Member Avatar for tcaithaca

hi
i have an imac i am currently running os 9.1 and when i try to install the os x software my computer spits the disc out. i am thinking i only have a cd drive and not a dvd drive and that is what the disc is. what do i have to do to make this work? i am ok with this puter and its systems but am truely stumped.
if i dont have a dvd drive do i need to get one in order to make this install work?

i am so confused

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Short diagnostic checklist and practical options for (building on the points raised by and ). A disc that gets ejected can mean several different things: wrong installer media for that specific machine, a drive that cannot read the disc, or a compatibility/firmware issue. The following steps will help pinpoint the cause and give workable alternatives.

  • Identify the exact iMac model and CPU: in Mac OS 9 use Apple menu -> About This Computer (or find the serial/model printed on the case). Use that model info to confirm which OS versions the machine actually supports before buying media or replacing hardware.
  • Verify the disc type: retail installer discs are different from the restore discs shipped with a specific Mac. Restore discs are often model-locked and will be rejected if they do not match the iMac.
  • Test the optical drive: try other known-good discs (an audio CD, a bootable utility disc). Try holding C (or Option) at startup to force-selection of a bootable optical disc. If other discs fail, the drive itself is likely the problem.
  • Inspect and clean the disc carefully (center-out, lint-free cloth). Deep scratches or contamination can cause repeated ejection.
  • Install from another Mac using Target Disk Mode: connect a FireWire cable, boot the iMac holding T until the FireWire icon appears, run the installer on the host Mac and choose the iMac’s internal drive as the destination—this bypasses a bad or incompatible internal drive.
  • If the internal drive is dead or incompatible, an external FireWire optical drive (or replacing the drive) is a practical solution for older PowerPC iMacs; FireWire booting is more reliable on those machines than USB.

Back up any data first, check for required firmware updates for your exact model, and confirm OS compatibility before purchasing media or parts. If model lookup or the diagnostics are unclear, consult Apple’s model-identification resources or a Mac hardware database to decide whether replacement media, a repair, or the Target Disk Mode workaround is the best route.

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Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

I think 10.4 comes on DVD. I am not sure. I have not thought of upgrading just yet.

What are the specifications of your current computer?

Christian

Member Avatar for yellow

Christian is correct, Tiger comes on a DVD by default. If you want to get it on CD (you can), you have to contact Apple and pay $15 or $20 more to get it on CD.

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