powerbook wont boot osx cd, will boot debian cd

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Colorado08

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I am trying to install osx on a powerbook g4 ppc i think it had a version of linux on it but won't boot to the hard drive, won't boot the osx cd/dvd but it will boot from a debian etch dvd but won't install . it won't start in target mode either. any ideas ?
 
What version of X are you attempting to install? Having a G4, you are limited to 10.5 as highest you can go. Also, do you have a retail version of X? Grey restore disks will not work, as they are machine specific only.
 
Several ideas:
  1. You cannot install a version of MacOS X that is older than your computer.
  2. You cannot install MacOS X from a System Restore disc from a different model Mac.
  3. You cannot install an Intel-only version of MacOS X on your PPC-based Mac. This includes MacOS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and MacOS X 1.07 (Lion).
 
No PowerBook G4 will boot to the 10.0.3 installer.

We need to have more information about your PowerBook. You can take out the main battery on the bottom. There should be a serial number label inside that battery compartment, which will have processor speed, and other information about the original configuration of your PowerBook. Yours might be too old for 10.5.6 - that needs at least a 867 MHz G4. Slower/older G4, and 10.5.6 won't work directly.
 
OK, then...
The 10.0.3 is too old
and, the 10.5.6 install requires a faster processor, and won't install without help.

Are you sure that's "OS X 10.0.3" ? If it's actually version 10.3 something, then that should be OK. That would be a set of probably 3 CDs for an OS X 10.3 install set.
 
Yes, but typically you will find out why Apple chose to place a limitation on the processor speed for 10.5 - you can get stinky slow performance.
Also, an older DVD drive may really struggle with reading the installer files on that DVD.
But, if you want to try anyway - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/26562/leopardassist

That software requires that the system is already booting to an older version of OS X, so you may have a Catch-22 with that. You'll likely need this Open Firmware hack to really do this easily.
http://lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/openfirmware.html
 
Tryed the lowendmac thing didnt work
when i tryed to open the cd it gave me this
boot cd:,\\tbxi disk-label: read of block0 failed
atapi-disk: open of disk-label failed cant open: cd:,\\:tbxi

any ideas
I changed one stick of memory and now the g4 starts in target disk mode but i dont have access to another mac
 
Try the same tip again, following each step carefully.
The last step should boot to your DVD, and you should then boot into the installer. You won't need to 'open the cd' at any time.

If you read further down that same page, you will see this:
Editor's note: Some readers have noted problems booting the Leopard install disc using the above commands. If so, substitute "mac-boot" (without the quote marks) for the last line in the above Open Firmware commands. Also, if your Mac locks up hard during this process, resetting the PRAM (start your Mac and immediately hold down Cmd-Opt-P-R until your Mac restarts) should bring it back to life.
Click to expand...
Did you try the mac-boot command, which replaces the last line in that open firmware command set.
Just curious about that "disk-label" in your post. I think that part of the open firmware boot would show the actual disk name - which SHOULD be Mac OS X Installer, or something similar. "disk-label" sounds a little too generic to be a correct disk name.
Is your Leopard DVD an original black-label DVD, with the big X across the label?
Or, is it a (poorly) burned copy that you got from 'somewhere'?

Of course, an older DVD drive may have real struggles reading that installer DVD.
 
tryed the mac-boot for the last line in open firmware still no install
the dvd came from apple its the real thing
if i cant get a osx install going can i get a suggestion as to a good linux ppc install to try
thanks
 
Can the powerbook that i have boot from a usb hard drive
i have a lot of linux iso images on it if i could boot to one of them
tryed burning some images but powerbook wont install from the cds that i hace made
 
Apple's "Disk utility" has always worked for me, created all my linux boot disks from downloaded "iso" files.
 
Dont have an operating system on the powerbook using a windows laptop right now
downloading a live cd distro right now i will see what happens with it.
thanks for your help
 
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