possible to use Apple Mac System Restore DVD (probably asked hundred times before...)

[cobol]

Dear all,

 

this question might have been asked before, but I couldn't find any information, and probably do not understand the typically used term "retail" well enough... the point is, I am trying to set up OS X on my old Windows notebook. I have a Mac mini (bought 1.5 years ago) - and with it came a Leopard install DVD (You may call it a "system restore" DVD). Never had to use it on that Mac. However, it does not seem to me to be specified for the Mac mini only, since it reads "Only to be distributed with a Macintosh" (or sth similar - I retranslate from German to English). So, to me it seems like it is not a specified version of Leopard that would only run on the Mac mini, but a "normal" version of OS X Leopard - but should not be sold separately from the Macintosh (not as a "retail" DVD). If this is the case, I speculated that the contents of that DVD might be identical to what is typically called a "retail DVD".

However, when I tried to install Leopard on my PC, I began to try using a Boot-132 CD together with that system restore DVD, and found that I couldn't get beyond the boot screen with the grey Apple logo and spinning wheel, where the system always stopped and rebooted.

Instead, I used a Kalyway-distro now. However, I am still wondering what would be the best installation. I somehow got the notion that people suggest using the Boot-132 CD together with the original Apple Leopard DVD would be the best way to go (e.g., because - for some reason - it would simplify the system update; I suppose this is simply because the original Apple setup installs the original Apple kernel - AKA Vanilla kernel, if I understand it corretcly; can somebody please confirm if this understanding of mine is correct or not?). On the other hand, from what I understand, the central point of the non-Apple distros is that they come with different Kernels that can run on non-Apple hardware - which, of course, would not be included on the original Apple DVD (so that this DVD would not install on all possible PC hardware - as I sometimes got the impression that most people seem to think - for which reason ever...). So, now I'd like to know: can anybody tell me, whether the problem with my original "system restore" DVD is related to the Kernel necessary for my PC not being available on that DVD, or whether this DVD is uncapable to be used with the Boot-132 CD for a different reason? And, what exactly does the Kalyway distro that I used (which works perfectly) do differently from the Apple DVD when it boots? Does it automatically select a kernel that works? Does the install make use of a kernel - or is it kernel-independant? I believe that even the install must use a kernel to write to the hard drive, e.g.

 

Any clarification would be very good! Thank You for reading and help!

 

With kind regards,

Björn