Running Apple Hardware Test from iBook G4

[rickyzhang]

I bought a iBook G4 from ebay for my emulation development.  It comes with apple hardware test DVD. 

I followed the instruction to restart and hold C key. But I boot into open firmware, the top show:

Invalid memory access at %SRR0: 00032df8 %SRR1: 00003030

...

The screen ask me either type 'mac-boot' to continue booting or 'shut-down'

Is it mean something broken?

I have reinstall tiger from DVD. It runs fine. Wifi fine. The overall looks awesome given the 10 years age.

 

[butterburger]

Try (in Open Firmware shell):

boot cd:,\\:tbxi

 

[rickyzhang]

It didn't work

Screen shows:

Can't allocate space for $LOAD buffer (load_base)

 

[butterburger]

I have no idea what to do then, other than "zapping" PRAM. Good luck.

 

[rickyzhang]

I left a seller good feedback. The box works like a champ after 48 hours compiling macport stuffs. Just overheat is an issues.

I found a link below about open firmware:

http://osxbook.com/book/bonus/ancient/whatismacosx/arch_boot.html

I wonder if it is ok to boot Mac OS from external USB SSD 

 

[butterburger]

Only 10.4 Tiger and newer permit running from system volume on USB. Up to 10.3 Panther permit "FireWire", but show the crossed-circle "no entry" sign when attempting USB.

 

[carguyty]

Booting any G4 from USB is going to be a labor. If you are looking at performance gains from an SSD, don't expect it to be boot times or easy to obtain. I would recommend that you open the case to replace the IDE cable for the optical drive. Especially if you are going to install an PATA SSD or a PATA to SATA adapter with SSD attached.

I worked with an iBook logic board for three weeks before I realized it was the cable that kept faulting out. Short of having optical media to boot, you need another mac with firewire. Many install disks can be found on macintosh garden if you find your optical drive and cable are in good order. Also make sure your copy of AHT is for your specific model.

 

[rickyzhang]

@carguyty and @butterbuger

I totally agreed with you all on this. 

I got m-SATA SSD, m-SATA to USB adapter and m-SATA to IDE adapter. After running carbon copy clone to move data from hard drive to SSD through USB, I can boot it from USB to test if blessed partition work. It just showed no entry sign.

I don't have any Mac with firewire. I have to give up booting from USB. I think I have to swap out IDE drive to test it directly.

 

[HFTaylor12]

I don't think a dedicated Apple Hardware Test disc will work. Instead, you need the gray discs from that model of iBook G4. They have the hardware test on them as well as an OS installer. I was able to run the Apple Hardware Test from my gray discs with no trouble on my iBook G4.