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LeopardAssist
LeopardAssist
3.9
0.0
LeopardAssist free download for Mac

LeopardAssist

Install OS X 10.5 Leopard on some unsupported Macs.

3.9
Based on 6 user ratesRead reviews & comments

LeopardAssist overview

LeopardAssist can help in the process of installing OS X 10.5 Leopard on machines that did not meet the minimum system requirement of an 867MHz or faster processor. It achieves this by temporarily writing a script into the NVRAM of your G4-based Mac. Executed at startup, this script will temporarily force the system to report that a faster processor is installed, allowing the Leopard installer to successfully complete its minimum system requirements check.

This allows Leopard to be installed from unmodified installation media or another bootable device. LeopardAssist handles the interaction with Open Firmware, specifying the target processor speed, the number of physical processors in the system, the desired boot device and any additional startup flags to simplify the installation and configuration process.

What’s new in version 3.0

Updated on Feb 06 2014

Version 3.0:
  • Complete rewrite with numerous under-the-hood improvements and optimisations.
  • Redesigned interface and icon.
  • Limited customisation of startup options now available on G5 systems.
  • Users can now choose to start in Single User Mode and Safe Boot after restart.
  • Added automatic detection of single- and dual-processor systems.
  • Added the ability for users to specify a custom processor clock frequency.
  • Added detection for unsupported architectures and insufficient memory.
  • Added option to boot from USB where supported.
  • Reset Firmware Defaults now performs a complete Open Firmware reset on restart.
  • Improved security when handling passwords at authentication stage.
View older LeopardAssist updates

Information

License

Free

Size

1.8 MB

Downloads

94917

App requirements

  • PPC 32
  • Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
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0.0

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  • Comments

  • User Ratings

DanieleFox8970
DanieleFox8970
Jun 1 2013
2.3.3
3.0
Jun 1 2013
3.0
Version: 2.3.3
Please Help! After executing leopardassist witch checked "Verbose" the OS 10.4 on my HD don't starts anymore! On Boot there is the Apple Icon and i can hear the HD loading, but after 1 Minute the Powermac shuts down. What can i do? please help!
Charneca36
Charneca36
Jan 1 2012
2.3.3
5.0
Jan 1 2012
5.0
Version: 2.3.3
Obrigada! Funcionou. Consegui instalar o Leopard no meu iBook G4 800. Thanks!
Mbrice
Mbrice
Dec 8 2009
2.3.3
0.0
Dec 8 2009
0.0
Version: 2.3.3
The server was revoked some time ago, after I decided to back down from maintaining the project. I'm surprised this listing is even still here, but because it's lasted for so long i'll turn a copy of 2.3.3 over to MacUpdate for hosting. LeopardAssist doesn't normally have a problem with CPU upgrades, but since most of the CPU upgrades available on the market push the system past the required 867MHz barrier anyway, there's simply no need for this tool on those systems. The software was and still is only a frontend to compile and execute a shell script to be deployed into the system NVRAM at boot time, and considering just how little there is to work with in the way of faking a CPU clock speed, it's been developed to the best of my abilities. Now with the release of Snow Leopard, there's not much more that can be done to push LeopardAssist into the future.
Micg
Micg
Dec 2 2009
2.3.3
2.0
Dec 2 2009
2.0
Version: 2.3.3
Poor documentation, the Server's been down for an age. No support for CPU upgrades that is cleared out in any documentation and it did not work after many attempts. Luckily I had a Leopard compatible eMac and installed it on a FW 400 PATA drive and booted up on my G4 DA 800MHz and it runs super fast too even on the FW 400 Drive that I still use. I'm disappointed that Mac utilities for Mac OS X like LeopardAssist can be so cheesy. o_O
Macfenton
Macfenton
Jun 21 2009
2.3.3
0.0
Jun 21 2009
0.0
Version: 2.3.3
Will LeopartAssist work for an older Mac using a processor upgrade card, such as a Sonnet Crescendo PCI 1GHz? I seem to recall that it might, but am not 100% on this. I'd gladly buy a new Mac with Leopard on it IF I had the extra cash laying around, but it seems the wife AND I want to continue to eat and live indoors, for some strange inexplicable reason. Hopefully LA will fill the void. Thanks.
Bob-vicktor
Bob-vicktor
Mar 31 2009
2.3.2
0.0
Mar 31 2009
0.0
Version: 2.3.2
Obviously OSX supports multiple processors, and obviously have more processors helps things run faster, but I was wondering if anybody had any first hand experiences they could share? I have a Dual 533 Mhz G4 (digital audio) and was planning on installing 10.5 and was wondering if it would be worth it.
Astrodude18
Astrodude18
Oct 6 2008
2.3.1
0.0
Oct 6 2008
0.0
Version: 2.3.1
Would this work on installing Leopard on a non-supported computer not built by apple?
Bonbons
Bonbons
Sep 28 2008
2.2
5.0
Sep 28 2008
5.0
Version: 2.2
Used the previous version to install 10.5 on a Powerbook G4 800/1GB RAM, installation went fine, 10.5 was usable but compared to 10.4 very slow, I think that's a main problem with Leopard. And the 10.5.4 update made it slower once again. To my surprise new software from Apple needs new hardware from Apple... ;-) I saw tests were Leopard was called "much faster" than Tiger, well maybe, maybe on Intels, but on my G5 the Tiger runs faster, not to speak from the many G4s around. If youl think you can't survive without 10.5, this is the way to install it on older Macs, but if you see your Computer as a tool to get your work done or to have some fun, I think Tiger is just fine.
Mbrice
Mbrice
Aug 19 2008
2.0
0.0
Aug 19 2008
0.0
Version: 2.0
I picked up an eMac G4 and decided to do a bit of extra work on LeopardAssist. Did away with boot.txt as requested by beta testers, now writing the 867mhz script directly into the Parameter RAM. This should correct problems on many systems which previously had issues finding boot.txt on restart (a majority of cases).
Justingraziano
Justingraziano
Jul 24 2008
1.2
0.0
Jul 24 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2
A great app. Works excellent, it would be nice if there was an option to mod the OS X install DVD so that it doesn't have to be installed everytime you reinstall OS X but it's still nice.
Mbrice
Mbrice
Jul 7 2008
1.2
0.0
Jul 7 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2
Leopard sure won't speed on these older machines, although some of them have been upgraded, particularly those with aftermarket graphics cards which will allow Leopard's video acceleration. Cheers to everyone who showed support, I really do wish I could have continued working on this but unfortunately my G4, my only testing machine had a logic board failure which severely damaged the progress of the project.
Brian Kendig
Brian Kendig
Apr 3 2008
1.2
0.0
Apr 3 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2
Running Leopard on an unsupported machine still means it'll be a lot slower than Tiger because Leopard dropped support for the video acceleration in unsupported Macs, right? For example, if you put Leopard on a Sawtooth G4, the graphics will be painfully slow?
Hurz
Hurz
Mar 26 2008
1.2
0.0
Mar 26 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2
Nonetheless you ceased you business I feel its time to say a BIG THANKYOU for your effort and generosity (to share the code). Thankyou!
Mbrice
Mbrice
Mar 11 2008
1.2 DR3
0.0
Mar 11 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2 DR3
LeopardAssist's parent development group has ceased development of its entire product line, but LeopardAssist in its entirety has been open sourced and relocated to SourceForge. Full details at the former website. http://mac.profusehost.net
Lmp
Lmp
Mar 4 2008
1.2 DR3
0.0
Mar 4 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2 DR3
I get a 404 error on the download link.
Gijsraggers
Gijsraggers
Feb 3 2008
1.2 DR3
5.0
Feb 3 2008
5.0
Version: 1.2 DR3
Great. My old PowerMac G4 466 is now running Leopard. Just as smooth as Tiger.
Xypher
Xypher
Jan 10 2008
1.2 DR3
0.0
Jan 10 2008
0.0
Version: 1.2 DR3
I don't have enough memory to install Leopard. Does this bypass the Ram check also?
Which-Button-Is-The-Any-Key?
Dec 26 2007
0.0
Version: 1.1
a friggin awesome job… albeit let's hope this doesn't make the old G4 prices go up, can you say Cube running Leopard?, whoa !!
Gummibearlab
Gummibearlab
Dec 26 2007
1.1
0.0
Dec 26 2007
0.0
Version: 1.1
this app is great, now i'm running leopard on my 800mhz ibook and it's fast as tiger but with a lot of new features. Thank you!!
waryuser
waryuser
Dec 22 2007
1.0
0.0
Dec 22 2007
0.0
Version: 1.0
Apple sets minimum system requirements for a reason...
d0bbinz95
d0bbinz95
Mar 20 2015
3.5
Mar 20 2015
3.5
Version: null
DanieleFox8970
DanieleFox8970
Jun 1 2013
3.0
Jun 1 2013
3.0
Version: null
Charneca36
Charneca36
Jan 1 2012
5.0
Jan 1 2012
5.0
Version: null
Micg
Micg
Dec 2 2009
2.0
Dec 2 2009
2.0
Version: null
Bonbons
Bonbons
Sep 28 2008
5.0
Sep 28 2008
5.0
Version: null
Gijsraggers
Gijsraggers
Feb 3 2008
5.0
Feb 3 2008
5.0
Version: null
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