Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:46 PM

I hate Leopard and want to revert, but now for some reason my iMac won't start up from the Tiger Install DVD. Am I missing something? I do have a full backup of my Tiger install, and I guess I could hook up my iBook in target mode and recopy my Tiger install from the backup drive, but I really think I'd prefer to do a clean install from the DVD. What gives?

Cold Warrior · Nov 4, 2007, 06:48 PM

have you tried holding down 'c' at startup to force it to boot from the disc?

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

have you tried holding down 'c' at startup to force it to boot from the disc?

Yes, no go. And I tried holding down Option on startup, but the DVD doesn't show up in that case even though it's in the drive.

Cold Warrior · Nov 4, 2007, 06:51 PM

try c then

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

try c then

How is that different from holding down "C" at startup?

Cold Warrior · Nov 4, 2007, 06:55 PM

It's worth a shot.

Logical trouble-shooting process and all.

Art Vandelay · Nov 4, 2007, 06:56 PM

Have you tried inserting the DVD when in Leopard and starting the Installer there? It will set the firmware to boot to the DVD.

cybergoober · Nov 4, 2007, 06:56 PM

Dunno which model. Have you tried zapping the PRAM?

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

It's worth a shot.

Logical trouble-shooting process and all.

Huh? I'm confused. I already tried holding down C at startup. Are you suggesting something different than that?

Art Vandelay · Nov 4, 2007, 06:57 PM

Yes, 'c' and 'C' are different. Holding the shift key may not be allowed. I've never tried it before.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Have you tried inserting the DVD when in Leopard and starting the Installer there? It will set the firmware to boot to the DVD.

I get "This version of the OS cannot be installed on this machine."

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by cybergoober

Dunno which model. Have you tried zapping the PRAM?

No. I guess I could try that.

Cold Warrior · Nov 4, 2007, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

Huh? I'm confused. I already tried holding down C at startup. Are you suggesting something different than that?

no, that's what I was suggesting. You hadn't mentioned that you'd tried it, just holding option. So if c didn't work, and option didn't work, we're on to other things.

Art Vandelay · Nov 4, 2007, 06:58 PM

Also, if you're using the original DVDs that came with your Mac, make sure you're using disc 1.

Art Vandelay · Nov 4, 2007, 06:59 PM

Do you have an Intel Mac? Are you using the retail version of Tiger? If yes, it will never work.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Also, if you're using the original DVDs that came with your Mac, make sure you're using disc 1.

Oh, wait a minute.... That's my problem! I was using an aftermarket Tiger DVD instead of the one that came with the iMac. Maybe that's it.

kcmac · 07:09 PM

I know this won't help you now but it might next time.

Make a full back up of your system before doing a major upgrade like Leopard. I use SuperDuper. In fact, I had to use it on our iMac because we got the blue screen. Restored to Tiger, eliminated the offending APE files and reinstalled Leopard. Everything is dreamy.

So. Please. Back up.

TUAW Tip: keyboard shortcuts during Mac OS X startup - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
EverythingTech � Blog Archive � Mac OS X Startup key sequences

Art Vandelay · Nov 4, 2007, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

no, that's what I was suggesting. You hadn't mentioned that you'd tried it, just holding option. So if c didn't work, and option didn't work, we're on to other things.

Actually he did mention it in the third post.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by kcmac

I know this won't help you now but it might next time.

Make a full back up of your system before doing a major upgrade like Leopard. I use SuperDuper. In fact, I had to use it on our iMac because we got the blue screen. Restored to Tiger, eliminated the offending APE files and reinstalled Leopard. Everything is dreamy.

So. Please. Back up.

Funny you should mention that. I did in fact back it all up using SuperDuper. It's just that I want to clean install now for the sake of having a fresh start.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Actually he did mention it in the third post.

True, but my wording could have been misinterpreted fairly easily.

Anyhoo, I think I'll try using the DVD that came with the iMac instead of this commercial copy of Tiger -- that one is supposed to be for my iBook anyway.

CheesePuff · Nov 4, 2007, 07:06 PM

Why do you hate it?

Cold Warrior · Nov 4, 2007, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Actually he did mention it in the third post.

but not in the first, b/c I suggested it in the second. By then it snowballed, hence the 'huh' and my follow-up.

gradient · Nov 4, 2007, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

I get "This version of the OS cannot be installed on this machine."

It sounds like you're trying to reinstall Tiger from an Installer DVD that came bundled with a different computer. If that's the case then it isn't legal and your computer won't let you do it.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by gradient

It sounds like you're trying to reinstall Tiger from an Installer DVD that came bundled with a different computer. If that's the case then it isn't legal and your computer won't let you do it.

Nope. I was innocently trying to install a commercial Tiger DVD when what I should have used is the one that came with the iMac. No illegality here.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by CheesePuff

Why do you hate it?

Don't like the look and feel. I have to click many more times to get what I want and I really miss contextual menus out of the Dock.

Art Vandelay · Nov 4, 2007, 11:53 PM

What kind of iMac do you have? Sounds like an Intel iMac. A PowerPC iMac would have attempted to boot. If the version of Tiger on the DVD is too old, it'd likely hang or kernel panic. If it's new enough but tied to a particular model of Mac, you would have booted all the way to the installer where you would have been blocked.

selowitch · Nov 4, 2007, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

What kind of iMac do you have? Sounds like an Intel iMac. A PowerPC iMac would have attempted to boot. If the version of Tiger on the DVD is too old, it'd likely hang or kernel panic. If it's new enough but tied to a particular model of Mac, you would have booted all the way to the installer where you would have been blocked.

It's an Intel iMac and I was using a standalone Tiger DVD instead of the one that came with the computer, and that appears to be the root cause of my problem.

Art Vandelay · Nov 5, 2007, 12:06 AM

That's it exactly. The retail version is PowerPC only.