Power Mac G4 drivers?

FAMICOMASTER

Okay, I'm new to the forums here (not necessarily the site itself, but the fact remains) but I have a very interesting question.

I have a Power Mac G4 from around 2002-ish (I think, it's second hand for free) that I would like to upgrade.
Now comes the interesting part, I have added 2 hard disk drives to the system (A Quantum Fireball 1280A and a 2GB WD Caviar of some sort) as well as some expansion cards. The Hard disks do not show up on the desktop as mounted (I think I might be able to fix this. Please try to help anyways) and the expansion card seem not to be recognized at all. I'm new to Mac OS (I consider myself a Windows expert, though) so I'm not sure what is supposed to happen. The expansion cards are a Netgear FA310X ethernet adapter (not even powered by the looks of it) and a Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 surround card (which doesn't playback audio). Both card are NOT PCI64 cards, just standard PCI cards. I read somewhere that the SB does not work in the Mac without special drivers and a specific card which has proved impossible for me to find. It's running Mac OS 9.0.4 because I can't find any blank CD-Rs to write the 9.2.2 update to, and I can't connect to the internet to download it to the system directly. I'd also like to be able to play MIDIs and MP4, FLV, WMV, etc files on this system, but I'm not sure on how to go about doing this. Onboard audio and ethernet DO work, but I don't like using them. It had a 10GB IDE main hard disk.

I'm also not too sure on how to even connect this system to the internet at all, as I'm (like I said before) very new to Mac OS (7, 8, 9, X, etc). This system doesn't appear to have any kind of automatic connect feature, and the onboard Dial-up adapter doesn't give any model number. I know it's supposed to be in TCP/IP but I can't find the <Ethernet> listing anywhere. I'd like to be able to at least connect through Ethernet, but Dial-up is perfectly acceptable if required.

Please do respond if anybody is still out there, I'd like to know that this page isn't dead yet!

Doqtor Kirby

Mac hardware is only compatible with Mac hardware. You can't just throw in anything and make it work.

garirry

Hello and welcome. Regarding your hard drives, the reason they don't mount is because they aren't formatted properly (like on Windows, it won't show up in your computer, except this time there's no sound that tells you that something has been connected). You're saying that it's running Mac OS 9, right? I'm not that advanced in the older OSes, but apparently there is an app called Disk First Aid, which lets you format. If you'll upgrade to Mac OS X, then there's an utility app called Disk Utility. Simply select the hard drive(s) and choose "Erase". You probably want to format it in "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", but it'll only work on Mac computers (you'll have to re-format if you want to use it on Windows). Regarding the expansion cards, if there's a driver for them, you just have to find them and install. Otherwise, I guess they're useless.

Once again, I don't know that much about Mac OS 9, but since you have a G4, you're better off installing Mac OS X. It's much, much, more advanced than OS 9. I recommend installing 10.4 Tiger on it (you can buy it on eBay or something or, you know, be a pirate), or if you happen to own really late models (probably if you have a Mirror Drive Door model), you can install 10.5 Leopard, which supports much more programs and is much closer esthetically to the newer systems.

TCPMeta

Laste versions of OS9 and I think OSX Panther only supports Sound Blaster Live cards and you can get the drivers from Creative's website.
The system should have ethernet and by default it should be enabled with DHCP. Just go into the TCP/IP settings to check it in the control panel section.

Setting up TCP/IP
Sound blaster howto

FAMICOMASTER

Just a quick update, I've got the hard drives working (one was on the CD chain and one had bad formatting), however I still can't get anything else to work. Is there any way I can just re-flash the BIOS on an nVidia GeForce 2 Ultra to work in the system? I can see that the SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 isn't going to work, I was just wondering if it was possible.

Only other thing is the Netgear FA310X ethernet adapter which is mac compatible, but I'm not sure how to install it. the board is installed in the system but I can't get software to install.

Last thing, I still can't get anything but Dial-Up to work on the system. I know it's in TCP/IP, but there's no 'Ethernet' listing.

EDIT: It's an early 400MHz PowerMac G4 with 64MB of RAM and a 10GB hard disk. It's also only got a CD-ROM drive. What do I do here for Mac OS X? Oh, and I have my reasons for upgrading the graphics card, my Monitor is 1280x1024 but the ATi Rage 128 Pro's measly 16MB of VRAM doesn't allow it to go high enough. I need at least 32MB.

garirry

A 400MHz model? Oh, that means it was released in 1999/2000 and it is the earliest graphite model. Well, yeah, as I said before, you should consider installing Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. If you have only a CD drive, you must find CD versions of the software (normally it's on DVD). Otherwise, you could just upgrade to a standard DVD reader if you have one (I believe it's standard IDE/MOLEX) and get the standard OS version. 10GB is enough for a Tiger install (it takes 2-5GB of space depending on additional content).

TCPMeta

Those systems can handle up to 1.5GB of ram using PC133 SDRAM.
If memory serves me right I think you can only use 256MB modules if you plan to go that route.

The video card could be flashed if there is a ROM available. Doesn't has to be the same brand but the card must have the same options and settings as the Mac card and even then it's still a gamble.

garirry

Yeah, totally forgot about the RAM. I believe it can support 512MB sticks, up to a maximum of 2GB (4x512). Apparently, Mac OS 9 doesn't recognize more than 1.5GB of RAM. Regardless, 64MB is nowhere near enough to run OS X. 256MB is "just enough" to make the system run, but I recommend 1GB, you won't need more for 10.4.

TCPMeta

I just checked they can only use 256MB PC100 or PC133 modules and up to 1.5GB. The later Digital Audio and MDD models can use 512MB modules. Since he said 400MHz then chances are its a Sawtooth model.

FAMICOMASTER

I don't want to format my OS9 drive, as it has all my iTunes music on it. The system has 244MB of RAM total because that's all I could afford to buy. I can't install OS X also because I only have a 4x CD-ROM drive and no spare DVD-ROM drives that work.

garirry

You could copy the iTunes Media folder to a USB and copy it back to the system after you install OS X. As I said before, there are versions of Tiger which are split to work on CD, you just need to search for them. Alternatively, you could get something like 10.2 Jaguar, which shipped on two CDs.

TCPMeta

Any PATA DVD drive will work for installing OSX. Just DVD video playback might be a issue. Also you can always toss in another hard drive and dualboot let alone use Classic mode in OSX if you use Tiger. Just a few options for ya.

FAMICOMASTER

More problems, I found a working DVD-ROM drive (8x ATAPI) and a 20GB Maxtor hard disk. I got myself a copy of OS X 10.0 and started it up expecting it to work...

Monitor won't show picture. I've tried multiple monitors and video cards, but I've still got nothing.

garirry

Question: Why did you get a DVD reader to install a version of OS X that came on CD? You're better off installing 10.4 Tiger, as I said. Just for confirmation, what GPUs did you try? Also, can you boot into Mac OS 9 or the whole system doesn't show anything?

TCPMeta

Not all video cards are compatible. Also depending on the copy of OSX you got make sure it's not a restore disc for a iMac or something like that.

KCompRoom2000

garirry wrote:

Question: Why did you get a DVD reader to install a version of OS X that came on CD? You're better off installing 10.4 Tiger, as I said. Just for confirmation, what GPUs did you try? Also, can you boot into Mac OS 9 or the whole system doesn't show anything?

The CD Drive in his PowerMac probably can't read burned CDs, Old CD Drives are like that, Especially the one in my Compaq Presario 2100 desktop.

The latest version this site has is OS X 10.3, Which is close enough, But it's even more of a struggle to find compatible software for that than it is for 10.4 and 10.5.

FAMICOMASTER

garirry wrote:

Question: Why did you get a DVD reader to install a version of OS X that came on CD? You're better off installing 10.4 Tiger, as I said. Just for confirmation, what GPUs did you try? Also, can you boot into Mac OS 9 or the whole system doesn't show anything?

I tried an AGP nVidia GeForce 2 Ultra with TV output, an nVidia Riva TNT-2 Vanta in two separate forms and a PCI Diamond Viper V550. The system makes the standard macintosh 'bong' or POST noise, and... nothing. The monitor shows no signal input.

I don't own a copy of 10.4, where can I get one for cheap?

I used a DVD reader because that's what was suggested.

garirry

FAMICOMASTER wrote:

garirry wrote:

Question: Why did you get a DVD reader to install a version of OS X that came on CD? You're better off installing 10.4 Tiger, as I said. Just for confirmation, what GPUs did you try? Also, can you boot into Mac OS 9 or the whole system doesn't show anything?

I tried an AGP nVidia GeForce 2 Ultra with TV output, an nVidia Riva TNT-2 Vanta in two separate forms and a PCI Diamond Viper V550. The system makes the standard macintosh 'bong' or POST noise, and... nothing. The monitor shows no signal input.

I don't own a copy of 10.4, where can I get one for cheap?

I ugsed a DVD reader because that's what was suggested.

@Graphics: I may be wrong, but I don't think these are Mac-compatible. Only those specifically designed for Mac will actually work.

@Tiger: First on eBay, then on Kijiji/Craigslist/whatever local purchase website exists. They are quite pricey though (around 40$). Make sure NOT to buy Mac-specific recovery disks, buy the retail version. You could pirate, but that's not something I will support, it's your decision though.

thinkpadman

Adding onto TCPmeta mentioned earlier, a GeForce2 card should work as long as it came from another Mac or has been flashed with the right ROM. Adding a random PC card just doesn't work. Other cards to look at could be something like a GeForce 7800 GS or an ATI Radeon X800XT based on a quick search.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-Mac-OS-X-Tiger-10-4-/271967023860?hash=item3f527f72f4 - Tiger for $5 + postage currently.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-Mac-OS-X-10-4-Tiger-Full-Retail-Install-DVD-2Z691-5305-A-/191673893983?hash=item2ca0a7845f - $10 + postage currently.

I recently bought a copy of Tiger from eBay.
Problem was it was a DVD and a lot of these G4s only came with CD-ROM, so I ended up downloading the CD version from Macintosh Garden. Back when it was released, the CD version was only available on request from Apple so not as many of these circulating around.

TCPMeta

There is a master reset button on the motherboard called the CUDA or PMU reset switch.
http://resale.headgap.com/osxnotesG4.html

I had to use this a coupe of times installing OSX or upgrading hardware on a old G3.

FAMICOMASTER

Never mind with Graphics, I've got a lower resolution monitor attached to it now, so now the problem is OS X.

I got myself a copy of OS X 10.4, but it stays at a gray screen on startup, with no Macintosh folder or other icon in the center, it's just blank gray with a slightly dark-light vertical line pattern.

10.1 doesn't install either, it only gets to a loading screen and restarts the system.

EDIT: Pressing the button on the motherboard does nothing except reset the machine to the Macintosh bong. I see no reason to continue experimenting in that area, however, as there is no problem with the system itself because I can put the ATi Rage 128 16MB AGP(Pro maybe?) and it works fine.

The system also doesn't have the specs to run OS X 10.4 as per the requirements documentation, it's telling me a 500MHz G4, 3GB, and 256MB of RAM. I've only got 244MB of non-matched RAM, 1GB of free space on this hard disk, and a 400MHz G4. Keep in mind I got this computer for free from a friend of my parents a couple years back and don't have the cash to get new parts, it cost a big chunk of my spending money for the 10.4 and 10.1 discs.

garirry

The computer unofficially runs from 128MB of RAM. The minimum specs require 300MHz G3/G4/G5 and 2GB of storage. Make sure you're holding the Alt/Option button to make sure you're booting into the disc and not booting into nothingness. Try resetting the PRAM as well (Command+Option+P+R), it might work.

FAMICOMASTER

Well, now that I've got the G4 working, is it okay if I ask for some help on my Power Mac G5 now?

I recently bought it for $13.50 (U.S.) at a local recycling center (it weighs 45lbs, jeez!) and it does indeed work, however it doesn't start up properly and the fans run at top speed from the second the system is switched on.

Mostly it sits at the Apple logo with nothing else but a loading icon at the bottom. Any ideas? I'll try re-installing Mac OS X 10.5.8 and see if that works...

garirry

Most likely the OS got corrupted or the hard drive died or has issues. Reinstall the system first, maybe it'll fix it. The fans, I don't really know what could be the issue though.

calvinb

Hold down v during startup to see where it's stuck on.

garirry

ampharos wrote:

Hold down v during startup to see where it's stuck on.

Actually, it's Command-V (Windows-V on a PC keyboard).

FAMICOMASTER

Well, at first it wouldn't recognize my OS 9.2.2 or OS X 10.2 CDs but I eventually got it to read an Ubuntu 12.04 PPC DVD, however once it gets past the white screen the monitor reports not having a signal.

Hard disk seems fine, tested in another computer and it was recognized and read and write just fine.

Ideas? Thoughts? Comments?

FAMICOMASTER

ApplePMU::CLOCK RESET! PMU WAS PROBABLY RESET SOMEHOW!!

Nice one there, Apple.

Command-V gives me a bit more help,
It seems to be halting at a line saying:

jnl: unknown-dev: journal replay done.

What does that mean and how might I fix it?

calvinb

Sounds like the disk is going bad or the install is badly damaged.

TCPMeta

A G5 wouldn't be able to run OS9 let alone OS10.2. The minimum OS version is 10.4.

You can get a better chance of a test using Apple's Open source version os OSX called Darwin.
https://opensource.apple.com/static/iso/
Get version 8.0.1

calvinb

That's not terribly useful unless you're a Darwin dev. Just use normal OS X.