If anyone can help me, may you win the lottery!!!

Ok, so my wife's IBook G4 HD will not mount and I'm trying to install and boot Mac OS from a External HDD
Basically I have an External HD and have connected via USB 2.0 and ran Disc Utilty. Had to erase the External to reformat, so it would be recognized by Disc Utility.I leave Disc Utility to proceed with installation via the master Cd and at destination option I keep getting an error that I cannot install Mac OS with this volume. I tried to Partition the Exteranl HD but there is no option button in the partitions tab to pick GUID, only partitions as Apple Scheme and I think this is why it's not allowing for me to move forward.

What else can I do to save the data?

This will get moved to the Mac forum, but...

Did you boot from the install DVD? Are you saying that, after booting from the install DVD you can't install the OS on your external drive?

Anyway, this is what you should be able to do:

In Disk Utility, choose the external drive in the left pane and choose Partition in the right pane. Then choose the number of partitions, choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the drop-down box, then, underneath the partition map, click the "Options" button. You should be able to choose "GUID Partition Table" here.

Is this what you did?

Moving to MacHelp, as suggested by groon

Didn't know about the Machelp section...thanks for the move...

So GROON...this is the whole problem...there is no option tab in Disc Utility to select GUID Partition...seriously..actually even says No Options...I installed the MAC OS from the Boot Disc as the External HDD was available in destination, but when I boot holding option...not there! It is there in Network Startup, but just goes to "question mark folder" and switches back to the Internal HD.

I have no joke, been messing with this since the first day of my post...about to give up and go to an Apple Store, but they are trying to get $500 from me..damn!



Quick update: Had to use a Firewire to install the MAC OS on External HDD, but still no External HDD showing up to boot Mac OS

Here are a couple of screens showing what I see, before and after clicking the "Options" tab. You have to actively choose at least 1 partition in the Volume Scheme drop-down list before Options becomes clickable. And, this is 10.5 Leopard.

OR>>>>>>> Read what it says about Intel only in the screenshot. An iBook G4 isn't Intel, it's PPC.

Thanks you guys for all the help on this one...especially Groon ....thought I'd give a final report....the Internal drive was unmounted when I made the DMG and so it's "corrupted" and cannot be restored...have to send off to a data recover center....might wait a year or two on this to see if prices come down as it's just photos for memory and not a NOW kinda thing....peace out guys!!

Thanks again!!!!

If it's photos, you might try this. Can't hurt.
PhotoRescue

Groon...I can't F'n believe it man...it WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude, I don't know how to say thank you enough, you saved me soooo much $$$$ and sooo much time...

GROON IS THE BEST!!!!

Groon is the man