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FoxboyJT

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 11, 2010
4
0
I recently got a Power Mac G4 from a friend who didn't need it any longer, and I seem to be having an issue with it, which I can't seem to figure out. None of the PCI card slots seem to be working. This model of G4 doesn't have an airport card, so I was installing a wireless PCI card I had in another desktop that this Power Mac was going to replace. Does anyone know if there's a way to fix this, or know what the issue is? (Also, I tried to Google the crap out of this, but every time I use the word "mac' Google assumes MAC Address. -_-
 

Nameci

macrumors 68000
Oct 29, 2010
1,944
12
The Philippines...
Are you getting the wireless card from a PC? The powermac perhaps does not recognize your card.

Look for compatible PCI wireless card, or better yet use a USB wifi dongle.
 

FoxboyJT

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 11, 2010
4
0
Are you getting the wireless card from a PC? The powermac perhaps does not recognize your card.

Look for compatible PCI wireless card, or better yet use a USB wifi dongle.

The card is compatible, there are drivers for it online that I have installed before and after installing the device, it just doesn't seem to be getting power.
 

Zoetrap

macrumors newbie
Dec 3, 2010
21
0
Do you have any other PCI cards that you could try putting in the machine? A normal wired Ethernet card for example?
 

FoxboyJT

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 11, 2010
4
0
Is it possible that if I put a standard PCI card that is just extra USB ports, that it would work? Not too sure on if it would work without a driver.

EDIT: Past that, I don't have any other PCI cards that I could put in to see if they work.
 

Zoetrap

macrumors newbie
Dec 3, 2010
21
0
A USB expansion card should work in OSX as long as it has a NEC, ALI, TI or OPTI chipset.

I once tried installing a PCI USB card with a VIA chipset, and although the card was visible in the "system information" utility in OSX, it didn't work (nothing happened no matter what USB device I plugged in).
 

FoxboyJT

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 11, 2010
4
0
I will have to try a USB pci card then, I'll come back with wethor or not it worked at all.

EDIT: Sudden realization, it has another pci card plugged in that dosnt work either, which is a USB extension, with FireWire too. It's a bit strange. I'll still try the regular one i have.
Would a phone modem work too?
 

Zoetrap

macrumors newbie
Dec 3, 2010
21
0
It does sound like there is something not quite right with the PCI Bus on your machine... are any PCI cards (installed ones) listed in the "system information" utility at all?

I doubt a phone modem would work. Most of the Powermac machines had an integrated or optional BTO phone modem, so I doubt there are much drivers for 3rd party ones.
 
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