1. Mac Os X 10.5 Imac G4
2. Install Macos 9 On Imac G4

Upgrade the RAM and storage of nearly any Apple computer at MacSales.com. We also provide refurbished Macs, external storage, docks, accessories, and more! Mac OS X iMac ต้องการขายเครื่อง iMac G4 ค่ะ Spec. เครื่องตามด้านล่างเลยค่ะ Machine Name: iMac / Machine Model: PowerMac4,1. Joined Mar 23, 2016 Messages 2 Motherboard Acer Aspire F5-573G-528T (grub) CPU i5-7200U Graphics GTX 950M Mac. I am of the opinion that you should keep your O/S up to date unless you have a SPECIFIC reason to stay at an earlier version. Incompatible software that you MUST run or a noted incompatibility with a service that you can't do without (EG some people are still having issues with MS Exchange compatibility in mail.app on Mavericks). Specs: Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, 700 Mhz/512 MB Okay, I've got (prepare to laugh) an iMac g4 15' Dome. 700Mhz PPC g4 or G5 (I'm too lazy to check), and 512 MB of RAM. I know Leapord supposedly requires a higher Processor speed to run, but I was wondering if there was any way I could 'work around' the requirement?

So, you’ve decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac’s performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we’ll explain where to get one and what problems you may face down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We’ll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn’t new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have “fuel” to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free up space on your drive:

• Uninstall large unused apps
• Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
• Locate the biggest files on your computer:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size
Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.
If you aren’t comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic “room cleaners”. Our favorite is CleanMyMac as it’s most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That’s why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your computer.

How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store

If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you’ll find all the installers you can download. However, it doesn’t always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

1. Click the App Store icon.
2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
3. Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
4. Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it’s possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

“I can’t download an old version of Mac OS X”

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don’t expect it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After you’ve completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
4. Select external drive as a source.
5. Enter your Apple ID.

Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is “captured” onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
2. Connect the external drive.
3. Go to external drive > OS X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.

These might also interest you:

The Low End Mac Mailbag

Dan Knight - 2003.02.11 - Tip Jar

Classic Mac OS Boot Problem on OS XiMac Solved

As a follow-up to our earliercorrespondence, Tim Galvin writes:

Update: OS 9 loading. I was unable to boot [my iMac] from the OS 9.1install CD (using the C key during startup). This was after installingOS X. So I repartitioned (and erased OS X) and tried again tono avail. So I reloaded OS X into the first partition again andwas about to give up.

Then I got a wild idea. I copied the OS 9 contents from the installCD to the second partition. Then, by booting from my OS 8.6 CD (whichpresented no problem using the 'C' key during startup), I was ableperform a 'clean install' of OS 9 (it would not do a normalinstall) from the second partition into the first partition.

I assumed I killed OS X by this action, so I reinstalled OS X.However, it gave me some options to save my previous settings justprior to reloading OS X. I then reloaded OS X into the firstpartition. I upgraded OS 9 to 9.2.2 and OS X to 10.2.3 and amnow happily running both OS X and OS 9 in classic.

Strange route but good results.

Always good to hear of a success, no matter how convoluted thatpathway that led to it. Jerry Pournelle used to frequently comment inhis Byte magazine columns that troubleshooting worked best bythe persistent application of logic. It seems to have worked foryou.

Upgrading a Beige G3

Looking for upgrade advice, Marek writes:

I have a question: I recently purchased G4 DP 1 GHz through USC- nice educational deal (and it's great), but I also have G3/333 beige running OS 8.1(from 1998). It was my workstation. Now that I have the G4 to do themusic (and only music!), the G3 I am using for the Internet andMicrosoft Word and so on....

G3 has three PCI (only); one is taken by [Ultra-Wide SCSI controllerfor my] 9 GB drive!, second: sound card, and the third one by mygraphic card (I love to have two monitors). Now this is my plan: Iwould like to replace my hard drive with something like 40 GB. It wouldfree my PCI [slot], which I could use to install one with 2 FireWire/2USB (is this card okay, or should I have only FireWire or only USB on asingle PCI card?).

Now, I would like to run 9.2.2 (I love it on my G4). can it be doneon G3? Do I need to upgrade my processor?

Changing the HD, installing a PCI card and OS 9.2 wouldn't be costly- let's say $50 + $100 + $100 for about $250 (I could be wrong [nevergood on math]). I could have practically new computer! I highly valueyour opinion! For me it could be upgraded within my budget; I could runall my 9.2 applications on G3 and have my G4 committed to OS Xupgrades now, to have more PCI slots available can I upgrade a graphiccard?

As you see, there is many options to consider I am dying to find outwhat is your opinion It could help me out great deal!

Thanks a lot.

First things first. Your beige G3 has a terribly slow IDE bus forthe hard drive - 16.7 MB/sec - which is going to be a real bottleneckwhen you replace your SCSI drive with an IDE drive. Most drives you'llfind today are 2-3 times faster than the bus on the beige G3, so if youreally want to use them to their potential, you'll want to consider acard that supports Ultra66.

There goes the slot you would free by pulling the 9 GB SCSI drive andcontroller.

I've had really good luck with the Acard Ahard Ultra66 controller,which is inexpensively available from Other World Computing and othervendors (US$55 today at OWC). I'm using one in our beige G3 and reallyappreciate the improvement.

Of course, that doesn't give you the empty slot you want for aFireWire/USB card. I can see the importance of a better video card, butif you don't need the sound card (if you're using the new G4 for allyour sound work), you could have video, Ultra66, and FW/USB cards inyour beige G3.

Another alternative is the Tempo Triofrom Sonnet. This card supports up to four IDE hard drives (right upthrough the Ultra133 specification) and provides two FireWire and twoUSB ports. At US$180, it's not cheap, but it can give you both gooddrive performance and extra ports while using only a single slot.

You should have no problems at all running Mac OS 9.2 on the beige G3,but another factor is the value of these vintage computers. I'veseen them sell foras little as US$200 on the used market (slower one than yours) and alsoseen blue & white G3s selling for as little as US$300. The b&wG3 already has a faster IDE bus, has a faster system bus, includes bothUSB and FireWire, and has even more room for internal hard drives thanthe beige G3 desktop.

You might want to consider investing $300-400 in a b&w G3/350 orfaster, moving your files and PCI cards over, and selling your oldbeige G3 to a student. It could have a lower net cost than upgradingyour older computer.

Radeon 7000, a Beige G3, and OS X

Francis Gibson writes:

Love your site! I want to put an ATI Radeon 7000 in my recentlyupgraded Beige G3, but I want to use itwith OS X. Is this configuration now support?

I have read in the past that this card did not support OS X onthe Beige G3 and that ATI claimed that Apple needed to fix the problem,but that was back with 10.1. Has the Jaguar fixed this issue to yourknowledge?

To my knowledge, no. ATI recently updated their website andpackaging for the Radeon 7000 to reflect that it requires a blue &white G3 or later with Mac OS X. The card works fine with theclassic Mac OS on older hardware, but boots into a blackscreen on the beige G3 and earlier models when used withOS X.

Your best bet may be the ATI Radeon Mac Edition. According to benchmark resultspublished on Bare Feats, the older card outperforms the 7000 on sometests. This card typically closes at US$85-90 on eBaythese days.

Latest OS for PPC UpgradedCentris

Oskar Bruil wonders:

I have a Mac Centris 650 witha PPC upgrade runningat 50 MHz (twice the bus - the PPC CPU is actually a 66 MHz one). Myquestion is now that I have a PPC upgrade, what is the maximum Mac OSversion that I can run on it. I know the newest version you can runwithout a PPC upgrade is 8.1. Also, it says on your site that you needa 'fat' system for this computer, what is a 'fat' system?

A 'fat' system is one that contains the code required to boot botha 680x0 CPU and a PowerPC CPU. Without a fat system, you would never beable to run your old Centris as a 68040 machine.

I have heard reports of people running Mac OS 8.5-8.6 on PPC upgradedQuadras, but I've never worked with such a setup myself. For more helpon this, consider joining Quadlist(our email list for Centris and Quadra owners) and asking for advicefrom those who have attempted it.

Macs in Heaven?

After reading my comments in WhyApple Can User IBM's PowerPC 970, Matt Olson couldn't resistasking:

It's more promising than any vaporware G5 from Motorola, whichseems destined to ship three week's after Christ's return.

Does this mean that we will have Apple laptops and/or desktops inheaven? Thanks for a laugh-out-loud funny line. Oh, and as a Baptistpastor I hope Jesus comes back soon. It would be neat, however, ifeveryone there was issued an Apple, but ultimately I'll just be gladI'm there.

I've seen the editorial cartoon where people going to heaven areissued Macs and those going to hell get Windows PCs. We've also sharedthe story Bill Gates Goes to Heaven onour website, but we can't find any evidence - biblical or otherwise -that there will be computers in heaven, or any reason we would wantthem.

24-bit Macs?

After reading Why Apple Can UserIBM's PowerPC 970, F.C. Kuechmann notes:

In your 970 article [which I agree with] you say 'Or the wayMotorola moved from the 24-bit 68000 to the 32-bit 68020 and later.'While the original 68k only had 24 external address pins, the programcounter was, like the other registers, 32 bits. The upper 8 bits ofaddress were generally unused, but they could be accessed by xfering toa data register and writing out as data, e.g. to a latch.

Things were so much simpler in the 8-bit era, where chips has onesize. With the 8088, 68000, and later processors, there are differentregister sizes, data buses, and so forth. I was specifically thinkingof the 24-bit addressing of the 68000, which limited RAM to 16 MB.Writing 24-bit specific code was the reason some older Macs hadproblems when the Mac started using 32-bit addressing in System 7. Formore on that subject, see 32-bitAddressing on Older Macs.

More on the PowerPC 970

In response to Why Apple Can UserIBM's PowerPC 970, Tony Wight writes:

The other fellow is talking cobblers. Have a look at this pdf fromIBM: <http://www-3.ibm.com/chips/techlib/techlib.nsf/techdocs/A1387A29AC1C2AE 087256C5200611780/$file/PPC970_MPF2002.pdf> (restrictedaccess).

About half way through, it explicitly states: 'Native 32-bit mode:High word of all effective addresses are cleared. 32-bit PPCapplication code supported.'

It was cited by <http://www-3.ibm.com/chips/techlib/techlib.nsf/techdocs/A1387A29AC1C2AE087256C5200611780> Product Presentation - PowerPC 970: Firstin a new family of 64-bit high performance PowerPC processors.

Have a look at this in InfoWorld <http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/02/04/HNibmroad_1.html>.Their take is that the Power5 is the real deal for desktop computers,and that the PowerPC 970 is really just for laptops.

Frankly, until Apple gets something like these, OS X is goingremain a slug race.

best wishes,
Tony Wight.

P.S. BTW a key difference between MoTo and IBM is that Big Blue'schip production yields are consistently some 10-15x higher thanMoTo's.

Thanks for the additional information. After porting to the PPC970, imagine the power if Apple ported OS X Server to thePower5....

Apple and the PowerPC 970

Romeo writes:

The bus on the PowerPC 970 was designed by Apple itself. It istermed the Apple IO bus, or AIO for short. Thus Apple shouldn't haveproblems implementing it in future Apple motherboards. Apple andMotorola had serious disagreements on the G5 about the chip's systembus. Motorola wanted it's Rapid IO bus, while Apple wanted it's AIO buson the G5. This contributed to the end of the G5 project. Apple helpeddesign the 970, thus there shouldn't be doubt that it will turn up innew Power Macs.

Mac Os X 10.5 Imac G4

I'd heard rumors that the G5 had been put so far on the back burnerthat we might never see it. This whole Apple-IBM-Motorola consortiumsure has devolved from a mutually beneficial partnership.

Older Macs and DigitalPhotography

After reading Digital Photographyand the 68K Mac, where we recommended a Power Mac to obtain USBsupport, Ed Nilges notes:

Your article was very helpful, and the best advice was to buy a newPPC Mac. However, there does appear to be a viable way of working withdigital cameras on any Mac with a SCSI port.

Even on a modern computer, a direct USB connection to the camera isnot my preferred way of transferring pictures. I prefer to swap aCompactFlash or SmartMedia flash card into one of the very cheapreaders available, which are USB, but, if I'm on the road, I use aneven cheaper adapter to plug directly into the PC Card slot.

Install Macos 9 On Imac G4

I started looking around for a cheap SCSI PC Card reader, and Ifound I wasn't even the first one to think of this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3401059688&category=11157

Yet another cute, dedicated use for that spare Color Classic or Mac II (impress 'em with 1987'scutting-edge monitor spanning technology).

Yeah, I have to agree that it's easier to use a flash memory readerthan connect the camera to the computer.

I've been looking for a cheap way to put a Compact Flash card on a MacPlus for completely quiet computing (assuming it can be used as abootable drive). I hadn't run across the Minolta CD-10 SCSI PCMCIA CardDrive before, but Steve'sDigicams speaks very highly of it. They seem to be rare on the usedmarket and sell for $100-150 on close-out when you can find them.

Steve's also notes that this is the same unit as the Microtech DPA-P,which still sells for $199.

Readers should be aware that the CD-10 doesn't accept Compact Flash,Smart Media, or other types of flash memory directly. The CD-10 acceptsa PC Card or PCMCIA card that accepts the flash memory card, so userswill also have to invest in such an adapter.

With Power Mac 5400sselling for under $50 and USB cards for $30, it may generally be lesscostly to buy a whole computer than a SCSI-to-PCMCIA adapter plus aPCMCIA-to-flash-memory adapter.

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Dan Knight has been publishing LowEnd Mac since April 1997. Mailbag columns come from email responses to his Mac Musings, Mac Daniel, Online Tech Journal, and other columns on the site.

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