Can't get my PM G4 MDD to boot from Leopard install DVD

[Bradamante]

Hey,

I recently aquired a PowerMac G4 MDD (Dual 1GHz, no FW800) on EBay. 2x 256 MB of 333 MHz RAM, an empty Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 80 GB IDE drive and the orignal (I assume) LG DVD drive. I don't know what the IDE drive is formatted as since I aquired it seperately.

I still have a Mac OS X.5.0 Leopard DVD+DL (non-model specific) around that I - if memory serves - used to boot a PowerBook G4 1GHz in the past. I also downloaded Leopard X.5.4 from a internet source and created a DVD+DL install disc from that, using High Sierra's disc burn function in the Finder (I read that Toast wouldn't work) using that .dmg file.

Problem is that neither of these two DVDs seem to boot. Starting the machine I always get the ? logo on a Mac. Also the fans spin up like crazy. At first I thought the DVD drive doesn't have power, but I can use the eject button to eject the disc, so that can't be it. I also tried different jumper settings. On the DVD drive the jumper was in the mid position and I left it there. I don't know what a master or slave setting would be though since there is no description on the drive. The Maxtor disc has instructions and I tried both master and cable select. The latter is recommended in Apple's own official support documents (set cable select and position the disc on the end of the IDE cable, which I did).

One problem I have is that I don't have an original Apple mouse or keyboard. Probably because of that holding the mouse button during startup does nothing (to open the DVD drive) as well as holding Option (to select a boot device). The mouse is a CSL vertical mouse, the keyboard a Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600, both connected via USB in the two back ports. I am not sure if either of them are recognized, but I have used both peripherals just fine on newer Intel Macs in the past.

Does anybody have a hint for me? Can the MDD G4 even boot a Leo DVD? Or do I have to use something older?

 

[eyoungren]

I'm guessing the DMG didn't burn right.

When it comes to Leopard you need to burn a Dual Layer DVD. A regular DVD won't cut it. If you did burn a DL DVD then maybe try the burn again. Don't open the DMG. Just tell Disk Utility to burn it.

 

[Bradamante]

I did use a DL DVD, but I did not use Disc Utility. On High Sierra it looks like DU can't burn discs anymore, at least I didn't find that function. Makes sense I guess since Apple does not sell Macs with optical drives anymore. I am using a external Samsung BR drive and the built-in burn function of the Finder. Checking the burned disc in the Finder looks fine. The disc's name looks correct and the files too.
Also note that my older second Leo install disc did work with a PB G4 in the past (I am 99% sure).

EDIT: I just tried different jumper settings on the DVD drive and now it seems that the Mac doesn't boot up at all anymore. I don't get a startup chime, the screen stays black and after a few seconds the fans go to 100%. That's not just the usual "wind-tunnel" loud, that's "something's gonna explode" loud.

 

[weckart]

If you used a +DL, that could be the issue. Original Mac drives on PowerBooks only supported -R media until the DLSD models. It might be the same with your MDD drive. Try using a retail copy if you can borrow one.

If you want to burn using DU in Sierra/H Sierra, right-click on the .dmg file and you should see the Burn option in the context menu. Apple has hidden it from the DU gui for god knows what reason.

 

[for this]

My Dual 867MHz MDD (now with an LG GSA-H10L drive) boots fine from a +R DL DVD, yes the drive supports -R and +R.

From what you wrote, I suspect the MDD has a hardware related problem such as PSU. Because normally when it can't boot from a DVD you insert, the fan will not ramped up like you describe. This is like one of the problems I had had with mine before I repaired its PSU. And the fact that you can't open the drive's tray by pressing the mouse while starting up is also a clue. In my experience, you don't need an Apple's mouse to do that. I don't use Apple's mice myself, Jony Ive's mice don't fit my hand.

 

[Bradamante]

Here somebody seems to have had the same problem. I guess next I will see if the CPU daughter board still fits.

Just a theoretical question. If I wanted to replace the battery on the board, what would I be looking for? Is this a standard off-the-shelf battery that I could easily replace or is it something specific that I can only get as a replacement part on EBay?

 

[for this]

It's 1/2 AA length battery with 3.6V. The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) code for this type is ER14250. There're several brands/models to choose from.

Taridan TL-2150/TL-5101/TL-4902/TL-5902, Saft LS14250, and many more.

 

[Hrududu]

If you used a +DL, that could be the issue. Original Mac drives on PowerBooks only supported -R media until the DLSD models. It might be the same with your MDD drive. Try using a retail copy if you can borrow one.

If you want to burn using DU in Sierra/H Sierra, right-click on the .dmg file and you should see the Burn option in the context menu. Apple has hidden it from the DU gui for god knows what reason.

+- doesn’t matter when reading a disc, only writing. It could be the old drive is struggling to get the laser diode to read the DVD. Could be the drive needs replaced.

 

[drewsof07]

If you have the image, you can always restore it to a secondary partition on the internal drive using target disk. This is much cleaner and faster than burning and installing from optical media. Once you’re finished, just delete the partition.

 

[pochopsp]

If you have the image, you can always restore it to a secondary partition on the internal drive using target disk. This is much cleaner and faster than burning and installing from optical media. Once you’re finished, just delete the partition.

I absolutely agree with you. This is the best option to install Leopard on PPC Macs in my opinion

 

[Bradamante]

If you have the image, you can always restore it to a secondary partition on the internal drive using target disk. This is much cleaner and faster than burning and installing from optical media. Once you’re finished, just delete the partition.

Fire Wire target disc mode? I don't have a Mac around that still has Fire Wire. And even if I had ... Would any Intel based Mac running Sierra or High Sierra be able to start the Leo installer?

Why via a second partition? Couldn't I just install a second IDE drive?

And if I tried to mount the IDE drive in a external enclosure as the target of the Leo installer ... I don't have external hard drive enclosure with IDE and I don't think I have a IDE to S-ATA adapter for my external S-ATA drive case.

 

[drewsof07]

Fire Wire target disc mode? I don't have a Mac around that still has Fire Wire. And even if I had ... Would any Intel based Mac running Sierra or High Sierra be able to start the Leo installer?

Why via a second partition? Couldn't I just install a second IDE drive?

And if I tried to mount the IDE drive in a external enclosure as the target of the Leo installer ... I don't have external hard drive enclosure with IDE and I don't think I have a IDE to S-ATA adapter for my external S-ATA drive case.

Thunderbolt is backward compatible with Firewire, provided you have the right adapter.

 

[Bradamante]

Well, it's too late anyway. Looks like on one of my bootups one of the CPUs fried. This was not there when I took the machine appart and cleaned it. But during one of the bootups I noticed a burned plastic smell, so that was it. I hoped it would be something harmless, like the PSU just breathing a bit.

I guess I will gift it away on EBay.

But yes, I managed to partition the IDE drive and make the Leo DMG restore into one of the partitions. That might indeed be the best way to install a PPC OS on a High Sierra Intel Mac.

It's a shame really. I took it apart and cleaned everything, that thing almost looked brand new. Next up is disassembling a G3 b&w, un-beige the white transparent parts with hydro-peroxy blondizer and building a hackintosh into it. I am still trying to get my hands on a G4 QuickSilver, but those are hard to come by. You would almost think the people offering those on EBay (Germany here) would know that case-modders are looking for those. Just like that single offering of a 20" iMac G4 for 500€ ...

 

[California]

Well, it's too late anyway. Looks like on one of my bootups one of the CPUs fried. This was not there when I took the machine appart and cleaned it. But during one of the bootups I noticed a burned plastic smell, so that was it. I hoped it would be something harmless, like the PSU just breathing a bit.

I guess I will gift it away on EBay.

But yes, I managed to partition the IDE drive and make the Leo DMG restore into one of the partitions. That might indeed be the best way to install a PPC OS on a High Sierra Intel Mac.

It's a shame really. I took it apart and cleaned everything, that thing almost looked brand new. Next up is disassembling a G3 b&w, un-beige the white transparent parts with hydro-peroxy blondizer and building a hackintosh into it. I am still trying to get my hands on a G4 QuickSilver, but those are hard to come by. You would almost think the people offering those on EBay (Germany here) would know that case-modders are looking for those. Just like that single offering of a 20" iMac G4 for 500€ ...

That's too bad. I was going to suggest you make sure you had a DVD drive; similar thing happened to me on a PPC Mac... because I only had a CD/CDRW drive installed in the iBook or early TiBook... just didn't recognize the DVD media.