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Forums › Mac OS › Help with upgrading a G5 iMac 17' (M9363LL/A)


129 posts

Master Geek


Topic # 67698 7-Sep-2010 09:19
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My neighbor has a G5 iMac 17" (M9363LL/A) currently running OS X 10.3.9. They are experiencing issues with browsing the net, which I am assuming is due to the old version of Safari (1.3.2) and I have not been able to install a version of iTunes that is compatible with their iPod.

I attempted to install Firefox, but there is no version available anymore for 10.3, but I was able to locate a version of Opera which seems to have fixed the browsing issues temporarily.

I believe their G5 can be upgraded to Tiger or Leopard, but the issue is locating a legitimate copy.

I have seen some for sale on TradeMe, but there are a few things I am unclear on...

If I purchase discs that happen to be OEM from someone elses iMac, will they work on this machine?
I've noticed people asking questions as to if the discs are Black or Grey? Is there a difference in versions?
There are retail copies of Leopard for sale but they are near on $200!! Seems expensive seeing as I upgraded to Snow Leopard for $59!!
Do Apple hold copied of Tiger/Leopard for those customers who still have G5 machines and are wanting to upgrade?

Any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated as I've only been a Macboy since intel...

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1239 posts

Uber Geek
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  Reply # 377448 7-Sep-2010 11:18
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Hi Tohe,

This model iMac should indeed be able to be upgraded to Tiger or Leopard. (Leopard requires at least 512 MB RAM, but otherwise this model should meet the requirements).

Grey installation disks are the ones that ship with a new Mac. They are machine specific, and so unless you locate the correct original disks, it's pretty unlikely that other grey disks will work in this machine.

Black installation disks (or white for Leopard, I think) are Retail installers, these are not machine specific and can be used on any machine that meets the minimum requirements.

10.5 is a bit more difficult as most installers are Intel only, not Universal (Intel/PPC). 

Cheers,
Joseph 

[Moderator edit (MF): removed text that could be intepreted as sharing]



129 posts

Master Geek


  Reply # 377557 7-Sep-2010 15:25
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Hi Joseph

Just sent you a PM.

Cheers

 
 
 
 


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Ultimate Geek
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  Reply # 378395 9-Sep-2010 21:58
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The retail Leopard disc is Universal. No disc that shipped with another Mac (The grey discs) will work on your computer.

FYI: Leopard has a purple galaxy as the DVD background image, while Snow Leopard (which is Intel only) has a Snow Leopard.

jofizz, Please don't talk about or promote piracy...you'll find that things like that contravene the forum usage guidelines.




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  Reply # 378402 9-Sep-2010 22:07
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jofizz, Please don't talk about or promote piracy...you'll find that things like that contravene the forum usage guidelines.


Is this piracy in the Apple world? Just thinking - you cannot buy a (new) Mac without an OS, and OS X explicitly states it can only be installed on a Mac, and the links between the hardware and software are very strong.  I would go as far to say that, from an Apple viewpoint, a Mac is a combination of the hardware and the OS (ignoring bootcamp etc).

I know you can buy a copy of OSX from most stores to upgrade, but what happens when you don't have any original disks?

Note - I am saying this from a purely academic point of view - I am not promoting or otherwise saying it is right or wrong.  In the Windows world I would say it's the complete opposite.

end of 2c

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Ultimate Geek
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  Reply # 378403 9-Sep-2010 22:08
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You go to a store and order a copy of the old software...




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  Reply # 378517 10-Sep-2010 10:58
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If you are looking for an older Firefox version, you should be able to download it from here:
http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/

HTH

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  Reply # 378548 10-Sep-2010 12:27
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munchkin: You go to a store and order a copy of the old software...


I think the point here is that you cannot buy the old software. Apple no longer supply it. 
It is effectively impossible to purchase a new copy of Mac OS 10.4.

Cheers,
Joseph.
 

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  Reply # 378551 10-Sep-2010 12:40
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Well I may have been wrong twice in one thread!
Whilst Tiger is End Of Life, apparently you can buy Mac OS 10.4 Tiger directly from Apple if you call them, according to The Google.

Cheers,
Joseph
 

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