Mac OS X 10.2 was released by Apple in 2002. Ten years later, in the summer of 2012, Apple discontinued Software Update for Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier. (Panther users got less than 9 years…) Users of Mac OS X 10.2 are therefor on their own when they want to re-install Jaguar on a supported (by Mac OS X) yet by Apple discontinued (hence unsupported) PowerPC-based Mac.
According Apple the required updates will still be available for download on Apples Support site, but to find which updates are applicable is hard work.
According Apple the required updates will still be available for download on Apples Support site, but to find which updates are applicable is hard work.
For the very few who may want to re-install Mac OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar on a Power Mac (or inside PearPC, which was slow on PCs back in 2004) I wrote down the list of updates an original Mac OS X 10.2 release was receiving using Software Update back in 2011.
Mac OS X 10.2 updates
This list of updates is in the order it was presented in Software Update on a Power Mac G4 Quicksilver (original model, 2001). Apple’s software update chart doesn’t include all of them; other Mac models may include additional (model specific) updates:
- 10.2.8 Update Combo (2003-10-01)
- QuickTime 6.3 (2003-05-28)
- Safari 1.0 (2003-06-18)
- iCal 1.5.5 (2004-12-03)
- Bluetooth Software 1.3.3 (2003-11-10)
- Java Update 1.4.1 Update 1 (2003-11-14)
- QuickTime 6.5.3 (2005-10-11)
- Safari 1.0.3 Update (2004-08-02)
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 Security Update 2004-04-24 (2004-04-20)
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 Security Update 2004-06-07
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 Security Update 2004-09-16
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 Security Update 2004-09-30
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 Security Update 2005-001
- QuickTime 6.4 Update for Java 2.0
- Safari Security Update 2003-12-05
- iPod Driver (for iTunes) 3.1 (2005-01-06)
- iPod Updater 2006-01-10
- iPod Updater 2006-06-28
- iSync 1.5
- iSync Security Update 2005-004
Nov 14, 2007 - Download icon. Mac OS X Update Combo 10.2.8. Dual processor Power Mac G4 desktop systems and an update to the battery status menu. OS X Puma Beta was the next update to Mac OS X. This time around, Apple focused on improving performance and removing bugs. Overall, it was a much more refined operating system compared to Cheetah and Windows XP. The files are compressed in 7z file format.
Depending on the specific Mac model these updates may also be applicable:
- 10.2.8 (G5) Update (2003-10-03)
- NVidia FCode flasher 1.1 (2004-03-15)
- Graphics Driver Update 1.0 (2004-02-09)
Additionally I found these updates, which were not included by Software Update:
- Bluetooth Update 1.3.4 (2004-02-17)
- Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) Client Update 1.2.4 (2003-12-16)
- CHUD Tools 3.5.2 (2004-06-22)
- iTunes 6.0.5 (2006-06-29)
Since this list is for a Power Mac G4 Quicksilver (which has an nVidia graphics card installed), ATI specific updates will be missing.
I did not link the specified updates to the respective download site, because Apple, as it has done in the past, changes link addresses from time to time and sadly Apple does not provide permalinks. Since now you have a list what to look for you should be able to find all of these updates at Apple Support by using the search function.
Mac OS X Server
Someone at Green Building Concepts made a similar list for Mac OS X 10.2 Server.
Continued use of Mac OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar
Well, to be honest, most PowerPC applications require Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. I highly recommend using Mac OS X 10.4.11 Tiger on every Power Macintosh that supports it. It may be possible to get Tiger installed on officially unsupported Macs using XPostFacto.
However, some useful applications do run on Mac OS X 10.2.8:
- possibly bundled iLife
- possibly bundled AppleWorks 6.2.9
- Adobe Reader 7.1.4†
- BootCD 0.5.4
- Carbon Copy Cloner 2.3 (2003-10-22)
- Cinebench 8.1 (2003-02-27)
- Disc Burner 1.15
- Little Snitch 1.2.4 (2007-01-12) free license
- Microsoft Office:mac 2004 11.6.6†
- Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client 1.0.3 (2004-10-12)
- Microsoft Virtual PC 7.0.3 (not on a G5)
- OnyX 1.3.1 (2006-05-17)
- Opera 8.54 (2007-03-29)†
- Opera 9.64 (2009-03-02)† officially requires Mac OS X 10.3, but it also runs on Jaguar
- StuffIt Expander 8.0.2
- Video LAN Client (VLC) Media Player 0.8.4a (2005-12-12)†
- Xfolders 0.5.1 (2003-09-02)
- Zippist 1.2 (2004-09-26)
†Security warning! These applications contain unfixed security holes! Opening files of unknown origin (like off the internet) is dangerous and represents a security hazard!
A lot of good applications require at least Mac OS X 10.3.9 Panther, most updated versions require at least Mac OS X 10.4.11 Tiger, some even Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard. Still, Mac OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar is good enough for Microsoft Office:mac 2004, which is a very good office application, while at the same time it feels like a voyage through time. The usual PowerPC Mac applications are missing. Older versions of these applications are often either carbonized Mac OS 8/9 applications or they are outdated and contain severe security related bugs, like internet browsers such as Camino, PDF viewers/editors like Adobe Acrobat and even office suites like Microsoft Office (the last security fix for Office:mac 2004 is from December 2011).
Hardware compatibility
The latest Macs that officially run Jaguar (latest models require at least 10.2.7) are:
- Power Mac G5: only original (2003) with special 10.2.7 installation media
- Power Mac G4: all models including the Cube
- iMac: up to 2003 model (without USB 2.0)
- eMac: up to 2003 model (without USB 2.0)
- PowerBook: up to 2003 model (PowerBook5,3 and PowerBook 6,2)
- iBook G3: all models (but none of the iBook G4 models)
- Power Mac G3: all models
- Power Macintosh G3: all models
Unofficial support when restoring a backup of 10.2.8:
- Mac mini G4: runs, but no video acceleration, no audio, no WiFi – lack of driver?
- most likely all PowerBooks
- possibly all iBook G4s, maybe with some functions not working (e.g. audio)
Enjoy!
1 1 like 11,349 views Last modified Feb 27, 2016 2:35 PM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1395 explains which Macs may have difficulty upgrading to 10.2 or later without the proper firmware installed first. This is part of a series of tips for updating PowerPC Macs to Mac OS X 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5.
I have not written a tip on Puma Mac OS X 10.1 or 10.0, however, if you have reasons to keep those systems, this thread is an excellent place to check for resources:
This is part of a series of tips from 10.2 through 10.11 (10.6 through 10.11 not mentioned above links as 10.5.8 is the end of the line for all Macs with 10.2 that support up to 10.5.8), which all refer to Mac OS X Client. The server version of Mac OS X may have different requirements in which the Server forum is better able to answer.
How to find the download links for these firmware updates are mentioned on this tip.
Beige G3 PowerMacs maxed at Mac OS X 10.2.8
Powerbook G3 233-300 Mhz that were not of the Kanga model also maxed at Mac OS X 10.2.8
iMacs and iBooks, Powerbooks without Firewire but with USB maxed at Mac OS X 10.3.9 (except some Powerbooks which had a problematic CPU).
Firewire based iMacs G3s, iBooks, Powerbooks with Firewire, G4s with less than 867 Mhz on a single processor, Blue and White G3s Maxed at Mac OS X 10.4.11.
Starting with Mac OS X 10.5, you had no Classic support, but this article explains which Macs could dual boot Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X 10.5:
All PowerPC 867 Mhz and above on a single processor could run up to Mac OS X 10.5.8, and sync with iOS 5.1.1 and earlier. The Intel CPU was required to run a newer Mac OS X.
Note: Mac OS X versions beta, 10.0.0, 10.0.1, 10.0.2, 10.0.3, 10.0.4, 10.1, 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.3, 10.1.4, and 10.1.5 are not covered by my series of tips. Very few Mac OS X titles were only developed for these operating systems. All Macs that support Mac OS X, support a minimum of 10.2 as long as the firmware is updated, except those Macs that are newer than its release on August 24, 2002. Retail releases of December 19, 2002 of 10.2.3, also supported Macs that were older. Retail discs of 10.2 and 10.2.3 had this label, and did not say Upgrade or Dropin or OEM on them. System specific discs for 10.2 were required for newer Macs that needed to run 10.2, that were older than 10.3's release of October 24, 2003. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2191 to determine which Mac OS 9 can be installed first, and then install the retail version newer than what shipped with the Mac. Use the guides below to compare with the HT2191 to accurately determine which 9 may be needed. Note: Mac OS 9 retail shipped in the sequence of versions 9.0, 9.0.4, 9.1, 9.2.1, and has an orange 9 logo on a white CD, not saying Update, Dropin, or OEM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1362 - how to identify your iMac
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3065 - how to identify your Powerbook G4
- note the only Powerbook G3 that needed a firmware update has a firewire port, which looks like this on the rear panel:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3065 - how to identify your Powerbook G4
- note the only Powerbook G3 that needed a firmware update has a firewire port, which looks like this on the rear panel:
, and as you can see all shipped with 9.0.2, meaning either 9.0.4, 9.1, or 9.2.1 retail will work with them.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1772 - how to identify your iBook
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3082 and http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25585 - how to identify your PowerMac G4
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3082 and http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25585 - how to identify your PowerMac G4
Sometimes 'C' key booting will fail with these 9 CDs, and instead the startup manager described in this article lets you boot the 9 CD.
However, instead of selecting the hardware test, you select the 9 CD icon that shows up. Lastly if a Mac was formerly formatted for Mac OS X, it may not be able to have 9 bootable installed without first erasing and reformatting the Mac, following these instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/TA26834
Naturally you must backup your data first before erasing the machine, if you have any hope of recovery. Once you have upgraded the firmware, see if your Mac is compatible with 10.3 or later, as this tip gives you your possible upgrade paths: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2139