Can't load Tiger

[Raven]

I'm trying to upgrade my wife's eMac OS 10.3.9 so she can use her new nano ipod I gave her. Found out the you need at least 10.4.8 to work. Don't want to upgrade to Leopard yet. So, I bought a new Tiger Upgrade pkg on eBay. Didn't realize it was on a DVD and her eMac only has a CD reader.

I tried loading it on my iBook G4 (1.25GHz, 1gb HD) first to see how it would work. Here's what happens...

1. The DVD icon is on my desktop. I double click on INSTALL TIGER. It tells me to Restart. But then takes me back to the start up screen and the password field.

2. If I boot up by holding down the C key, I get a flashing folder with a "?". I wait and then it goes to the 10.3.9 start up screen. Same as #1 above.

Can someone tell me what's the problem? Thanks muchly! :-)

[krissel]

I assume the iBook has a DVD in it?

Is the upgrade DVD a retail version or is it from a particular Mac? You would need a retail version or a compatible disc to install on any Mac.

eMacs are more forgiving about the install discs that are used with them and likewise their install discs tend to be compatible with some other Macs. Even then a version that was intended for a G4 probably won't work on a G5 and vice versa. The laptops are more particular about what discs you can use.

Look carefully on the disc to see if you can see any further info.

[Paddy]

Also, the retail install disks for Tiger are black (the other versions of OS X have various other colors/designs - like the retail box usually) - the machine-specific ones are always gray. That's the easiest way to ID them.

See this eBay ad.

[Raven]

The CD is black. 2005. v10.4.
Label says "Mac OS Tiger. Includes Xcode 2. CPU Drop in DVD."
In small print "part of a hardware bundle not to be sold separately"!!

There is also another CD - "10.4.11 update PPC only."
An iWork 05CD.
A black "Welcome to  Tiger" booklet.
An Apple Software Coupon v10.4.

All this came in one sealed plastic envelope.

The Paypal receipt says "Software Apple Mac OS X10.4.11 Tiger Upgrade NEW WTY".
Seller - We fix macs  Direct@Allmac.com

Krissel, yes my iBook has a  DVD Reader.
Paddy, your link did not work for me.

Any other suggestions, please? My wife got excited that the upgrade might happen so she could use her nano. Ain't so!

[Paddy]

Raven, that IS the retail disk - I checked, and mine came with the coupons and the iWork '05 (trial disk) etc. Sorry 'bout the link - not sure what went wrong there, but the install disks that are machine specific are definitely gray, not black.

So the mystery is: why doesn't this work? It's possible that you simply have a bad install disk. I'll have to look up various other possibilities tomorrow.

[krissel]

Raven, have you tried the "update PPC" DVD?  It's possible the other was for Intel, though I would think both installs would be on the same disc.

Try that DVD in your iBook.  If you still don't get anywhere, make a disk image of the install DVD (maybe both of them) via Disk Utility and put it  on your desktop. Then connect the eMac and your iBook via FW target disk mode. You can try to install from the iBook to the eMac or copy the image to the eMac, disconnect the FW and install from the eMac. There is a slight possibility that the DVD reader in the iBook may be causing a problem on install.

[Paddy]

Why this is happening, I don't know - but it's fairly clear that your iBook is not recognizing the OS X install disk as a valid start-up volume once you reboot. Check to make sure that your own install disks for whatever you're running on the iBook now work - just do the first steps as if you were going to install (ie: make sure it boots properly to the install disks) and then quit out of it. It is possible that there is something wrong with your optical drive and this should eliminate it as the source of the problem.

There is one other issue mentioned in this Apple forum thread that might have some bearing on the problem; do you have the Firmware password enabled? However, not sure that this applies, since it would appear that your C key works fine - but your iBook cannot find/identify the OS X install disk as a viable boot volume.

[Raven]

I emailed the Seller on eBay and asked for a replacment or refund on selling an illegal Tiger Install DVD. We'll see.