G4 Mini going to OSX after linux

[netfreak]

According to my research, the G4 Mini requires 10.4. At this point I'm not sure if I'll bother with that or just get linux back on there. Seems that whichever method I choose I'll have to rip the case apart and pull the HD. I tried hooking the system up to my G3 using firewire but all that accomplished was making the G3 lag out and do nothing. Probably doesn't help that I can't seem to get the Mini in disk mode or anything else. I'm using a logitech keyboard which seemed to work before when I needed to get into OF, but not since I did the original linux install.

 

[Mars478]

PowerPCs do boot from USB. I have used an external DVD Drive and they all have booted perfectlty.

 

[protocol7]

While you're trying out stuff, you could also give the hacked AmigOS 4.0 install CD that works on the G4 Mac Mini a go. See how well it works. I got it off your server so you should have it in the backup you did.

 

[netfreak]

While you're trying out stuff, you could also give the hacked AmigOS 4.0 install CD that works on the G4 Mac Mini a go. See how well it works. I got it off your server so you should have it in the backup you did.

Hah, no idea I had anything like that. Yeah I've actually got the original drive with all the files here at my place so I could put it in one of my local servers to check it out. I was thinking OSX for a couple specific reasons, one of which was iPhone development.

 

[protocol7]

There's some issues with it due to hardware incompatibilities (I think it's based off the SAM440ep install disc), but it'd be fun to at least get some form of AmigaOS4 running on a Mac

Here's a snippet from the readme:

The knows issues with the Moana loader are:
* Displays image that USB stack has not been loaded (USB keyboards and mice work)

* Doesn't detect the Mac Mini built-in Ethernet

* Doesn't detect the Mac Mini AirPort Extreme card

* Doesn't detect the Mac Mini Bluetooth device

* Probably a lot more I've not come across yet!

Testing has been performed with a Mac Mini G4 with the following specs:

Model Name: Mac mini

Model Identifier: PowerMac10,2

Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)

 

[johnklos]

PowerPCs will boot from USB:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060301112336384

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20061017084322177

You can also use another Mac in Firewire target mode.

 

[netfreak]

PowerPCs will boot from USB:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060301112336384

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20061017084322177

You can also use another Mac in Firewire target mode.

That second link looks promising if the guy got his G4 to USB boot. Problem is I can't run that app since I don't have any OSX machines. I might try raw writing the dvd image of the 10.4 install onto a USB drive using one of my linux file servers and trying to boot off that.... Maybe by this weekend I'll try it.

 

[theartesians]

Your cd drive's entry in the of device tree has just been messed up. To zap the PRAM in this situation on a ppc mini, unplug it from the wall socket. Then, holding the power button on the back of the mini, plug it back into the wall socket, then release the button. It should restart. If it doesn't, just hit the button again.. You can now use the c-key or option key steps.

 

[netfreak]

It actually turns out that my boot media is all junk. I decided to pop the Debian Linux boot cd I used two years ago and it went right into the boot menu. I've got new media coming down the wire right now, as another working boot CD I found simply kernel panics during boot. I may even have to pull a miracle out my posterior and somehow get the bootable info from the broken CD over to my non-booting DVD...

 

[johnklos]

It actually turns out that my boot media is all junk. I decided to pop the Debian Linux boot cd I used two years ago and it went right into the boot menu. I've got new media coming down the wire right now, as another working boot CD I found simply kernel panics during boot. I may even have to pull a miracle out my posterior and somehow get the bootable info from the broken CD over to my non-booting DVD...

Burn at the slowest speed possible to make media which will be most usable. Some cheap media or low powered drives (such as laptop drives, like in a mini) aren't good at high speeds.

 

[QuadSix50]

It actually turns out that my boot media is all junk. I decided to pop the Debian Linux boot cd I used two years ago and it went right into the boot menu. I've got new media coming down the wire right now, as another working boot CD I found simply kernel panics during boot. I may even have to pull a miracle out my posterior and somehow get the bootable info from the broken CD over to my non-booting DVD...

Burn at the slowest speed possible to make media which will be most usable. Some cheap media or low powered drives (such as laptop drives, like in a mini) aren't good at high speeds.

I second this. Especially with Ubuntu, I've only had luck when burning at the lowest speed (even the next to lowest speed if I don't feel like waiting that long).

 

[netfreak]

I'm impatient so I burned at 8x which is the fastest my burner does (and my media is rated at). It all worked out, and I've got 10.4.11 running on my Mini now. The last image I got worked out doing a raw burn in MagicISO despite the program telling me it was non-bootable when I analyzed it. Now I just need to figure out where to put the damn thing since my desk space right now is packed.

 

[netfreak]

I'll also mention that the whole problem with me unable to get into Open Firmware might have to do with the fact that the computer doesn't understand the keyboard properly. Even now in OSX, the Alt/Command key doesn't actually work as the Command key despite it even being labeled as such on the keyboard. Oh well...

 

[protocol7]

Just to harp back onto the Amiga for a sec, MorphOS now officially supports the G4 Mac Mini. You can download a trial version of the OS from here. And here's instructions on how to set up a dual-boot.

 

[netfreak]

Just to harp back onto the Amiga for a sec, MorphOS now officially supports the G4 Mac Mini. You can download a trial version of the OS from here. And here's instructions on how to set up a dual-boot.

Neat, but beyond my interest. I'm using the Mini specifically for processing audio recorded on my G3 and for doing loops.