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Powerbook G4 12" - Boot OS9?

smrieck511

smrieck511

6502
Hi,

Is there any hack that would allow a Powerbook G4 12" to boot natively into OS9? Maybe like a reverse XPostFacto utility?

Thanks for any info,
Steve
 
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I had OS 9 running on a 1.33 GHz 12" G4, and it was decent, but because hardware support was lacking, there was no video acceleration and no power management, so it was rather unuseful as a laptop.

I can't remember if sound worked, but It probably did.

c
 
Agree with zefrenchtoon, it works without too much effort, including accelerated video. Stick to the first revision with geforce4 chipset and supported G4. Sound output from the speakers requires headphones plugged in or solder-bridge the contact on the board.
 
I got really bored in the Covid lockdown and got it working after a few hours on macos9lives.com

Mainly open firmware commands. Main annoyance was no sounds unless you plug in headphones but also no sleep

They do make a wonderful macos 9 machine!

IMG_0033.jpeg
 
Man...MacOS9lives is such an unintuitive website try to search for a clue on how to do this. Not sure how you guys navigate that mess. I tried and tried.

Mine is the first 12" 6,1 867mhz....Can a kind person throw me any clue? Thanks in advance.
 
smrieck511 said:
Man...MacOS9lives is such an unintuitive website try to search for a clue on how to do this. Not sure how you guys navigate that mess. I tried and tried.

Mine is the first 12" 6,1 867mhz....Can a kind person throw me any clue? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Here it is:

OS9 Booted on 867Mhz Powerbook G4 (unsupported) 12"

OS9 Booted on 867Mhz Powerbook G4 (unsupported) 12"
macos9lives.com

Where you will read DieHard saying:
3. Apple PowerBook G4 867 12" (Al) (Identifiers: A1010, M8760LL/A, PowerBook6,1)
Sound comes thru headphones, but not speakers
Click to expand...
 
I must be slow. I'm still not seeing firmware commands in any of those threads. I've got the MacOS9lives Unsupported G4 OS running but still cant find the additional open firmware commands need to get USB etc working.
 
My setup didn’t require OF commands, maybe I didn’t get as many peripherals working as you’re testing. What are you trying to get working?
 
opualuan said:
My setup didn’t require OF commands, maybe I didn’t get as many peripherals working as you’re testing. What are you trying to get working?
Click to expand...
When it boots up and loads the OS9.2.2 desktop it says "The software needed to use the USB device "Unknown Device" cannot be found. Please refer to the device documentation...." Not sure what that is referring to?

Nothing is plugged in to any ports at all but it does recognize a USB flash drive when plugged in and I do get sound as long as I have a dummy plug in the headphone port. DVD drive working too. Maybe I should be happy with it and move along to the next project.
 
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