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liz reed · Oct 9, 2005, 05:38 AM

I've been using my G4 with os9.2 for ages. I've decided to switch to osx . I know my mac came with osx installed ,but where/how can I update to a newer version like 10.3.4?
I know you can't jump straight to a very new version so I guess you have to do it in steps until I reach 10.3.4.
Any ideas where I can get these versions to download?

ShotgunEd · Oct 9, 2005, 05:46 AM

You can't download major versions of the OS. You have to buy them. The downloadable updates cover incremental updates, e.g. 10.2 all the way through to 10.2.8.

If you really want 10.3.4 you'd need to buy a boxed copy of 10.3 and use the incremental updates to get to 10.3.4.

I'd go straight to 10.4, and update to 10.4.2, there's no point paying for an older OS unless you think your G4 is too slow, or doesn't have enough memory for 10.4.

liz reed · Oct 9, 2005, 05:52 AM

Does 10.4 let you use applications like Quark in a 'classic' mode? As I use quark a lot I have hesitated to move to the very new OSX tiger.

ShotgunEd · Oct 9, 2005, 05:58 AM

I hadn't used classic in so long I had to check this.

Yes 10.4 has a classic mode where you can run 9.2.2 and classic apps. Just keep your G4's 9 installer disk handy.

chris v · Oct 9, 2005, 08:17 AM

Quark works okay in Classic, but there's a screen redraw bug when you switch back and forth between Quark & any OS 10 app. There's an Xtension that "fixes" the problem, though. If you use Quark professionally, it will probably be worth your while to save up for vers. 6.5 eventually.

NeilCharter · Oct 9, 2005, 02:45 PM

Yup - moving to 10.4 makes the most sense. That will cost you 130 bucks. Check pricegrabber for best prices

I would advise increase your RAM - to at least 512 Megs to improve performance. 512 megs goes for about $80. Check otherworldcomputing for good quality ram.

A new version of Quark will set you back a bit. If it is for your business it will be worth it. Working with the OSX version will be fair easier and more efficient.

liz reed · Oct 10, 2005, 01:23 PM

Is it true you can't just upgrade to 10.4. I've heard you have to 'empty' your computer (sorry not very computer literate!)

Chuckit · Oct 10, 2005, 01:33 PM

10.4 has three install options.

1. Clean install, which erases your hard drive and installs a clean system on it.
2. Archive install, which moves your old system folders into a "Previous systems" folder and installs a clean system, but allows you to keep your user folder and documents and all that.
3. Upgrade, which will just update the files that need to be brought up to date.

I'm not sure all of these options will be available to install over your old version, though, not knowing which version it is. Archive install would probably be your best bet.

Thinine · Oct 10, 2005, 03:49 PM

Archive and install only moves your old OS X installation, it wont' touch your OS 9 install. And if you never used OS X on the machine, there's not point to doing a archive and install. You should back your data up and do a clean install from scratch. You may also want to back up your OS 9 install as well, so you can put it back to use as a Classic install.

NeilCharter · Oct 11, 2005, 12:23 AM

You have two choices:

1. Install OS X over your current setup. OS 9 and all the associated files (including your documents if they are in the documents folder) will be preserved. You will then need to move your personal files to your User folder in OS X.

Since something could go wrong you need to back up all your data and ideally all the OS 9 system and application folders.

Do you have an OS 9 install CD? You may need that if you have to reinstall.

Then run the new OS X installation. Choose either upgrade or archive and install. For your situation, it probably doesn't matter.

2. Your second choice involves erasing the hard drive and installing the new OS X, OS 9 and your OS 9 apps from scratch. This will identify all the disk errors present on your drive but requires a lot of work to restore everything. You have to backup everything and have all the correct install disks. You may be able to get away with copying OS 9 system and apps back from your backup, but it may not work. Kinda risky if you don't know what you're doing.

All in all # 1 sounds the best option for you. Just remember to back up anything you cannot afford to lose (and that includes apps if you don't have the install disks available.

Good luck, Neil

liz reed · Oct 11, 2005, 02:32 PM

So basically what you're saying is I should copy everything on my Mac onto a few CD's and then install 10.4?? Sorry for being so dumb!

NeilCharter · Oct 11, 2005, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by liz reed

So basically what you're saying is I should copy everything on my Mac onto a few CD's and then install 10.4?? Sorry for being so dumb!

Yup - as long as you're confident that everything you want is backed up go ahead with installing 10.4.

BTW - it ain't dumb to ask questions before embarking on something like this.

Hope the upgrade goes smoothly. Good luck.