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Imac G5 17'' OS install

L

LittleDJ8

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 6, 2017
16
0
Hello

I bought this oldschool Imac and it doesn't have any OS installed on it. Gives me box with "?" in it.
Which OS u recomend to install on it and where could i download these and will they work?

Sticker info:
Model: A1144
1.9/512MB/160GB/SD/AP/BT

Serial No: W85465L6TAQ
 
Your iMac is one of the last G5s made and along with the 2.1 model, is the best to have. You can easily run Leopard on it (OSX 10.5.8) but if you can, upgrade the memory - your machine will take up to 2.5Gb RAM. Macintoshgarden is the place to look for your software needs.
 
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LittleDJ8 said:
Hello

I bought this oldschool Imac and it doesn't have any OS installed on it. Gives me box with "?" in it.
Which OS u recomend to install on it and where could i download these and will they work?

Sticker info:
Model: A1144
1.9/512MB/160GB/SD/AP/BT

Serial No: W85465L6TAQ
Click to expand...

You may install a machine-specific Tiger version but finding the disks may be a tad challenging. Tiger lets you run OS 9 applications (via Classic environment) so it may be worthwhile to check it out.

Unless you want to run OS 9 apps, I suggest Leopard as @Dronecatcher already told you. You can run more modern software and Leopard Webkit (best Mac OS X PPC browser) on Leopard.

You can also delve into the world of PPC Linux if that's your thing. Performance is pretty good on distros like Ubuntu MATE 16.04 (my fave Linux PPC distro)
 
amagichnich said:
I use both ;)
Click to expand...

My 1GHz PowerBook G4 17" with 1MB L3 cache works wonders with LWK and I can even watch 360p YT on it without any stutter which is great for me.

TFF is okay, especially with the tweaked configuration files and I must say, it really felt faster after FPR2 was released.

That being said, I'm currently an LWK gal' and will probably stay that way (maybe I'll change my opinion if I get the G5 Quad I'm currently eyeing!).
 
KawaiiAurora said:
Aye aye. The TFF gang will get angry at me now!
Click to expand...
KawaiiAurora said:
My 1GHz PowerBook G4 17" with 1MB L3 cache works wonders with LWK and I can even watch 360p YT on it without any stutter which is great for me.

TFF is okay, especially with the tweaked configuration files and I must say, it really felt faster after FPR2 was released.

That being said, I'm currently an LWK gal' and will probably stay that way (maybe I'll change my opinion if I get the G5 Quad I'm currently eyeing!).
Click to expand...
I only hate Safari/WK because whenever I'm trying to do something or need them to work they take a dump on me.

Perfect example was yesterday when trying to use POS Safari on my work MP. Damn thing insisted on hammering my hard drive for no reason and taking 10 minutes to load a website I routinely use once a week.

If I'd been using my G4 my processor would have been pegged. As it was, all four cores on the MP were flippng out.

Personally, as many know, I much prefer Demeter. I know Demeter uses Webkit, but somehow the devs managed to make it the one WK browser I can actually depend on when I need something fast.

Relinked against LWK, Demeter makes me very happy. Aside from it's general instability of course.

In any case I have never denied Webkit's speed (when it works). I just hate that you cannot customize it.
 
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Dronecatcher said:
Slow I can handle but what steers me away from TFF for most sites is the high CPU use - I nurse my portables a bit too much and wince when the CPU meter is hitting 100% all the time.
Click to expand...

I can agree with this. TFF feels heavier than a WebKit based browser on any single CPU G4.

But, I also find LepWK occasionally shoots off into 100% CPU usage while vacant (no windows), so I have to quit the app. I don't know what it's doing, but I've disabled the preview rendering.

On my PPCs I usually keep an eye on MenuMeters or run Activity Monitor with the dock CPU history option and kill any CPU hogs before the machine gets a chance to run hot.

Disabling JavaScript in LepWK provides the snappiest browsing experience, but breaks many websites. MR forums are still usable though :cool:
 
AphoticD said:
I can agree with this. TFF feels heavier than a WebKit based browser on any single CPU G4.

But, I also find LepWK occasionally shoots off into 100% CPU usage while vacant (no windows), so I have to quit the app. I don't know what it's doing, but I've disabled the preview rendering.

On my PPCs I usually keep an eye on MenuMeters or run Activity Monitor with the dock CPU history option and kill any CPU hogs before the machine gets a chance to run hot.

Disabling JavaScript in LepWK provides the snappiest browsing experience, but breaks many websites. MR forums are still usable though :cool:
Click to expand...
TenFourFox is heavier, no argument there.

But here's my comparison.

T4Fx is the family sedan you've sunk some money into upgrading. It's got a lot of features it didn't have when you bought it but it won't ever do 200mph. But it's reliable and comfortable with an easy ride.

Webkit is the tempermental Italian sports car. When it works there's nothing that can beat it in speed. 200mph easy. But there's little in the way of upgrades to it and overdoing it can break it. Just like an Italian sports car it often requires a mechanic and is in the shop a lot more than it's on the road.

This has been my experience anyway.
 
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eyoungren said:
TenFourFox is heavier, no argument there.

But here's my comparison.

T4Fx is the family sedan you've sunk some money into upgrading. It's got a lot of features it didn't have when you bought it but it won't ever do 200mph. But it's reliable and comfortable with an easy ride.

Webkit is the tempermental Italian sports car. When it works there's nothing that can beat it in speed. 200mph easy. But there's little in the way of upgrades to it and overdoing it can break it. Just like an Italian sports car it often requires a mechanic and is in the shop a lot more than it's on the road.

This has been my experience anyway.
Click to expand...

Good analogy. I guess we've got to be grateful they are both still being developed (for free).
 
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Tried many versions but still no luck. Got clean hard-drive in it too and yet can't boot up any os there
 
LittleDJ8 said:
Tried many versions but still no luck. Got clean hard-drive in it too and yet can't boot up any os there
Click to expand...

I can't think of many reasons why Open Firmware wouldn't pick up a valid Mac OS X system volume.

Minimum System version for that iMac is 10.4.2. So, a retail Tiger disc might not suffice, given it would likely install 10.4.(0). Be sure to acquire an iMac G5 restore disc which is 10.4.2 or later, or a retail Leopard DVD.

Another thing to confirm:
1. Boot from the Installer disc and launch Disk Utility.
2. Highlight the hard disk drive (not the volume/partition) and check the info.
3. Make sure your the disk's Partition Map Scheme is: Apple Partition Map.

If it is set to GUID (or MBR) then the PowerPC Mac won't boot from it. Re-partition and change the type in the Options sheet, reformat and reinstall.
 
eyoungren said:
TenFourFox is heavier, no argument there.

But here's my comparison.

T4Fx is the family sedan you've sunk some money into upgrading. It's got a lot of features it didn't have when you bought it but it won't ever do 200mph. But it's reliable and comfortable with an easy ride.

Webkit is the tempermental Italian sports car. When it works there's nothing that can beat it in speed. 200mph easy. But there's little in the way of upgrades to it and overdoing it can break it. Just like an Italian sports car it often requires a mechanic and is in the shop a lot more than it's on the road.

This has been my experience anyway.
Click to expand...

The problem with this analogy is that lots of people use TFF.

Nobody in their right mind would take a mind numbing sedan over an Italian sportscar.
 
Hater said:
The problem with this analogy is that lots of people use TFF.

Nobody in their right mind would take a mind numbing sedan over an Italian sportscar.
Click to expand...
Then I am not in my right mind as my '97 Honda Accord and my '13 Nissan Sentra do very well for me - and my family.

Be hard to fit everyone in a sports car for a trip to IKEA.

But back to T4Fx, it just comes down to preference. I prefer customization over speed. When you spend over 16 hours in front of a computer every day speed matters, but not as much as usability (to me anyway).
 
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LittleDJ8 said:
Tiger and Panther older versions
Click to expand...

Okay. I believe the issue is that the iMac needs a newer version of the OS to boot.

You will want to acquire a copy of Leopard 10.5 or a specific release of Tiger, which is 10.4.2 or later. Hunt around online to buy or download a copy.
 
Been there done that,nothing still works. Right now got some diff version of Tiger so gonna try and make bootable USB and try with that. Though my G5 came out with factory 10.4.2 (8E102) version one but can't find any versions like that on net.
 
LittleDJ8 said:
Been there done that,nothing still works. Right now got some diff version of Tiger so gonna try and make bootable USB and try with that. Though my G5 came out with factory 10.4.2 (8E102) version one but can't find any versions like that on net.
Click to expand...

Maybe you can find a 10.4.7 revision or similar?
 
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