Mac OS X 10.2.3: Read Before You Install

This document contains the contents of the Read Before You Install PDF file contained on the Mac OS X 10.2.3 DVD included with the iMac (17-inch 1 GHz), PowerBook G4 (12-inch), PowerBook G4 (17-inch), and Power Macintosh G4 (FW 800) computers.
Read Before You Install

Use the Software Install and Restore DVD that came with your computer to install Mac OS X, Classic Support, or the applications that came with your computer. You can also use the DVD to restore your computer to its original factory settings.

If installing software onto a portable computer, it is advisable that your system be powered by the power adapter during the process to ensure an uninterrupted installation. If you need to restore the computer to original factory settings, back up all essential files prior to beginning the installation.

To install Mac OS X


To continue restoring your computer to the original factory settings, follow the below instructions below for installing Classic Support and applications.

Note: To run Mac OS 9 applications in the Mac OS X Classic environment, you will need to reinstall Classic Support. See the instructions below for installing Classic Support. To install Classic Support or the applications that came with your computer.


To restore the computer to the original factory settings, select Restore All.

Note: iCal, iPhoto, iTunes, iChat, and iMovie are part of Mac OS X. To install them, you must follow the instructions for installing Mac OS X.

Quitting the Installer

If you need to quit the Installer before the installation process is complete, choose Quit from the Installer menu and click Restart, then hold down the mouse or trackpad button to eject the Software Install and Restore DVD. You may be able to eject the DVD by pressing the eject button on a tray-loading optical drive or the Media Eject key on the keyboard. Your computer restarts using your current startup disk.

Note: If you have already clicked Upgrade or Install, wait until installation finishes. Erasing and formatting your disk

When you install Mac OS X, you can erase the destination disk. In the "Select a Destination" pane of the Installer, click the Options button. Select Erase and Install and then choose a format. In most cases, choose Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus).

You can also divide your hard disk into several partitions before you install Mac OS X. In the Installer menu, choose Open Disk Utility and click Partition. Partitioning the disk erases the entire hard disk, so be sure to back up your files first. To install Classic Support or the applications that came with your computer onto a specific partition, the partition must contain Mac OS X. You must start up the computer from that partition and then run the installation process.

Important: Do not choose UNIX File System (UFS) as the format for the destination disk unless you need to work with this format. If you choose UNIX File System, you must install Mac OS X, Classic Support and your Mac OS 9 applications on a Mac OS Extended format disk to use them with the Classic environment.

Upgrading your applications and other software

Use Software Update to download and install the latest software versions, drivers, and other enhancements from Apple. If you are connected to the Internet, Software Update automatically alerts you when an update is available. You can also check for updates manually by choosing System Preferences from the Apple menu and then clicking Software Update.

For best results with Mac OS X, upgrade your applications to versions that are built for Mac OS X. Check the Mac OS X website for information about available Mac OS X applications:


You should also check with developers for the latest versions of your applications.

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107073 Mac OS X 10.2: Read Before Restoring Your Computer's Software

Published Date: Oct 10, 2016