:10 AM

Hi,

I have an iBook g4 (model number A1054) with a 1.2 GHz processor, 1256 MB of ram, and a blank 320 GB hard drive. I purchased it with a 30 GB hard drive running Ubuntu linux, but have since added the 1 GB of ram (there are 256 MB's of internal ram) and replaced the hard drive. I am now trying to install mac os 10.5.4 due to a lack of flash support when running Ubuntu on a powerpc architecture. When I boot from the install disc I get a grey apple logo on a white background, and nothing else happens. I have tried leaving it on this screen for up to 5 hours, but still nothing at all happened. Is there something I'm doing wrong? any advice is greatly appreciated.

Satcomer · #2 August 13th, 2009, 08:47 AM

Did you format the drive or just put in and tried to go from there?

DeltaMac · #3 August 13th, 2009, 08:52 AM

What color is your 10.5 installer DVD?

MisterMe · #4 August 13th, 2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibookg4help

Hi,

I have an iBook g4 (model number A1054) with a 1.2 GHz processor, ...

It sound suspiciously like you are trying to use the System Restore disc from a recent model Intel-based Mac to install the OS on an older PPC-based Mac. Under no circumstances will this work. You need either the System Restore disc for the iBook or a retail copy of MacOS X 10.5.

ibookg4help · #5 August 13th, 2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Did you format the drive or just put in and tried to go from there?

I put it in out of the box, not really sure how I would go about formatting it (isn't it sually formatted to begin with?) since there is no OS on the laptop and I don't have any other hardware that would accept a 2.5 inch HD

Quote:

What color is your 10.5 installer DVD?

It is a large black X on a black with purple space-looking background.

I'm almost positive I am using a Mac OS 10.5.4 installer disc, not a system restore disc.

jbarley · #6 August 13th, 2009, 06:01 PM

You DID hold down the "C" key when you started your install disk boot I hope.
If or when you get it to boot, there will be a utility menu from which you can partition and format the new drive.
New hard disks come formatted as Windows compatible as a rule.
jb.

DeltaMac · #7 August 14th, 2009, 01:06 PM

New internal hard drives are usually not formatted at all. A windows install will take care of that during the initial install setup, but on your Mac, you would go into the Disk Utility (as jbarley said - under the Utilities menu), and select your new hard drive, then the Erase tab, where you would choose Mac OS Extended (journaled), and you can also name the hard drive partition at that time, if you like. Click the Erase button, and in a few seconds, your hard drive will be ready to continue, so just Quit disk Utility, and continue with the system install.

saibouce · #8 August 17th, 2009, 01:20 PM

how match is ibook G4 , all model please thunk for