startup to restore when external is not bootable

[catherine]

Dave - continuing from emails earlier ... lost all data due to unauthorized clean install (done by Apple!) on my Powerbook G4, 10.4.11, still trying to start up from something other than Mac HD so I can get my backup back. I found a "Mac OS X Upgrade DVD", will this serve as a startup disk? but when I put this disk in, it starts to/ wants to install it. I can't seem to get to Application - Disk Utility. Or I have an "iBook Mac OSX Install Disk 1". wish I could find better original.

[dnanian]

I don't quite understand why you moved to the forums from email, Catherine. Let's continue this in email, since it's not going to be of general interest.