OSX installation question

[MotionMan]

I just bought an old Mac Mini (G4 1.5 GHz). I have the OSX install discs from two different Intel Minis; an older 1.83 GHz model and an early 2009 2.0 GHz model.

I have been unsuccessful in getting a fresh install of OSX from those discs to work on the G4.

Is there no way for those discs to work or is there a trick I am missing.

Thanks.

MotionMan

 

[Ka0t1x]

What exactly is happening?

 

[jonesthewine]

The G4 has a Power PC processor, I think...and OSX will not run on those, as it needs an intel processor.

 

[MotionMan]

What exactly is happening?

Boot to the install DVD;
Select language;
It says it cannot install onto this computer.

It is currently running OSX 10.5.6, BTW.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

The G4 has a Power PC processor, I think...and OSX will not run on those, as it needs an intel processor.

I believe this machine should be able to take everything up through Leopard. Snow Leopard is the version of OSX that can not run on a PPC.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

My problem may have to do with the install DVDs being unit specific. I guess the discs know the difference between the Intel and PPC Minis???

MotionMan

 

[aphex]

My problem may have to do with the install DVDs being unit specific. I guess the discs know the difference between the Intel and PPC Minis???

MotionMan

Very possible, i think i recall them not even sometimes working between revisions using the same processor, just minor incremental upgrades.

 

[VinylxScratches]

OS X installation discs that came with your Mac Minis only have the Intel binaries anyways. They are also specific to your machine so you can't do it anyways.

 

[MotionMan]

OS X installation discs that came with your Mac Minis only have the Intel binaries anyways. They are also specific to your machine so you can't do it anyways.

Is there a no/low cost way to get the installation binaries for this Mini?

MotionMan

 

[sourceninja]

*never mind that was a volume license*

However, you might be able to get away with buying a cheap volume license media only, because technically you have a license to install already (by owning a mini) and I've never seen a osx disk have a cd key check, so it's all the same anyway.

You also might be able to call apple support and get a replacement disk for a small fee.

here's that link to the volume license http://www.google.com/products/cata...id=6216782935308375362&sa=title&os=tech-specs

 

[MotionMan]

I was able to boot the Mini up again (For a few days I had had to relinquish the monitor I was using) and it turns out the installed OSX is 10.5.8. I believe that is the last non-Snow Leopard.

Though I would like to do a clean install, I have deleted all the of existing logins and created a new one and all looks pretty clean.

Better than nothing, I guess.

MotionMan

 

[TheStu]

A new user account will actually do wonders to fix any problems you might be experiencing.

If you want a clean copy of Leopard, then you should try contacting Apple about getting new Restore Disks for the Mini, I have never tried this but it should be fairly straightforward, and hopefully not too expensive.

 

[Kmax82]

I needed new restore discs for my Mini a few years ago and they were $40, I believe. Not sure if it's gone up since then.