The TAM and OS X

[quantumii]

I have just gotten me a TAM, and on Wikipedia it stated that you can run OS X with a G3 upgrade and xpostfacto 4 but with some limitations.

Question is: Is it actually possible to run OS X on a TAM? What are the mentioned limitations? and, did someone here already try it?

I remember somewhere that I saw someone say that OS X will screw up the TAM permanently. That sounds a little weird to me... What do you think?

 

[PowerPup]

Congrats on getting your TAM!

After looking around online for a bit the only thing I can determine is that WITH the G3 upgrade you might be able to get Mac OS X 10.1 installed. And even then there would be issues. One owner mentioned not being able to adjust the backlight. (Note: all info I've found only mentions using xpostfacto 3.x.)

XPostFacto Compatibility: According to this it's a work in progress. (But who knows when that was last updated.)

http://forum.macsales.com/viewtopic.php?t=1089

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/OSX/rempel_interview.html

Not sure if it would exactly break anything. My guess the highest you could get would be 10.2, maybe 10.3. But there would probably be kernel panics and non-existing driver issues.

I would recommend using OS 9 forever and installing 9.2.2 on it. The TAM is supported!

 

[quantumii]

Yes, I will be using OS 9 on it. I just wanted to know some details around this. More knowledge is always good

 

[protocol7]

You can also install BeOS on a TAM.

 

[alk]

The TAM will run OS X up to 10.2 (or 10.3 if you recompile the kernel), but the G3 upgrade will not be active. It is best to remove the L2 G3 upgrade and replace it with a fat L2 cache module.

Peace,

Drew

 

[quantumii]

Thanks for all the useful information. I will run OS 9 on the machine, but I will save this information in case I decide to experiment with OS X on it.

It should also be able to boot Linux, maybe?

 

[basalgangster]

Drew,

Recompile the kernel? I can recompile the OS X kernel? How do I do that?

 

[alk]

Directions for 10.4 on 604. Enjoy.

http://www.jump-ing.com/?de/Projekte/Tiger_auf_7600

Peace,

Drew

 

[basalgangster]

Thanks. Thats insanely great.

 

[Byrd]

I wouldn't install OS X - apart from those two TAMs on XPostFacto forum, everything else I've read has said it can potentially corrupt PRAM and lead to a completely dead machine; something to do with the hardware being slightly different than a 6500, even though the ROMs are exactly the same.

If anyone can prove us wrong - please post here - but in the mean time stick with OS 9.1.

JB

 

[quantumii]

Okay, so my TAM will never see OS X on it. Thanks for the heads-up.

If the PRAM gets corrupt: Is this completely unfixable, or is there a hard-to-do-but-working way of restoring it? Just asking because I am curious on how this works.

 

[Paralel]

I'm curious as well. If the PRAM gets corrupted can't you just zap it?

 

[Byrd]

Apparently yes you can disconnect the PRAM battery for several days, and it should fire up again. You can't do the usual reset PRAM key command. I'm all for hacking different operating systems on Macs, but when it bring it down to a complete halt I'm not so sure. As I said, prove me wrong, and I'll give it a go as well

JB

 

[Paralel]

If anyone wants to donate a TAM to me for testing I'll be happy to give it a go

 

[quantumii]

What about Linux? Is that a doable option for it?

 

[Byrd]

Not sure - I recall reading Ubuntu 9.1 PPC might so something, and I've downloaded it - but again, I'm sitting here in fear ( can't sleep the clown will eat me)

 

[quantumii]

Hehehe, that is one funny Bart Simpson quote The TAM is considered an "Old world" or a "New World" Mac? I would guess the latter?

 

[Byrd]

Definately Old World - it's basically a 6500/250 board with various connectors removed, and some routed to plug in elsewhere. When I bought my faulty TAM, I was tempted to install a 6500/300 board inside (desoldering said connectors etc.), as it was doing some weird stuff (ended up being the analogue --> digital video adapter, unique to the TAM).

 

[LCGuy]

You should be right to run Linux...if I recall, don't most Linux distros run on OldWorld machines under an app that launches in the classic Mac OS?