How do I get MAC OSX startup discs?

[csierzchula]

I bought my PowerBook G4 online through EBAY. I've tried rebooting Mac OSX to deal with a noise problem on my computer...but the discs that came with my computer aren't compatible! They are Max OSx version 10.4 AHT version 2.5, disc version 1.1. Does anyone know where I can find the right installation discs for version 10.4.8?

Thanks, Christopher

[hayne]

You mean you got these disks with the PowerBook that you bought via eBay but they don't seem to be the ones that originally came with that computer?
Usually the disks (CD/DVD) that come with a Mac are labeled on the front of the disk with the model of Mac that they are for.

[csierzchula]

yes that is correct --- the disks are either incorrect ---or somehow became incompatible --- and I would like to reinstall the system software.

C

[trevor]

csierzchula, are your discs black or gray?

Do they mention a specific computer type on them?

What behavior do they show which makes you think that they are not compatible? Please answer this question with a lot of words--a lot of description.

What is the processor speed of your PowerBook G4?

Trevor

[mo79]

http://www.applerescue.com/

[csierzchula]

ok here's the description

The disk are Grey
listed as PowerBook G4
Mac osx install disk 1 +2 (2nd one says Includes mac os 9.2)
Mac os version 10.4
AHT version 2.5
Disk version 1.1
2Z691-5517-A

My mac is
Powerbook G4 17'
Machine Model: PowerBook5,9
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.5)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.67 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.9.6f0

Any other info you need?

C

[trevor]

Thanks for the great detail! What I still need to know is what behavior they show that makes you think that they are not compatible.

Trevor

[csierzchula]

when I double click on install OSX system on the disk -- it restarts the system --- But it never actually gets to the process of installing it (As i'm expecting from the decriptions of the process i've read about numerous times) --- also when I've triend the apple hardware test from this disk --- it gives message that it's incompatible with this computer --- if you want a decription of the exact messages i'd have to go through the process again.

[hayne]

You should try restarting from the Install DVD:
- insert DVD
- restart Mac (from the Apple menu as usual)
- hold down the C key after you hear the startup chime

[csierzchula]

the disks I was given were not DVD's as far as I can tell

[hayne]

The same instructions apply for booting from a CD as well

[csierzchula]

as i've tried to explain -- and maybe haven't been clear about --- It doesn't work --- wether I start from the computer on and click on the install icon or from the Starting the computer and holding down C --- It don't matter ---- the computer Screen either gives an interminable I'm working circle --- or that lovely blue screen (well over a 1/2 hour i've waited to see if perhaps it just took a REALLY long time to go through the process) ---Hell if it's supposed to take longer I'd be willing to wait --But I don't get the feeling it is.......

[hayne]

as i've tried to explain -- and maybe haven't been clear about --- It doesn't work --- wether I start from the computer on and click on the install icon or from the Starting the computer and holding down C --- It don't matter ---- the computer Screen either gives an interminable I'm working circle --- or that lovely blue screen (well over a 1/2 hour i've waited to see if perhaps it just took a REALLY long time to go through the process)

In fact you hadn't even mentioned booting from the CD up to now. You had said "double click on install OSX system on the disk" but never talked about restarting and holding down the C key.

if it's supposed to take longer I'd be willing to wait --But I don't get the feeling it is.......

It might possibly take 20 minutes if it is trying to repair the filesystem on your hard drive and is having difficulty - but I think 30 minutes is unlikely.
So I think something is going wrong.

But I'm not sure that the problem is that those CDs are incompatible with your Mac. It might be something else - e.g. your CD drive might not be working well enough.
Or maybe your disk does have severe filesystem damage.

One thing you could try is repairing the filesystem using 'fsck -fy' from single-user mode. Here's how:
(This alternative method ('fsck') is described in the bottom part of the following Apple document: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214)
It sounds scary, but isn't really that hard - there are 3 steps (ABC):

A) Restart in single-user mode. You do this by restarting your Mac and then holding down the Command (Apple) key and the S key immediately after you hear the chime. Keep holding down both Command and S until you see some text start to appear.

B) You should end up with a text prompt - it is waiting for you to type a command. The command you should enter is:

fsck -fy

(There is a space after the 'k')
Press Return after typing this command.
It will then start doing the filesystem repair and issue various progress messages along the way. This will take at least several minutes.
Eventually it will end up with a message that either says something about the disk having been modified, or that the disk appears to be okay.
If you get the former, repeat the same command (retype 'fsck -fy'). Keep repeating until it says the disk appears to be okay.

C) Type in the command:

reboot

This should (after a minute or so) bring you back to the normal Mac startup sequence - i.e. you should be back to normal.

Tell us what happened with this operation - did it fix something? Did it finish by saying that the disk is okay?

[csierzchula]

Thanks --- That's one I didn't Know about yet --- I'll try it ---And perhaps try the disk again (and wait while I have lunch) ;)