When I put the disk 1 and try to start up the instalation it asks to restart the computer, I press restart and message comes up saying that "Startup disk was unable to select the install CD as the startup disk. (-2)" does anyone knows what might the problem be?

Im trying to instal Mac Os X or panther 10.3

are you holding down C as the machine restarts? That should boot from the CD?

are you holding down C as the machine restarts? That should boot from the CD?

yes, and that message still comes up

Could it be that your install disc is a DVD, but your MAC only has a CD drive?

Could it be that your install disc is a DVD, but your MAC only has a CD drive?

Panther was indeed released as a 3xOS Install CD (with an additional as XCode, if I recall correctly) or a single DVD (possibly with a XCode on a separate disc). If it's the same machine as you were asking about on this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=176375) thread, then a revision A or B iMac shipped with a CD-ROM drive only, so you will have to seek out the 3xCD version.

[edit:] or install a DVD drive..

assuming the mac is working, stick in the disc... if Finder can mount it and (attempt to) read it, then you have the correct drive - and thus something else is causing your problem.

is the disc scratched?

.

Looking at what he's written he's started the install in OSX then it asks to restart - that would suggest it can at least mount the disc and read the data.

Try booting the mac and hold option down - that will give a menu of all available bootable volumes - that might get you somewhere...

You're not trying to use a recent release of the OS on a non-USB mac are you?

Is it a "backup" copy of the disc - if a copy hasn't been properly created it could have knackered the bootable aspect of the disc.

Apologies - I can see now that you are booting from a CD anyway. This Apple Knowledgebase article (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25776) details your problem as being specific to 10.3.2 installed over OS9.2. Basically it suggests:

(i) Holding C at Startup, as mr_chris suggests. Try holding it down for a long time, as in my experience it can take a while to actually reach the boot stage. Also, try this after a manual restart rather than the 'Restart' option in the Install dialogue, just in case this affects it.
(ii)Select the install disc as the startup volume in startup manager, as suggested by chimaera, by holding option/alt upon reboot.

Or, of course:
(iii) Find an earlier release of the OS, or even Jaguar (10.2), and install this first, before installing your own copy of 10.3, just in case it is specific to your particular release version. I'm sure a few minutes of illegitimacy in installing is allowed if you're going to rectify it with your own personal original copy installed over the top.

As a slightly related topic, I actually need to reinstall 10.4 on this G5 (non-intel) and it appeared that someone put all the discs in a *very* safe place. So safe, in fact, that noone knows where they are!

I don't suppose anyone has access to the right discs on a strictly loan basis? I'm sure it's a shot in the dark!

As a slightly related topic, I actually need to reinstall 10.4 on this G5 (non-intel) and it appeared that someone put all the discs in a *very* safe place. So safe, in fact, that noone knows where they are!

I don't suppose anyone has access to the right discs on a strictly loan basis? I'm sure it's a shot in the dark!

Sorry Mr D - I rather suspect my Macbook 10.4 disc won't work :(

Sorry Mr D - I rather suspect my Macbook 10.4 disc won't work :(

Yeah - I have an Intel Mini so I can't even use the disc from that! It's rather fustrating they're all model-specific.

I've had an offer of a loaner disc though, so hopefully it'll all be sorted!

Still, this machine has been running pretty much 24/7 for 2 years without any hiccups, so it rather puts Mr Gates to shame!