Re - installing / restoring Max OS X 10.5.8 Leopard

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Level 1

7 points

Re - installing / restoring Max OS X 10.5.8 Leopard

I have this retro PPC iMac G5 with OS X Leopard installed .

I'd like to re-install the OS or more preferably restore the current installed system to a new, faster hard disk .

Now, I'm no expert in this ... so please, be as precise and simple as possible .

I have tools such as SuperDuper and Carbon Copy Cloner in order to back up the system, but I don't know how to do the restoration for I have no working CD - / DVD - drive on this machine .

Is it possible to boot from e.g. usb-flash drive ? if so, what kind of soft would I need on the (bootable) usb-drive ?

I have an external WD 500GB usb - hdd, which I could use as the location for the backup, but still I'd need something to boot off .

I have a bootable ISO - file of 10.5, but yet again I have no working DVD - drive and neither do I have a blank DL DVD - disc . I do have a usb - CD / DVD - drive, but that won't help matters .

I also have a PPC G4 ; Could that one be used for the installation as in firewire target mode .

Finally ... how much of extra performance would I gain installing a faster HDD ?

I'm about to go one these, most likely the Kingston ...

https://www.kingston.com/en/ssd/a400-solid-state-drive

https://shop.sandisk.com/products/ssd/internal-ssd/wd-green-sata-2-5-ssd?sku=WDS240G3G0A-00BJG0

Yes, I know they're 2.5", but I'm about to put some stuffing in . (((:::

Now tell me, are these SSDs compatible with the iMac .

/ T .

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Mar 9, 2025 12:15 PM

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Answer 1

g_wolfman

Level 4

3,472 points

Mar 9, 2025 3:10 PM in response to Tonza72

The iMac G5 had a SATA HDD, so a SATA SSD ought to be compatible if properly formatted.

If you have an enclosure or HDD/SSD docking station, you ought to be able to just clone the current HDD directly to the SSD - and CCC or SuperDuper! both ought to be able to properly format the SSD if needed for the right PPC supporting configuration. If you don't, consider getting one

If that is possible, then the SSD should be in a state where you just swap ought the current hard drive for the SSD and then boot up immediately.

That all said, I would recommend looking here for both purchase considerations, and for "how to" videos: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-g5/2004-2006

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