so I have a 2005 mac mini g4 powerpc. it was running tiger but i wanted to upgrade it to leopard to run boot camp. so I bought a leopard install disk and tried to install it. it got a quarter of the way there then failed saying The Installer could not verify the contents of the "base system" please contact apple support. and to top it all off the install deleted tiger so now I cant even boot back into the op that was on mac mini in the first place. alls I get is a terminal saying localhost:/ root#
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how do Install Leopard on a 2005 g4 Mac Mini
- Thread starter smashmukd
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We cannot know if that DVD is damaged or not, but you can download an image from macintoshgarden or archive.org, burn to a DVD (assuming the drive works) or clone to a Firewire (easier) or USB (may be a bit painful) and boot from that.
P. S. You do not need a Mac in order to burn or clone an image.
Firewire or USB is probably the way to go, unless you also have a DVD-R DL laying around (the Leopard image is Universal and larger than 4.7GB) or want to modify the image to fit.
Sidebar, you're not gonna be able to get Boot Camp on a G4. That was Intel-exclusive, and the only way you're running Windows on a G4 is either through emulation using Virtual PC or similar, or with the NT on PPC Macs project.
Sidebar, you're not gonna be able to get Boot Camp on a G4. That was Intel-exclusive, and the only way you're running Windows on a G4 is either through emulation using Virtual PC or similar, or with the NT on PPC Macs project.
I concur, Bootcamp only runs on Intel-based Mac's, tough luck.
I've tried to run Virtual PC on my 1.33Ghz/1.25G RAM Powerbook, and... it's not just "slow", it's outright pathetic, so I quit trying very fast. But YMMV, of course.
As for re-installing an OS, easiest way to do this is with a usb thumbdrive (EDIT : unless you have access to a FW400/800 drive, as noted in below post), alas PowerPC based machines are very picky when it comes to booting from a usb drive, you'll eventually have to try different usb drives until you'll find one that works (I had to try 6 different pendrives until I found one that would boot ! but maybe the situation is better on Mac-mini's than on Powerbooks).
Also, you'll probably need some help to understand how to boot from usb, I know I sure did, it is but straightforward. And I'd suggest you look for "Sorbet Leopard" to install on your machine, it's an optimized version of Leopard and runs quite well on our old machines.
I've tried to run Virtual PC on my 1.33Ghz/1.25G RAM Powerbook, and... it's not just "slow", it's outright pathetic, so I quit trying very fast. But YMMV, of course.
As for re-installing an OS, easiest way to do this is with a usb thumbdrive (EDIT : unless you have access to a FW400/800 drive, as noted in below post), alas PowerPC based machines are very picky when it comes to booting from a usb drive, you'll eventually have to try different usb drives until you'll find one that works (I had to try 6 different pendrives until I found one that would boot ! but maybe the situation is better on Mac-mini's than on Powerbooks).
Also, you'll probably need some help to understand how to boot from usb, I know I sure did, it is but straightforward. And I'd suggest you look for "Sorbet Leopard" to install on your machine, it's an optimized version of Leopard and runs quite well on our old machines.
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a usb was the thing i tried first before buying a install disc. but I couldnt get it to boot from the usb. seeing as the mini mac has only 2 usb ports, which are taken up by the keyboard and mouse. i tried using a usb power strip or what ever its called that adds more usb ports. but the system did not recognize it was plugged in until it was to late
ah I see I did not know that, alls I knew is that it first came out with leopard.
The easiest thing is FireWire. There are a lot of very cheap used drives being sold, get any which has FW and USB both, that will make life easier.
MacMini uses FW400, but you can get FW800 drive with a cable FW800–FW400, they are compatible. As long as you use macOS, there are no reasons to prefer USB, FW is so much better technology.
I've got a couple of early intel-based Mac minis that I'd be willing to trade you - even if you can't get your G4 booted. I'm currently seeking a G4 Mac Mini that hasn't been opened, cleaned or serviced for an internal temperature study. (All of my G4 Minis have had heatsink paste already renewed.) LMK Especially in you're in the U.S. 
oh sorry Idk about the heatsink but the one I found I got from someone droping it off at recycle. along with the power cable. so I brought it home plugged it into a monitor and perferials and it worked fine. i just deleted all the personal files but kept any games they had on it though. though on the back it says reconditioned. plus I have opened it multiple times to install better ram and check what kind of wifi airport card it needed since it didnt come with one.I've got a couple of early intel-based Mac minis that I'd be willing to trade you - even if you can't get your G4 booted. I'm currently seeking a G4 Mac Mini that hasn't been opened, cleaned or serviced for an internal temperature study. (All of my G4 Minis have had heatsink paste already renewed.) LMK Especially in you're in the U.S.