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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Disk spanning with the OS X DVD's

RobinS - Dec 2, 2007 - 4:20 pm

I want to make a copy of my original dual layer DVD's (10.4.5) but I don't have a dual layer DVD burner. Can I span them? I know this would be no problem if it was a video file but what about the operating system?

RobinS - Dec 2, 2007 - 4:22 pm

I tried Toast 8.0 and it told me there were several files that it didn't have access to. Is there a better program to use? How about something simple like Disk Utility I wonder? Or a Terminal command?

RobinS - Dec 2, 2007 - 4:28 pm

I know I need to get a dual layer burner......

earthsaver - Dec 2, 2007 - 5:08 pm

You can try asking the super user to open Toast, giving it administrative permission. Use the command: sudo open path/to/Toast \Titanium.app

But once you get there, what's the use in splitting the DVD in two unless you have a way of ensuring that they will be usable? Is that not your intent?

Also, Tiger's DVD wasn't dual-layer, though Leopard's is. The only other consumer product from Apple that was ondual-layer, afaik, was iLife '06. I don't think anyone has yet posted a solution to split the Leopard DVD into single-layer DVDs or into CDs, as was offered for the Panther CDs to DVD and I think the Tiger DVD to CDs.

But if backup is your only desire, this should help.

- Ben

RobinS - Dec 2, 2007 - 9:19 pm

Lol.....yep - that's the rub. I have no idea if it will be usable. Hence my query here. With so many people making a copy of their original DVD's so they don't get wrecked, I guess they're using the Copy command in Disk Utility or Toast and just using a dual layer burner.

One of my Tiger 10.4.5 DVD's (there are 2 in total from the Intel 1.5ghz Mini) is over 7 gb's. My Tiger 10.4.1 DVD that came with the G4 1.25ghz MIni is about 4 gb.

Have you heard of people loading OS X (10.4 or 10.5) from an external hard drive? That would be a lot easier!

earthsaver - Dec 2, 2007 - 10:33 pm

Leopard is the first version that makes it easy to install from an external drive. That's what I've been doing. It's quite simple. With a partition that's 7 GB or larger, open Disk Utility, click the Restore tab, and select your Leopard DVD as the source and the partition as the destination. Restore away and you're done. Startup from that partition to install.

RobinS - Dec 3, 2007 - 1:11 am

Wow - that sounds fabulous. Thanks.

RobinS - Dec 3, 2007 - 9:22 pm

So its not possible to do this with 10.4? (Installing from a hard drive?) What about copying the contents of the 2 DVD's to my G4 Mini and using that in the firewire TDM?

earthsaver - Dec 4, 2007 - 12:23 am

Sure. You'd end up having to open the OSInstall.mpkg in System/Installation/Packages/ to install on the TDMed Mac. But it sounds to me like creating CD/DVD Master disk images of the DVDs on your G4 wouldn't be so smart unless you were intending to install Tiger on some other machine.

RobinS - Dec 4, 2007 - 12:55 pm

DVD discs are a hassle, noisy and slow. If I can reinstall the OS quickly, I can try all kinds of neat things without worrying that the reinstall process taking an hour. How fast should it be from an external hard drive? Or I could clone it? Would that be better?

earthsaver - Dec 4, 2007 - 5:24 pm

Right. But you're talking about reinstalling Tiger on the G4, right? If so, you don't want the installation packages on the same computer. I don't know about setup, though, of two DVDs, your original system restore discs, compared to having one OS install disc and another one containing additional software. MIght help to know the actual contents of the discs.

When I've installed Leopard off an external drive, it's taken about 15 minutes to archive and install and an average of 15 minutes to restore archived data.

RobinS - Dec 4, 2007 - 8:34 pm

Yes - reinstalling on the G4. Later on the Intel Mini. On disc 1:
Apple Hardware Test Read Me
Applications
etc
Install Bundled Software Only
Install Mac OS X and Bundled Software
Japanese - 日本語
Library
Optional Installs
Read Before You Install
System
tmp
var
Welcome to Tiger

On DVD 2 its just one file:
Installing Mac OS X and Applications
Its a text file. When I open it:
{\rtf1\mac\ansicpg10000\cocoartf824\cocoasubrtf230
{\fonttbl\f0\fnil\fcharset77 LucidaGrande;\f1\fnil\fcharset77 LucidaGrande-Bold;\f2\fswiss\fcharset77 Helvetica;
}
{\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;}
\margl1440\margr1440\vieww9980\viewh15680\viewkind0
\pard\tx7319\ql\qnatural

\f0\fs80 \cf0 \'f0
\fs40 \
\

\f1\b Installing Mac OS X and Applications\
\
\pard\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\tx5040\tx5760\tx6480\tx 7200\tx7920\tx8640\q l\qnatural

\f0\b0\fs22 \cf0 To install Mac OS X and the applications that came with your computer, use the Mac OS X Install Disc 1. Double-click "Install Mac OS X and Bundled Software" and follow the onscreen instructions.\
\pard\ql\qnatural
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\tx5040\tx5760\tx6480\tx 7200\tx7920\tx8640\q l\qnatural

\f2\fs24 \cf0 \
\pard\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\tx5040\tx5760\tx6480\tx 7200\tx7920\tx8640\q l\qnatural

\f0\fs18 \cf0 \'a9 2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. \
\pard\ql\qnatural
\cf0 \
}
Xcode Tools

RobinS - Dec 4, 2007 - 8:38 pm

DVD 1 is a 4.73 gb disc with 149.3 mb available.
DVD 2 is about 7 gb. There's some demo iWork software and others on there I guess.

earthsaver - Dec 6, 2007 - 12:09 am

Sorry, Robin. I've lost focus on your question. I'm going to reopen it for another tech to address.

TechSupport - Dec 9, 2007 - 12:10 am

We apologize for not being able to resolve the issue you asked of us. It is the absolute worst case scenario for us to do this. In our review of why this happens, it generally is related to either the particular issue being addressed or frequently, incomplete or incorrect information provided. We hope by moving your request to the public forums that you will be able to get a solution without leaving you empty handed.

Your ticket has been closed with our support team. Your request has just been posted to Mac OS X System & Mac Software and is available for your viewing at:

http://macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296999

Again, thank you for using Macosx.com. We hope you will consider using us again in the future.