can i boot an imac g5 (non i -sight) from a usb drive

[DimZiE]

if i can how....not too familiar with macs...the last mac i fiddled with was a g4
so the harddrive and the optic drive failed...replaced the hdd now i need to reinstall..since i can't clone from my original hdd ...since i can't afford replacing the internal optic drive... is it possible to boot from an external optic drive... what drives r supported and how ???

thanks in advance

 

[TheStu]

Well, my friend keeps telling me that you cannot boot from a USB external optical drive, and also claims to have tested this, so lets go with that. You can use a firewire drive to boot, but past that... not too sure what to tell you. I am assuming that it is no longer covered by applecare.

 

[Tegeril]

I don't believe USB booting is possible on a non-Intel system.

 

[DimZiE]

thanks so all hope is lost then ?

 

[DW in UT]

Not really. Buy a used Mac G4 or G3 off Craig's list (etc.) - should find one in less that 2 weeks for under $100. Put your new hard drive in there and load the OS, then put the hard drive back in your Imac. Or connect them by firewire and do a transfer. Keep the "new-used" computer as a backup, or re-sell it for about what you paid.

 

[timswim78]

It takes a little work, but people have booted non-iSight G5 iMacs from USB:
http://www.macosxhints.com/art...301112336384&lsrc=osxh

 

[DimZiE]

thx 4 the replies... i'll try it later tonight.....