Downgrading OS?

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NordicG3K

Registered
Hello all. I just purchased a used iBook that has 10.5 installed, but it doesn't come with the 10.5 discs. I have a retail version of 10.4 that I have on my main computer which I'm happy with. My concern is that if I have problems at some point in the future with the iBook I'm going to have to puchase 10.5 (or newer) to fix it. Are there any potential problems with wiping the iBook and reinstalling 10.4?
 
just keep in mind you are bending Apples license agreement, that is unless your retail version happens to be a "Family Pack".
 
jbarley said:
just keep in mind you are bending Apples license agreement, that is unless your retail version happens to be a "Family Pack".
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Hmmm, didn't think about this. I bought the 10.4 retail version off eBay. Would it say "Family Pack" somewhere on the package? If I have to buy another OS I might as well just get the latest version what will work with the iBook.
 
NordicG3K said:
... Are there any potential problems with wiping the iBook and reinstalling 10.4?
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Yes. You don't say which iBook you have. That most recent version of the iBook G4 (2005) shipped with MacOS X 10.4. If the OS that shipped with with your iBook was newer than the version of MacOS X 10.4 that you just purchased, then you will probably not be able to install it.
 
I don't think that's how it works, MisterMe. I think that any version of 10.4.x can be installed on a Mac that supports Tiger. Since all white iBooks came with FireWire and supported at least 256MB of memory, they're all compatible with 10.4. A retail disc will work; a grey one won't necessarily, unless it shipped with the iBook.
 
earthsaver said:
I don't think that's how it works, MisterMe. I think that any version of 10.4.x can be installed on a Mac that supports Tiger. Since all white iBooks came with FireWire and supported at least 256MB of memory, they're all compatible with 10.4. A retail disc will work; a grey one won't necessarily, unless it shipped with the iBook.
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No, that's not true. The iBook G4 (Mid 2005) shipped with MacOS X 10.4.2 (8D37) and later with MacOS X 10.4.4 (8G32). This model cannot be expected to run either MacOS X 10.4 or MacOS X 10.4.1. You cannot run an operating system that is older than the OS that shipped with the computer. There are exceptions, but this is not one of them. If you want to install a retail version of MacOS X 10.4 on this model iBook G4, then you will need a newer version of Tiger.
 
Hmm. I don't think Apple ever offered a retail install disc containing anything other than the initial 10.4 release, unlike when Leopard was current and Apple updated retail packages a couple times along the way. For sure, an iBook that shipped with 10.4.x cannot install 10.3. However, I'm pretty sure any version of 10.4 will run on that iBook, if only to run Software Update to get the latest release.
 
As they have done with past OS X versions, Apple updated the commercial 10.4 installer disk several times. The most recent retail installer for Tiger is 10.4.6
 
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