MAJOR G4 Monitor Issue

[Johnnya101]

I'm trying to use my power Mac G4. It thinks there are two displays connected. When I boot I get a blank desktop and can move the mouse into the other section of the screen. If I connect another monitor everything is fine.

Help? I need this for file transfer!

I've reset pram... deleted monitors pref file... nothing. I'd prefer not having to reinstall since OS X is installed and reinstalling would wipe that but if I do i will...

 

[Themk]

What video card do you have installed? Are the proper drivers also installed? You said OS Ten is installed, just use that for file transfer!

 

[Johnnya101]

I don't want to as Os 9 is a lot better. Everything should be installed because the original is was 9.0.4.

I don't know what card but it has a vga and dvi output and says agp in about.

I'll just reinstall everything. It really needs it. I'll partition it this time since it wasn't before. I think it was mostley used for classic.

 

[Johnnya101]

Actually I have a vga to Mac adapter I'll plug that into the vga and see if it does anything. Maybe it will trick it into thinking the second monitor is attached.

 

[Johnnya101]

Ok just reinstalled everything. There is still a second monitor that my mouse can go to and disappear off the screen...

Help?

 

[rsolberg]

This is normal behavior for graphics cards without drivers installed in Mac OS 9. You get a basic framebuffer without 2D or 3D acceleration and the OS isn't able to determine which outputs have monitors connected.

 

[Johnnya101]

So where would I find the correct drivers? Just find out what card I have and look it up?

 

[rsolberg]

Yup. You can look at the card itself, or boot into OS X and look in System Profiler.

This is a useful reference for compatibility: http://themacelite.wikidot.com/compatibility

See the reference/footnote number 5 for Mac OS 9 compatible cards.

If it's a GeForce 5xxx or higher, there's no support. Radeons up to the 9200 are supported. If it is a 9200, you need to be fully updated to 9.2.2 before installing the ATI driver due to a specific incompatibility.

 

[Johnnya101]

It's an early G4 so I'm hoping it's supported. Sadly the original restore disks work but are blank on the screen...

But anyways I already wiped the drive. I'll install OS X later. What do you think would be best for it? 10.4 for tenfourfox? 10.3?

 

[rsolberg]

You'll want to check the graphics card before deciding on which version of Mac OS X to install, as some graphics cards require 10.3.9 or 10.4.3 as a minimum. Have you tried connecting a monitor to the other card output and booting? My flashed (and unsupported) GeForce 6200 will output to VGA instead of DVI if the PRAM gets reset. Once Tiger loads the appropriate kext on boot, it outputs to DVI again, but it won't display 9.2.2 via DVI unless I choose it via Tiger's Startup Disk control panel first.

 

[Johnnya101]

No i remember everything was fine with OS X. The OS on there was 10.4.11 so I'll try that later.

Do you know where I should download the isos?

 

[rsolberg]

Because some cards require 10.4.3 or later, make sure to use an Installer for at least that version. (Not 10.4, 10.4.1, or 10.4.2)

 

[Johnnya101]

Ok its an ATI R7000L REV 1.3 card...

Heres an EBAY listing! All the info is here...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-G4-G5-ATI-Radeon-7000-PCI-64MB-Video-Card-DVI-VGA-S-Video-TV-Out-OS9-/200710223413

And the linked driver...

http://howfunkel.com

Guess its good to go with any OS X!

 

[Johnnya101]

The driver worked! I can play it now and theres only the one monitor and such.

Only problem: When waking from sleep the screen goes crazy. Big bars down the whole thing and the mouse leaves a trail...