install OSX 10.3 on ibook G4?

R

rewetzel1

Registered
Hello,

I want to preface this by saying I've never owned or used an apple computer since Apple IIGS, so I really don't know much about these things so perhaps there is a simple solution or perhaps there is no solution.

story:
I received an ibook G4 from a girl leaving the country (model A1055). It has no OS installed. I do not know the specs of this machine as I'm not the original owner and...no OS installed. There are no installer disks. From another friend I borrowed a retail copy of OSX 10.3.

problem:
I put the OS disk 1 into the machine and did a restart. Holding the "c" key only leads to panic screen. Holding the option key while restarting gives me a blue screen. This screen has a return error, then an icon for OSX installer disk one, then a forward arrow. No amount of clicking can select the OSx installer icon. my options are only return or forward arrow. all leads to the panic screen

From the other posts I found using search, I'm guessing this computer is too old for this operating system and that's why I'm unable to install it (incompatable firmware?). However I'm not sure how to get or purchase the required older OS for this computer, or even what it is. Frankly, is it worth it financially to even try and track down the required software? Should I simply give up and recycle it? Apple has a recycling program right?

Thanks in advance,
Rebecca

(also I have no access to another mac computer, nor do I have an external drive, nor do I have a cd/dvd burner)
 
If you do have iBook G4, Model A1055, then OS X 10.3 is too old. That model originally came with OS X 10.3.5 or higher.
The best solution is to find OS X 10.4, which should install just fine on your iBook G4.

You can find the original configuration of your iBook, which is on a label underneath the keyboard. The keyboard has 2 latches in the top of the keyboard near the end. The keyboard will lift up and lay back on the palmrest.
 
thanks for your reply!

Under the keyboard it says
933mhz/256mb/40gb/combo and has something installed called "airport extreme" I'm guessing thats a wireless card (?)

Does apple still sell the 10.4 version? I haven't any friends that own a retail copy.
 
The 933 MHz tells you that the G4 is a first-generation G4, and should be OK with the 10.3 installer that you have, assuming that the disk surface appears clean and undamaged.

You might try to find out from the previous owner, if there were any problems, as the symptoms might indicate that the hard drive is not working properly. The Airport card (yes, it's a wireless card) is in the tray underneath the keyboard, and can be easily removed to see if that will help. You can also take the 4 small screws out of the little panel that's underneath that airport card. That will give you access to the single memory slot. If there is a RAM memory chip, you can remove that, and try again to boot. If that works, then put the memory back in (might just need to be reseated), and check for booting to the installer disk. Outside of those two tips, there's not a lot more you can do with what you have now.
 
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