Beige G3 desktop won’t boot from CD

[AppleGeek1127]

I have a G3 beige desktop that I am attempting to get to boot from a Jaguar CD but it simply refuses.

When I change the startup disk in Mac OS 9 and reboot, I get the message “$d unknown word” in what appears to be open firmware. I then have to reset the PRAM to even get back into Mac OS 9.

When I try to launch the installer from the desktop of Mac OS 9, I get the message “Startup disk was unable to select the install CD as the startup disk (-2)”

I tried “boot cd” and “boot cdrom” in open firmware and neither worked. Does anyone know what the issue is here?

 

[satcomer]

Yes can you play anything in that old drive? I ask because of the age if the drive still works, have you ever run a lens cleaner disk in that drive to clean the lens?

 

[AppleGeek1127]

Yes can you play anything in that old drive? I ask because of the age if the drive still works, have you ever run a lens cleaner disk in that drive to clean the lens?

Yeah the drive works. I’m able to view all the files on the Mac OS X disc, just not boot from it. I have not tried lens cleaner.

 

[Project Alice]

I have never been able to get either of my Beige's to boot a Mac OS X CD natively. Even though Jaguar is officially supported, it just doesn't boot (for me either). I had to use xpostfacto to get it to boot.
I currently have Tiger installed to my beige minitower and I still can't directly boot to it. It boots into OS 9 first, and I have to select Tiger in XPF.
Beige Mac's are incredibly finicky.

 

[AppleGeek1127]

I have never been able to get either of my Beige's to boot a Mac OS X CD natively. Even though Jaguar is officially supported, it just doesn't boot (for me either). I had to use xpostfacto to get it to boot.
I currently have Tiger installed to my beige minitower and I still can't directly boot to it. It boots into OS 9 first, and I have to select Tiger in XPF.
Beige Mac's are incredibly finicky.

I’ll give that a try when I get home, thanks!

 

[AppleGeek1127]

I have never been able to get either of my Beige's to boot a Mac OS X CD natively. Even though Jaguar is officially supported, it just doesn't boot (for me either). I had to use xpostfacto to get it to boot.
I currently have Tiger installed to my beige minitower and I still can't directly boot to it. It boots into OS 9 first, and I have to select Tiger in XPF.
Beige Mac's are incredibly finicky.

Tried XPostFacto, and it says my under my Mac OS 9 boot drive “Not a bootable device.” Also, the option “install from CD” is grayed out. This is with both Jaguar and Panther CDs.

 

[chscag]

You probably already know this... but without a work around you can not boot a PPC G3 from USB. Firewire yes.

Do a search in the forums and you'll find some threads on the same subject and how those folks dealt with it.

 

[Project Alice]

Tried XPostFacto, and it says my under my Mac OS 9 boot drive “Not a bootable device.” Also, the option “install from CD” is grayed out. This is with both Jaguar and Panther CDs.

Which version of XPF did you use? Also, where did you get the install CDs from? DO they boot on other macs?

 

[AppleGeek1127]

Which version of XPF did you use? Also, where did you get the install CDs from? DO they boot on other macs?

XPostFacto 4.0, original retail CDs. They boot on my G4 QuickSilver just fine.

 

[Project Alice]

XPostFacto 4.0, original retail CDs. They boot on my G4 QuickSilver just fine.

They should work then.. But like I said though Beige's can be a PITA. Mine won't actually boot OS X off of the internal IDE bus. I had to install an PCI ATA-133 card to get it to boot at all in mine once installed to the HDD.
I'm really surprised XPF isn't working though. Have you tried playing with the advanced settings in XPF at all?