Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Buckaroo · Nov 9, 2003, 03:55 PM

If you buy a G5 from an Apple store, they tell me that Panther will come on a flat pack. A CD/DVD slipped into the box.

My question is, is this an upgrade that requires 10.2.x (Jaq) to be installed before upgrading or is it a full installer with the abilities to install on a freshly reformated hard drive?

I've been putting off buying my new G5 because of this one concern.

RooneyX · Nov 9, 2003, 04:01 PM

Probably the same as all restore discs that also work as a full installer. When I sold my Ti800 to my cousin the 10.2 discs were scratched. So I used the installer on my Alu17s restore disc to install 10.2 on the Ti.

Buckaroo · Nov 9, 2003, 04:11 PM

The restore cd has a full installer version?

Ok, if that is true, I might be able to go out and get one now.

Originally posted by RooneyX:
Probably the same as all restore discs that also work as a full installer. When I sold my Ti800 to my cousin the 10.2 discs were scratched. So I used the installer on my Alu17s restore disc to install 10.2 on the Ti.

Buckaroo · Nov 10, 2003, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by RooneyX:
Probably the same as all restore discs that also work as a full installer. When I sold my Ti800 to my cousin the 10.2 discs were scratched. So I used the installer on my Alu17s restore disc to install 10.2 on the Ti.

Well, I found out the answer.

I went down tonight and bought a brand new G5 1.8ghz with what they call a flat pack and the salesman promissed me that I could do a clean install. I could reformat the hard drive and install Panther with the flat pack. The instruction manual and the instructions on the installer also tell you, you can do a clean install.

Well, WRONG.

It can only be installed on a previous installed version of OS X.

I wasn't able to make a screen shot, so I had to use my camera to take a picture. As soon as I find a server to load it on, I'll show you the screen shot with the message.

I'm going to be calling that salesman in the morning for corrective action.

asidrane · Nov 10, 2003, 12:54 AM

What's it the point of formatting the drive and then doing the install? One of the install options is to reformat the hard drive and tehn install. I bet that is what the salesman meant when he said you could reformat first.

Buckaroo · Nov 10, 2003, 01:18 AM

Originally posted by asidrane:
What's it the point of formatting the drive and then doing the install? One of the install options is to reformat the hard drive and tehn install. I bet that is what the salesman meant when he said you could reformat first.

There was no option to reformat and install.

The only option was to upgrade a hard drive with OS 10 (previous version) already on.

From all my experience in the past over the past 18 years on Macs, has been that upgrading software sucks. The only way to do it is with a clean install on a clean hard drive.

NO EXCEPTION. I'm not talking about little updates. I'm talking about major operating upgrades.

I was very clear with the salesman. Than I wanted to erase the hard drive and install on a blank hard drive,

The reformat option you mentioned isn't there. It was left off the flat pack.

barbarian · 05:14 PM

I don't know if your flat pack is different than mine. But I have 2 things

a) the OS X 10.3 install

b) restore software.

I don't need a previous install to do a clean install. To erase and install I:

1. Start from the 10.3 installer CD.

2. In the menu go to disk utility.

3. format the drive (partition, erase, go nuts).

4. quit disk util and run the installer.

5. reboot and run restore for all the 3rd party software (or if you want them piece by piece show hidden files, insert the restore disk and install the apps one by one).

----
Anyway the point is that the G5 did not need a previous version of the OS on it in order for 10.3 to be installed.

Buckaroo · Nov 10, 2003, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by barbarian:
I don't know if your flat pack is different than Mine. But I have 2 things

a) the OS X 10.3 install

b) restore software.

I don't need a previous install to do a clean install. To erase and install I:

1. Start from the 10.3 installer CD.

2. In the menu go to disk utility.

3. format the drive (partition, erase, go nuts).

4. quit disk util and run the installer.

This morning before I left for work, I noticed that there are 2 more Panter CD's in the G5 box. I may have dropped them into it when I picked up everything and tried to carry everything in one trip from one room to the next. I'll take a look to see what is on the CD's when I get home tonight.

Hopefully the installer will be on one of those other two.

asidrane · Nov 10, 2003, 03:46 PM

Yes, once you select the disk with a previous version of X on it, you are able to customize the install. There should be three options here (upgrade, archive and install, and reformat and install)

Buckaroo · Nov 11, 2003, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by asidrane:
Yes, once you select the disk with a previous version of X on it, you are able to customize the install. There should be three options here (upgrade, archive and install, and reformat and install)

Well, I tried to use the other two installer disks and they would not let me install Panther.

So you can NOT install Panther onto a new replacement hard drive with the flat pack. You have to install a previous version of OSX and then upgrade to Panther.

Well, anyhow, I called the Apple dealer and he gave me a full Installer version (black box Panther - non flat pack) to fix it.

I'm satisfied.