Install OS X Tiger on an iBook G4 via USB?

[EvieSigma]

I've decided to downgrade my iBook G4 from Leopard to Tiger so I can use classic mode and stuff but unfortunately like a large number of Mac laptops the optical drive is busted. I installed OS X Leopard on this thing like 2 years ago via USB but I have no idea if the methods for Leopard work for Tiger. Would the Leopard method work with Tiger or am I just going to have to go hunt down a FireWire optical drive?

This is the method for Leopard, according to a handful of websites:

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20101011105729488

 

[Dog Cow]

Use target disk mode with FireWire. I have done this to install OS X 10.4 on an iBook G4, so I know it works.

Pop the install DVD in the main Mac, then boot that Mac into target disk mode. Connect with FireWire to the iBook G4, boot the iBook, and select the DVD to boot from. It's slow, but it works and you can install this way.

All those other methods are just time-wasting nonsense.

 

[Unknown_K]

If you collect laptops I suggest you buy a cheap external USB DVD drive or look for a full size external USB+Firewire drive since firewire is faster. Both options should not bee too expensive. You can also find an external USB/Firewire enclosure that takes 5.25" drives and pop your own in.

 

[EvilCapitalist]

Absolutely pick up a Firewire drive as they are super cheap now compared to how expensive they used to be.  I've got a Sony DRX-720UL that works great and can be found for right around $30 shipped:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323619382026

Nice thing with that drive is that it's a combo FW400/USB 2.0 drive so you've got both ends covered.

 

[EvieSigma]

FireWire AND USB? Dang, I didn't even know such a thing existed!

 

[CC_333]

Yeah, they are a thing! I have one to prove it!!

Also, something I did to deal with this problem was to use an external Firewire hard drive with the Tiger DVD copied to a partition. Surprisingly, it worked perfectly, and it was *much* faster than using actual optical media (even with the mediocre hard drive I used).

c