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got a silent upgrade (512 MB ) in a 1.42 GHz mac mini refurb (80 gb/combo) from apple store online.
mini booted into 10.3.7 fine. install discs for 10.4.2 alerted me they couldn't install on this mac. hmmm. called Apple, support guy said i had to erase the hard drive, as the discs aren't updaters, but installers. did that; in fact, zeroed the drive to mark any bad blocks.
tried to install 10.4.2... no go. same error. called Apple again, after 55 minutes on the phone got a specialist who is overnighting discs that "should" work.
in the meantime, i cloned a 10.4.x partition from a FW hard drive and i'll be testing further - who has time to wait?
first refurb ordered from Apple; not so good experience.
other 2 refurbs ordered from Smalldog, no problems whatsoever.
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I wouldn't worry about it too much. Somebody just grabbed a 10.4 disk off the wrong stack; meant for a powerbook or something.
No biggie. (for me I guess, it's you that has to wait. :-)
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I would have tried running software update first, and see if the disks would update 10.3.9 to 10.4.
No particular reason that should work... but you never know.
Without a set of restore disks, I would have hesitated to wipe it clean.
Or maybe I wouldn't have.. I've been known to click "Erase" a bit too quick in disk utility from time to time... much to my own annoyance.
It's a habit I'm trying to break.
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The Tiger updates don't appear in Software Update for Panther.
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10.3.9 to 10.4 is a paid upgrade, not an update. Wouldn't be in Software Update anyway.
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While you're waiting, why not run Apple Hardware Test?
Could be bad RAM. Yes, I know you didn't add any: our shop has seen a few rare instances of bad RAM coming from Apple (or more accurately Apple's suppliers). As Judy Tenuda (founder of Judy-ism) says: "IT COULD HAPPEN!"
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and you should learn patience. Who has time to wait? You should. This is no big deal...
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elmo, i have patience.
i have an appointment on Friday to set up the mini at a friend's house. i try to honor my appointments whenever possible.
it booted from a 10.3.9 partition without issue. CCC'd the 10.4.x partition, rebooted, cleaned out old apps, prefs, etc.
i don't think it's bad RAM. i think it's just the wrong DVD was packed with it. the discs say Mac Mini on them, so they weren't for a Powerbook.
we'll see what arrives tomorrow from Apple.
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I didn't say that Software Update would update from 10.3.7 to 10.4...
I said it would update to 10.3.9, FROM WHICH the funky update disks might then update to 10.4
Glad you got it running!
Here's hoping Apple sends you the right disks for future use.
