Re: Did I kill my G3?

From: Andrew J. Brehm (ajbrehm_at_gmail.com)
Date: 06/12/05

  • Next message: Bernd Paysan: "Re: DRM, Intel, Sony, virtualization and backdoors" 
    Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 23:13:52 +0100

    <dmcconkey@yahoo.com> wrote:

    > Hi folks,
    >
    > About 2 years ago, I bought a used beige G3 without a system disk. I'd
    > like to now use it as a development web server and possibly a software
    > firewall. I tried installing debian, booting from the minimal CD, but
    > it didn't boot.
    >
    > Looking on the net, I saw a few items to try in open firmware (v
    > 2.0f1), but I think I screwed it up. I can't boot with the debian CD
    > (or floppies), and I also can't get back to OS9, off the hard drive.
    >
    > I've zapped the PRAM. I've defaulted all the environment variables.
    > I've tried to explicitly boot to AAPL,ROM. All I get is a flashing
    > question mark/floppy icon where a happy mac should be.
    >
    > Is there an explicit file name I need to invoke with the boot command?
    > (The default lists it as blank.) If so, how do I find it?
    >
    > Alternately, if I can just get linux (any linux) to work, and kiss OS9
    > goodbye, I'd be even happier.
    >
    > Thanks in advance.

    Read <http://www.netneurotic.net/mac/openfirmware.html>.

    If on an Old World machine you see a flasing question mar/floppy icon,
    it means the machine is booting from AAPL,ROM and trying to load Mac OS
    from the hard disk. And this is where it fails.

    The firmware settings are ok, the hard disk just appears to be without
    operating system.

    You need either a Mac OS CD or a Linux CD that uses Quik (an Old World
    boot sector boot loader) or MiBoot (IMS). MiBoot (IMS) is a Mac OS-like
    boot loader that looks like Mac OS to the Mac ROM and then boots another
    OS. I believe the LinuxPPC 2000 CD used it.

    To use Quik you probably need a Linux boot floppy.

    But the easiest way is to obtain a Mac OS disk. On a beige G3 you can
    use Mac OS 8 or 9, or Mac OS X up to 10.2, I believe. 

    -- 
Andrew J. Brehm
Marx Brothers Fan
PowerPC/Macintosh User
Supporter of Chicken Sandwiches
  • Next message: Bernd Paysan: "Re: DRM, Intel, Sony, virtualization and backdoors"

    Relevant Pages

    • Booting off of external drive causes power-down
      ... Hi -- I've been booting off of an external firewire drive for a few ... Well, actually it *will* boot, but after thinking about it for a bit, ... The main hardware of the Mac is fine as I can boot without any ... I boot the system off of the internal disk drive, ...
      (comp.sys.mac.system)
    • Re: Need help to install OS9 on a mac that use to but now cant - post OSX.5
      ... "installed" os9 to boot the install program which of course can not be ... and no happy mac. ... Then start up the computer again, holding down the 'C' key to boot from ...
      (comp.sys.mac.system)
    • Re: How to make Emergency Leopard boot disk?
      ... a boot disk on a CD or DVD. ... Now that USB flash drives are getting up to 8 GB territory, ... Mac ... Intel Macs can boot from both USB and Firewire. ...
      (comp.sys.mac.system)
    • Re: [9fans] security
      ... boot a Mac and hit Command+S while ... booting and you're root. ... Being you compromises all the information ...
      (comp.os.plan9)
    • Re: OS9.2.2. which shipped with the G4 MDD (when new)
      ... trying to get my G4 MDD to also to boot up from OS9.2.2 on a second ... I suspect it won't boot off OS 9. ... computer which would have prevented Mac OS 9 booting. ... Apple didn't want to write Mac OS 9 drivers for Airport Extreme, ...
      (uk.comp.sys.mac)