I've been collecting a few retro systems lately to relive the past; I'm interested in running OS9 and earlier games on it. My main machine for this is a G4 MDD, but I've found that the mandatory 9.2.2 system I'm running on it is not compatible with some of my favorite games, like Hellcats over the Pacific for instance. Hellcats runs fine under 9.1 and 9.0.4 but I also have a few games that will run better under System 8. My dad used to have a G4 with a Sonnet Encore 1Ghz upgrade card so I got that out of storage, under the assumption that I could dual install both 8.6 and 9.0.4/9.1.
Unfortunately I'm having issues installing the OS. I currently do not have access to the original restore discs that came with the machine so I downloaded and burnt both a restore 9.1 image and an install image 8.6 for the AGP G4 I found on Macintosh Garden. I also tried discs with 9.0.4 and 9.1 universal installs. All of these show the same problem: The machine will start with a flashing folder with a question mark and alternating mac image, then it finds the bootable disc. The flashing stops and holds at the mac image, then the screen goes grey and after a minute the drive stops spinning. Nothing happens after that.
I also tried a universal install CD for Tiger, which leads to the grey apple image but then freezes. The only disc that does work is the 9.2.2 Mac OS Lives! CD. This boots up fine and takes me all the way to the desktop. But of course that's not the OS I need.
Going through the boot process via the boot drive picker leads to the same results.
Other things I've tried or done to rule out any issues, without any luck:
- No other drives, HDs or SSDs are connected to the IDE busses, only the DVD drive.
- Reset PRAM and replaced the PRAM battery for a new one
- Reset the system using the PMU switch
- Installed and ran the boot discs from another DVD-ROM drive
- Checked the firmware, it's at version 4.2.8f1
Things I haven't done yet (but will be trying):
- Machine has all RAM slots filled, I'll empty three of them.
- Remove the PCI SCSI card present in the system.
Seems to me there is some sort of issue with the Sonnet Upgrade not being compatible with earlier systems. I don't know how my dad used to operate this machine as he'd removed all hard drives from it before it went into storage. I also don't know where the original processor and heatsink are though they are undoubtedly around somewhere.
Unfortunately I'm having issues installing the OS. I currently do not have access to the original restore discs that came with the machine so I downloaded and burnt both a restore 9.1 image and an install image 8.6 for the AGP G4 I found on Macintosh Garden. I also tried discs with 9.0.4 and 9.1 universal installs. All of these show the same problem: The machine will start with a flashing folder with a question mark and alternating mac image, then it finds the bootable disc. The flashing stops and holds at the mac image, then the screen goes grey and after a minute the drive stops spinning. Nothing happens after that.
I also tried a universal install CD for Tiger, which leads to the grey apple image but then freezes. The only disc that does work is the 9.2.2 Mac OS Lives! CD. This boots up fine and takes me all the way to the desktop. But of course that's not the OS I need.
Going through the boot process via the boot drive picker leads to the same results.
Other things I've tried or done to rule out any issues, without any luck:
- No other drives, HDs or SSDs are connected to the IDE busses, only the DVD drive.
- Reset PRAM and replaced the PRAM battery for a new one
- Reset the system using the PMU switch
- Installed and ran the boot discs from another DVD-ROM drive
- Checked the firmware, it's at version 4.2.8f1
Things I haven't done yet (but will be trying):
- Machine has all RAM slots filled, I'll empty three of them.
- Remove the PCI SCSI card present in the system.
Seems to me there is some sort of issue with the Sonnet Upgrade not being compatible with earlier systems. I don't know how my dad used to operate this machine as he'd removed all hard drives from it before it went into storage. I also don't know where the original processor and heatsink are though they are undoubtedly around somewhere.