Installation media or image for Powerbook 540c with PPC upgrade

[NICfly]

Hi,

I´m a proud owner of an Apple Powerbook 540c with PPC processor upgrade (100 MHz).

The installed OS is 7.5.5 and not native to the Powerbook 540, so it´s not recognised as a 540 from battery utilities like Lind BU 500 or EMMpathy 2.0. I tried to fix this by installing another image with several floppy install disks like 7.1.1 for the Powerbook 500, but none worked so far. Either, I get a "X" floppy icon and the floppy ejects or a message that the installation is not suitable for this Macintosh.

Is there a way to install OS 7.5.x or similar like 8.x with PPC support for a Powerbook 500 on a blank BlueSCSI hard drive? Are there any images available somewhere?

I found this: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/ma...rpc-upgrade-the-powerbook-500-series-computer

Unfortunately, this image is only an upgrade package for existing installations. I need a PPC image or installation media for a fresh installation on an empty drive.

Thanks in advance

Best regards,
NICfly

 

[MacUp72]

nice machine..maybe it's necessary to install an enabler or other special software for the support of PPC, like for the Powerbook 1400 with a NuPowr G3 upgrade?
I would load this CD image to the BlueScsi card and give it a shot..Bruce did a good job here for the steps.

 

[finkmac]

you'd just want a generic 7.5.5 CD image.
The PowerPC upgrade card didn't come with an OS, it just came with a driver disk I believe.

 

[NICfly]

My main goal is to run Lind BU 500 to repair my battery.
I now installed OS 7.5.3 from the link in Bruce’s video, but it still don't recognize it as a PB 540c.

 

[Fizzbinn]

With the PPC upgrade card I think the Gestalt ID might change. The programers of that Lind utility maybe didn't account for that?

You should be able to use this to override Gestalt ID so your 540c PPC show up to the system as a standard 540c:

https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-identifier-v22

 

[finkmac]

pretty sure all powerbook 500s use the same gestalt? 72 i believe.

 

[Fizzbinn]

Pulled mine out to check

PB 540c w/PPC Upgrade - Gestalt ID 126:



PB 540c w/Stock CPU - Gestalt ID 72:

 

[Fizzbinn]

you'd just want a generic 7.5.5 CD image.
The PowerPC upgrade card didn't come with an OS, it just came with a driver disk I believe.

I have the NewerTeck 117MHz PPC upgrade (that comes with 8MB RAM) not the Apple original but I found this on Macintosh Garden:

https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/macintosh-powerbook-powerpc-upgrade-the-powerbook-500-series-computer

which appears to be a CD that Apple shipped with their PB 500 Series PPC upgrade. That's what's installed on the Machine in the first image above.

...oh wait that is the same one you found in your first post! Ugh, I thought I did a clean install using that, I guess it might have been an upgrade though...

 

[MacUp72]

do you still have the original 68LC040 daughter board? If yes, I would swap it back into the 540c and boot from it. When everything looks fine, do the upgrade and after that swap the PPC back in. And as the last step install that battery software.

 

[mikes-macs]

I agree with @MacUp72 or try this.

Wish I were... v2.0

 

[NICfly]

Well, it worked with „Wish I Were“. I set it to PowerBook 540c Gestalt ID 72. I think Lind BU don’t recognize the PPC Gestalt ID 126 as a PowerBook 5x0. The battery EMM is now reset but the cells a unfortunately dead. Thank you for your help!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

LIND's utility must have released before the 500/PPC did in 1995. It probably won't launch without WishIWere on a PowerBook 550c either.