Powerbook G4: Will Not Boot From CD

I have a Powerbook G4 (circa 2005/6) that I'm trying to install Linux on to.

It absolutely refuses to boot from a CD! Linux installation CD, Mac OS X installation CD, etc.

Here are the methods I have tried:

• Holding C during boot: unsuccessful
• Holding Cmd+Option+Shift+Del during boot: unsuccessful
• Holding Option during boot: Disc shows up in boot menu, but when I click on it, the screen flickers and returns to the boot menu
• In Mac OS X, using the Startup Disk control panel: this works for the Mac OS X install discs, but my Linux install discs do not show up to be selected for this.

I should also note that the disc shows up in Finder and mounts no problem, and my even older iBook boots from the disc just fine (holding the C key)

Also I am indeed using a PPC distro disc (Ubuntu PPC Live CD).

What else do you think I can try? This has been frustrating me for the past two days.

iDudemus said:

I would try an external DVD / CD drive connected via Firewire next.

Maybe do a PRAM reset just for the helluvit, too...

Click to expand...

Hmmm. I do not have one of those, I wonder if I can find someone who does.

I did try to reset my PRAM and NVRAM but that didn't do the trick.

Another thing I should mention is that, in Open Firmware, when I type "eject cd" it says "can't OPEN the EJECT device." I feel like that could be related. Like something's seriously eff'd up with my DVD-ROM drive.