upgrading mac os 10.4 from 10.3

T

timoswald2020

Registered
I can upload my Iphone or install flash upgrades so I need to upgrade to mac os 10.4.
I have a Mac powerbook g4 and I see that people are selling the Mac os 10.4 dvd's on ebay but they say they came from the imac and powermac when they bought it.

I also see people selling all these different Mac os 10.4 DVD's what one do I need to get?

Mac OS X Server 10.4 Tiger - 10 Client

Mac OS X 10.4.6 Tiger Install Discs - For MacBook Pro Core Duo

APPLE MAC OS X TIGER 10.4 INCLUDES XCODE 2 UPGRADE DVD

Also last of all, if I install this mac os 10.4 will I erase all my existing data, pictures and programs?
Thanks
 
You need a retail version of 10.4 , you must not get one designed for a specific machine like the one for a MacbookPro you mentioned.

Retail versions have blackdisks with a large silver X on them. The look like this one on ebay.

DO NOT get one with grey disks that looks like this as they are not supposed to be sold and probably won't work anyway.

You can get upgrade version but I dislike them as if you have to reinstall then you have to install the old OS then the new one. I think the last one on ebay you mentioned is an upgrade. I would avoid.

To be honesty I'd try and get leopard if you can. As long as you have a say 1gb of ram it would run better than 10.4 will and keep you more up to date.

On you other question, when you install the new OS if you chose Upgrade it will just upgrade the installation in place, keepign all ypou programs and setting sbut also leaving soem junk around.

You can also archive and install which makes a new system folder with the new OS but leaves the old on their in case you need any files from it. It also keeps all your documents and programs. I suspect archive and install will be the best choice for you.
 
You need none of those. You need Mac OS X Tiger 10.4 Retail. None of the ones you've mentioned would work on your computer. Maybe Tiger Server, but that wouldn't be what you want, really.

When upgrading to 10.4, you could keep all your files in their places. You'd probably need to update some applications. But I *would* advise you to create a full backup on an external HD first, anyway. You never know...

(Didn't see your post, ora.)
 
Thanks for the info,
Can you tell me if I do take your advise and go with the Leopard will I have enough hard drive space? I only have a 30 gig with about 5 gigs free space?
Is there anything I can do to free up more space?
 
Hmmn, well if you have the cash I'd buy yourself an external hard drive and use that to back up your data prior to upgrading (this is general good practice as fryke says). Then you can perhaps keep some of your files on that not the internal hard drive. You can get the smaller external HDs pretty cheaply.

In terms of saving space when you install either 10.4 or 10.5, if you select 'customize installation' or an option named like that, you can choose not to install some of the printer drivers and also the packs for other languages, as this can save you some space. Also, if Garageband installs with the OS then I believe it installs a large number of music samples called 'Garageband loops' that take up a few GB.

Whatever happens, you should always leave 10% of your hard drive free. This is important to keep OS X healthy and happy.

Welcome to Macosx.com by the way, hope you like the place! :)

Also, if you are short of space I think using the 'upgrade' rather than 'archive and install' uses less space, but is generally thought to be a bit less stable.
 
I'm pretty sure that a even a Custom Install of Leopard will take up about 9 GB, because that's what mine came to on my G4. So with only 5 GB free, you might be hard pressed to clear up enough space on that 30 GB HD, Tim, even if you choose the simple Upgrade install. Like ora said, your best bet might be an external HD; OWC has the best prices I've seen on portable, bootable drives.

Oh and Leopard is not supported on machines running below 867 MHz, so I hope your PowerBook is up to speed. Otherwise you will need something like Leopard Assist.
 
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