I know there is a version of leopard for ppc,is it a separate distro just for ppc or was it included in the retail leopard dvd?

The ppc version is packed with the normal retail disc, the specs are:

General requirements
Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor
512MB of memory
DVD drive for installation
9GB of available disk space
Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
Some features require Apple's MobileMe service; fees apply.

It will not install on to a G3 as standard but I believe the is a helper app floating around that will install to macs of leaser specs but in truth it runs so slugish that you're better staying with tiger.


Regards, Image F/X

A buddy bought a mirrored doors with 10.5.6 installed,but it doesn't detect the built-in modem.No dvd came with it.I got the retail dvd iso for him to try loading fresh.It also locks up when you click on network.

I had server 10.5 on my 1gig duel, which was either the model before or just after the mirror doors, never can remember. So it will run, but as to modem that might be another matter, I can't swear to this but I think 10.5 might have stopped native (built in) modem support, but you can load the drivers your self. As to network, does it just have one ethernet or duel sockets, I seem to remember some issues about network settings that were addressed later.

Regards, Image F/X

The modem shows up in network(when it doesn't freeze) but not in about this mac under modem.When you try to dial out it says no modem installed.

The only thing you can try is to search for a modem driver and see if that helps. This is one of those things that apple changed, by the time 10.5 was introduced apple had started not supporting modems as much, lets face it most people had stopped using them and gone over to broad band. Do you have access to an older base station? When I bought my 1 gig duel the only way to get that on the net at that time (and place) was by hooking the modem to the base station then using airport to connect. It's hard thinking back 10 years ago now, it seemed very slow then, even web sites have changed today, more geared to BB than modems.

One last thought, as you have nothing to loose, why not try installing tiger and see if that cures the problems, if it does it points to drivers, if it doesn't it points to hardware.

Fresh tiger and fresh install of 10.5.6 made no difference with the modem.
The modem is different than the usual G4 modem and is mounted under the processor heatsink.It may be defective.It was previously used at a university ethernet only.
The locking up/freezing problem was fixed by replacing the video card.
The current owner connects via ethernet,he just wanted a backup in case he lost that connection.

I think you've answered your own question then, if Tiger will not work it's a hardware problem. You might find an external modem laying around somewhere that might work, they're very cheap now, but mostly un-supported.