http://sjcap.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] sjcap.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2009-11-25 08:07 pm
  • Add Memory
  • Share This Entry
Entry tags:

apple osx system disks

i'm going backwards. rather than upgrading my mac laptop, i'm looking to downgrade it to osx 10.4 (tiger).

does anyone know where i can find a copy of an older apple operating system?
almost everyone i see in the cafes with macs are running updated leopard or snow leopard. if anyone has upgraded lately, and no longer needs their original osx 10.4 disks, maybe we can work out a deal ($, box of kickass cupcakes, ?).

ideas? thanks!!
Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[personal profile] ron_newman 2009-11-26 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
I think I still have Tiger at home, but you'll have to wait until at least next Tuesday when I return to Somerville.
Edited 2009-11-26 01:08 (UTC)

FYI

[identity profile] bostonartist.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
If this a newer Mac laptop, this might not be possible. You cannot install a Mac OS that is older than the OS that it was shipped with. So, If your Mac came with Leopard or Snow Leopard, the hardware will not allow you to install Tiger on it.

Also the Install disks that come with a mac are specific to that exact model Mac. They are not the same as the disks that you get when purchasing a retail box upgrade.

Re: FYI

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed, they definitely make "downgrades" near impossible on the Mac. Additionally most people will likely only have "upgrade" versions any CDs they have anyway. Macs do not generally come with media that allows you to re-install their own OS (they expect you to go to a genius bar for that!).

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
Also do you mind if I ask why you're trying to do this? It may be presumptuous for me to even say this but there might be a better what to accomplish whatever it is you're trying to accomplish.

[identity profile] sjcap.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
i have a g4 which once had tiger on it. it now has leopard. so the downgrade back to the original os should be possible. but i don't have the original installation disks. and to answer your ? m00n, i like to use some old-school applications that stopped updating pre-osx and so i need a mac os that can operate in 'classic' mode. which 10.4 does, but later versions do not. plus tiger runs leaner and meaner (and usually faster) than leopard. don't know about snow leopard.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2009-11-26 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, so you need PowerPC Tiger disks. I think mine are only for Intel.

[identity profile] rramdin.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, I chuckled a little when I read this, as my roommate just reverted to Tiger from Snow Leopard. After he upgraded to Snow Leopard, his computer picked up a host of problems (eg poor compatibility with some third party audio equipment, unreliable airport under a heavy load, a few random logouts--which I've also been getting). Additionally he was just unhappy with some UI changes between Leo and SL. His thinking was that he'd rather use Tiger, since it isn't as bloated as Leopard, basically as fast as SL, and virtually bug free.

[identity profile] rramdin.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
Snow Leopard is leaner, meaner, and faster the Leopard. I love it! No Snow Leopard for PPC though.

[identity profile] wombatbanana.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 01:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Even if the disc came with an Intel Mac, I think everything on it should be universal binaries that work on both architectures.

Re: FYI

[identity profile] wombatbanana.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)

> Macs do not generally come with media that allows you to re-install their own OS

Are you sure? Every Mac I've ever bought has come with a normal OS install disc.

[identity profile] joylewis.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I think I can help you with this. I have a G4 that was running Tiger and I believe I have the disks at home. I can check this evening. What's your schedule like tomorrow? I'd be happy to loan them to you for free if you can return to me. You can email me at username at gmail.

Interesting...

[identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I should upgrade and I have the disks, but I'm still running Tiger. Not sure what the incremental advantage of upgrading, given that I don't care about ornaments.

Re: FYI

[identity profile] mjhelol.livejournal.com 2009-11-26 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, every Mac I've ever owned can have the OS reinstalled.

Re: FYI

[identity profile] pushupstairs.livejournal.com 2009-11-27 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
Aside from the CD or DVD that comes with every Mac sold... but besides that, no media.

Re: FYI

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2009-11-27 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
It comes with a system restore DVD, yes, but that is designed to be difficult to use to install the OS on someone else's Mac (or a virtual machine for that matter).

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2009-11-27 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, that's the marketing hype that got me to install it, although I'm having a hard time backing up that claim now that I'm using it.

That and various programs I use regularly had started to complain that they couldn't be upgraded without me upgrading the OS first.

Re: FYI

[identity profile] pushupstairs.livejournal.com 2009-11-27 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
yes, that's why they right directly on the disc that it's for use on that system only.

you said they don't come with media to re-install the OS. they do. they don't come with a retail OS X disc that you can install on any system.
Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only