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maní · Aug 22, 2006, 02:19 PM

Im trying to install OsX 10.4 on a G3 iMac currently running Os9. Ive updated all the firmware as directed, but when i put the Os X disk in and restart, it say 'this software can not be installed on this machine'.

Ive checked and the disk is especially for the iMacs.

Im stuck on what to do?

baw · Aug 22, 2006, 02:21 PM

Sound like you have a restore CD that belongs to another iMac.

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by baw

Sound like you have a restore CD that belongs to another iMac.

it was the disk from my brothers new G5 imac. Is this not the right disk?

selowitch · Aug 22, 2006, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by maní

it was the disk from my brothers new G5 imac. Is this not the right disk?

Yes, that's what he was trying to say. You are working on a G3 and your brother's machine is a G5. Clearly, the CD in question did not come from your machine but from his. That is why it doesn't work.

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

Yes, that's what he was trying to say. You are working on a G3 and your brother's machine is a G5. Clearly, the CD in question did not come from your machine but from his. That is why it doesn't work.

so if i want to install OsX on my g3, what cd do i need, and where do i get it from? i thought the cds where only grouped as far as iMacs, eMacs, iBooks etc

selowitch · 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by maní

so if i want to install OsX on my g3, what cd do i need, and where do i get it from? i thought the cds where only grouped as far as iMacs, eMacs, iBooks etc

You will need to purchase OS X separately, where that be 10.1 (Puma), 10.2 (Jaguar), 10.3 (Panther), or 10.4 (Tiger). You're correct the disks are labeled for the model they are matched with, but this is more as a mnemonic than anything else ("Ah! So this one is for my PowerBook, this one is for my iMac.").

I'm not certain, but I don't believe the bundled CDs are keyed to your particular Mac (I could be wrong about that). However, you are certainly ethically obliged to buy a new copy of the OS if you want to install it on a second machine. There is no exception to this in the End User License Agreement (EULA) that I am aware of. If anybody can correct me on this, though, please go ahead. Of course, if you had bought a multi-seat license (like the five-person Family Pack), you'd be golden. But that doesn't sound like your scenario.

I'm pretty sure that in your case, the version of the OS on your brother's CD is not supported on the G3 and therefore will not install on that machine. Apple doesn't "physically" prevent you from installing an OS on multiple machines, but you are ethically enjoined from doing so.

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

You will need to purchase OS X separately, where that be 10.1 (Puma), 10.2 (Jaguar), 10.3 (Panther), or 10.4 (Tiger). You're correct the disks are labeled for the model they are matched with, but this is more as a mnemonic than anything else ("Ah! So this one is for my PowerBook, this one is for my iMac.").

so when someone buys a brandnew mac, the only disks they get with it is a retore disk. If you wanted to install OsX on a older machine, you would specifically have to purchase the whole product by itself. If this is the case, can i buy it from ebay? and will it be expensive?

selowitch · Aug 22, 2006, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by maní

so when someone buys a brandnew mac, the only disks they get with it is a retore disk.

There are usually three disks: Restore, Install, and Hardware Test, if I recall correctly, although the latter is a relatively recent addition.

Originally Posted by mani

If you wanted to install OsX on a older machine, you would specifically have to purchase the whole product by itself.

Correct.

Originally Posted by mani

If this is the case, can i buy it from ebay?

Yes.

Originally Posted by mani

and will it be expensive?

Depends what the outcome of the auction in question is and on what you would consider to be "expensive." eBay can be somewhat risky in this regard. The disks in question often have been installed on someone's machine already, so you are risking being in violation (though probably unwittingly) of the EULA.

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

There are usually three disks: Restore, Install, and Hardware Test, if I recall correctly.
Correct.Yes.Depends what the outcome of the auction in question is and on what you would consider to be "expensive." I consider eBay to be somewhat risky in this regard. The disks in question often have been installed on someone's machine already, so you are risking being in violation (though probably unwittingly) of the EULA.

So my brother should of been given the install disk aswell?

What do most people do when making this upgrade then? Its obviously a common upgrade

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

You will need to purchase OS X separately, where that be 10.1 (Puma), 10.2 (Jaguar), 10.3 (Panther), or 10.4 (Tiger). You're correct the disks are labeled for the model they are matched with, but this is more as a mnemonic than anything else ("Ah! So this one is for my PowerBook, this one is for my iMac.").

I'm not certain, but I don't believe the bundled CDs are keyed to your particular Mac (I could be wrong about that). However, you are certainly ethically obliged to buy a new copy of the OS if you want to install it on a second machine. There is no exception to this in the End User License Agreement (EULA) that I am aware of. If anybody can correct me on this, though, please go ahead. Of course, if you had bought a multi-seat license (like the five-person Family Pack), you'd be golden. But that doesn't sound like your scenario.

I'm pretty sure that in your case, the version of the OS on your brother's CD is not supported on the G3 and therefore will not install on that machine. Apple doesn't "physically" prevent you from installing an OS on multiple machines, but you are ethically enjoined from doing so.

The disks clearly state on them Mac G5, Mac OS X install disks. If these are the wrong disks????? How do i know that the ones i buy off ebay wont be the same disks?

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 03:47 PM

Right ok, so i will have to start looking on ebay then. Can you give me a rough example of how much i would expect to pay in £? will the disks state if there officially for the iMacs then?

aaardal · Aug 22, 2006, 03:47 PM

Buy it from Apple or a Authorized Apple Reseller. Problem solved.

maní · Aug 22, 2006, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by aaardal

Buy it from Apple or a Authorized Apple Reseller. Problem solved.

Yeah just had a look on the PC world website, its not actually as expensive as i first thought. Plus i'm not really up for taking the gamble with ebay.

Thanks everyone for your help

ghporter · Aug 22, 2006, 06:13 PM

And please, NEVER, EVER again post with such an awful title! We have a rule that thread titles need to be informative and/or descriptive, and that they may NOT be in the form you used-never at all! Please be careful next time, ok?

selowitch · 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

And please, NEVER, EVER again post with such an awful title! We have a rule that thread titles need to be informative and/or descriptive, and that they may NOT be in the form you used-never at all! Please be careful next time, ok?

I was thinking the same thing, but decided to let it go. But now that ghporter has brought it up, he's of course correct. Nothing wrong with the question; this stuff is certainly confusing. But the title was not appropriate.

selowitch · Aug 22, 2006, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by maní

The disks clearly state on them Mac G5, Mac OS X install disks. If these are the wrong disks????? How do i know that the ones i buy off ebay wont be the same disks?

For one thing, the bundled discs are never in a boxed retail package, and only the bundled discs mention the particular model of Mac with which they shipped. The retails discs state the version and codename, e.g., "OS X 10.2 Jaguar," while the bundled discs will state the hardware family and the OS version.

maní · Aug 23, 2006, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

And please, NEVER, EVER again post with such an awful title! We have a rule that thread titles need to be informative and/or descriptive, and that they may NOT be in the form you used-never at all! Please be careful next time, ok?

Ok sorry! will bare that in mind

ghporter · Aug 23, 2006, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by maní

Ok sorry! will bare that in mind

We had a rash of "HELP!!!!OMGWTF!!!" type posts, and titles like that just don't help. So we made a rule: make it explain what the problem is and no "fluff" like tons of exclamations and the like. I even got scolded for putting "Please" in a thread title asking for help on a minor issue-not because I was being too polite, but because the way I used it wasn't necessary for the title.

We all want to help folks, but when they don't give us a clue what they need help with, it makes it harder.

I'm glad to have you here, and I don't want you to think we try to stifle real questions. But if every post is "OMG!!!! HELP!!!!:" it's hard to figure out what help is needed.