LeopardAssist 2.3.2 is a service release. It corrects a minor problem when booting from CD/DVD devices where the system would be dropped into Open Firmware (a separate issue from those corrected in 2.3.1). However being a service release and the last release in the LeopardAssist 2 series, we can only offer limited support and recommend users research before running this product- while the greatest care has been taken in testing we can not ensure results on your particular configuration.
When Apple released the final system requirements for Mac OS X Leopard, an official cutoff point of 867mhz was introduced leaving several machines, even those just 67mhz below and with dual processors, out in the cold. For these machines Tiger was the only option, until the community was let at it. For those with the time, discs and effort, you could modify the disc. For everyone else, there was Open Firmware, or LeopardAssist.
LeopardAssist originated from LowEndMac in Dylan McDermond's December 6th 2007 post "Faking Out the Leopard Installer with Open Firmware". The simple techniques he used in that article became the basis for the techniques we implemented into LeopardAssist.
The application writes a script into your computers Parameter RAM (PRAM) changing the CPU entry in the device tree to 867mhz. On restart, Open Firmware loads as normal with the 867mhz script in place, switches to CD or DVD and boots from it, where the Leopard installer takes over.
This simple trick means you don't have to modify your DVD to install Leopard. Finally, when installation is done, the Leopard installer will automatically restore the default boot drive and return your Mac to normal operation.
Quick and Simple Leopard, for your older G4.
System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.3 or Later (For LeopardAssist)
- 512mb RAM
- DVD Drive for Installation
- 9GB available hard disk space
- Quartz Extreme capable graphics card required for Core Animation + Time Machine
Compatibility Table
| Tested Working | Uncertain | Does Not Work | Power Mac |
|---|---|---|
|
AGP Graphics (Sawtooth) Gigabit Ethernet (Mystic) Cube (Trinity) Digital Audio (Clockwork) Quicksilver 2001 (Titan) Quicksilver 2002 (Nichrome) |
PCI Graphics (Yikes!) | iMac |
|
Flat Panel 17 Inch Early 2003 |
PowerBook | |
|
Gigabit Ethernet (Onyx) First Rev G4 (Mercury) DVI (Ivory) |
iBook | |
| First Rev G4 | eMac | |
|
First Rev ATI Graphics |
To repeat the above section "Requirements", systems equipped with G3 Processors are not supported by Leopard at the core level. Early PCI Graphics G4 towers (Yikes!) are also not supported by Mac OS X Leopard without some major work, although it is possible as seen in this forum thread on MacRumors.
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Version 2.3.2
This minor release tweaks the commands used to boot from CD/DVD in the boot device selection screen, potentially solving problems on some machines where startup will drop the Mac into open firmware (requiring the user to type "mac-boot").
Screenshots
