iMac G5, 17inch iSight - Model 1144 - Starts up with a circle and a line through it

[zcarm2013]

Hello all - I really hope someone can help me - please.....

I got a iMac G5, 17inch iSight - Model 1144 - A while ago I posted regarding a fitting RAM which I finally got. Now I have an issue with the Tiger installation as it does not want to install it, for whatever reason.

It starts up and the Apple Logo appears, then spinning underneath (as usual) and then the Apple logo is changing to a circle with a line through it.

Now, of course I googled a lot and checked what the cause could be. Most of them in Google mentioned, it could be an issue with the OS the iMac G5 does not take. BUT I tried it even with an empty formatted hard disk using my CD with Tiger on it AND a hard disk with Tiger on it. In both cases, this sign with the line through the circle always comes up and I have no more idea where the problem could lay.

The G5 actually should take the data from the Tiger installation CD, even though the hard disk is formatted and empty.

1. Could it be, that maybe the CD Rom drive is faulty ? But, I even tried it with an external CD Drive, holding ALT when starting, I can see the Installation Icon (from the CD content) after as short time, then clicking next - and again this circle with the line through it comes up. Its just not starting to install...

2. Or could it be that maybe the hard disk cable (with the small plug) from the hard disk to the logic board is faulty or the incorrect one?

I got no more idea what the cause could be.

I highly would appreciate if someone could help me or at least to provide your experience or idea.

Thank you so much and best regards.....
Berny

 

[TheShortTimer]

The first thing I'd rule out would be the Tiger disc. Is it actually the PPC version and not an Intel one?

 

[zcarm2013]

The first thing I'd rule out would be the Tiger disc. Is it actually the PPC version and not an Intel one?

Hi, Thanks for your response. Tbh, I have no idea at all. What do you think what would be correct OSX version for the G5 iSight ? The specs say X 10.4.2 (8E102)

 

[TheShortTimer]

Hi, Thanks for your response. Tbh, I have no idea at all.

Is it possible for you to share a photo of the disc? That would instantly confirm whether you have the right one for your iMac.

What do you think what would be correct OSX version for the G5 iSight ? The specs say X 10.4.2 (8E102)

You can use Tiger or Leopard and the PPC versions can be downloaded from here in case you do not have the correct discs. The final version of Tiger is 10.4.11 and that is achieved after installing all of the updates once you've set up 10.4 on your computer.

 

[Amethyst1]

It starts up and the Apple Logo appears, then spinning underneath (as usual) and then the Apple logo is changing to a circle with a line through it.

Boot verbosely by holding [Command]-[V] after powering on. What is the last message (or the last few messages) on the screen when it eventually hangs?

The first thing I'd rule out would be the Tiger disc. Is it actually the PPC version and not an Intel one?

IIRC booting an Intel-only Tiger disc on a PPC Mac produces a kernel panic, not the stop sign.

What do you think what would be correct OSX version for the G5 iSight ? The specs say X 10.4.2 (8E102).

If you want Tiger, start with the retail 10.4.6 DVD image. That is download #32 on the page @TheShortTimer linked to.
If you want Leopard, start with the retail 10.5.4 DVD image. That is download #33 on the page @TheShortTimer linked to.

 

[zcarm2013]

@TheShortTimer - Many thanks for your info. Only have a burned disc of the Tiger version..I will try the PPC version - Thank you very much for your help !

 

[Amethyst1]

Only have a burned disc of the Tiger version..

If that burned disc is <10.4.2, it's too old for the iMac. The stop sign is just one of the possible errors that can come up in this case.

 

[zcarm2013]

Boot verbosely by holding [Command]-[V] after powering on. What is the last message (or the last few messages) on the screen when it eventually hangs?


IIRC booting an Intel-only Tiger disc on a PPC Mac produces a kernel panic, not the stop sign.


If you want Tiger, start with the retail 10.4.6 DVD image. That is download #32 on the page @TheShortTimer linked to.
If you want Leopard, start with the retail 10.5.4 DVD image. That is download #33 on the page @TheShortTimer linked to.

Thank you, will try that tomorrow

 

[DeltaMac]

You have to find out which version of Tiger install is on your actual installer DVD.
You can do a Get Info (Command+I) on the DVD, which should tell you the installer version.
It if turns out to be 10.4.0 or 10.4.1, then neither of those will install on your iSight G5. It will have to be 10.4.2, or higher.

 

[zcarm2013]

You have to find out which version of Tiger install is on your actual installer DVD.
You can do a Get Info (Command+I) on the DVD, which should tell you the installer version.
It if turns out to be 10.4.0 or 10.4.1, then neither of those will install on your iSight G5. It will have to be 10.4.2, or higher.

Hi, oh thats a great idea, just heave done that and it only shows 10.4.1 - I have another 2 Tiger DMG files V. 10.4.7 but I have no idea how to burn them onto one or 2 DVDs.....need to check how to do that. Thanks for your help

 

[Amethyst1]

I have another 2 Tiger DMG files V. 10.4.7 but I have no idea how to burn them onto one or 2 DVDs.....need to check how to do that. Thanks for your help

Check that 10.4.7 image; it has to be the universal Server edition to work on a PowerPC Mac. If it's a version meant for Intel Macs it won't work on your G5. As for how to burn the image to a DVD, if you have another Mac with a burner I'd use either Disk Utility or Burn.

 

[zcarm2013]

Check that 10.4.7 image; it has to be the universal Server edition to work on a PowerPC Mac. If it's a version meant for Intel Macs it won't work on your G5. As for how to burn the image to a DVD, if you have another Mac with a burner I'd use either Disk Utility or Burn.

Hi, thanks again so much or your message. Yes, I have the 10.4.7 server edition, will burn it now. Thanks a mill.

 

[zcarm2013]

Burned the Server edition, it looked good after selecting it from the blue screen, Apple logo came up, started to spin underneath it for some seconds, then the spinning wheel just stucks and the fans of the G5 starting to blow very fast....

 

[ifrit05]

Boot with command and V held down so you know where it gets hung up at.

 

[zcarm2013]

Boot with command and V held down so you know where it gets hung up at.

Thank you very much, done - This comes up, no idea what all that means.... :-( A kind of driver missing, maybe I still dont have the correct OS....(what I used was - Mac OS X v10.4.7 Server (DVD).dmg)

 

[Amethyst1]

This comes up, no idea what all that means....

Unable to find driver for this platform usually means this version of Mac OS X is not compatible with the Mac you're trying to boot it on. Seeing that you used the universal 10.4.7 Server disc, this is a tiny bit unexpected as it's for compatible PPC and Intel Macs.
Maybe the disc image is corrupted, the DVD wasn't burned correctly or the DVD drive is faulty.

My next advice would be to try the retail 10.4.6 (client) disc/image which is for PPC Macs only. This one has to work on your iMac. If that doesn't work either, something fishy is going on.

 

[dextructor]

maybe I still dont have the correct OS....(what I used was - Mac OS X v10.4.7 Server (DVD).dmg)

Well This error usually refers to using a disc that wasn't designed for this specific machine if I'm not mistaken.

I used 10 years ago my G4 Cube with OSX 10.4 Server (but I don't know if the ISO was the same as yours) but worked, never tried this on my iMac G5.

Theorically 10.4.7 should work since it's an Universal version, but theoricaly and in practice it's a very different world.

So I would stick with the suggestion from @Amethyst1 to use the #32 link on the garden post if you wanna OSX Tiger or #33 if you want OSX Leopard. If you are more "courageous", sorry but you are on your own.

Remember that not only you need to download the correct version (Incomplete/Corrupted downloads happen), but you also have to proper create the media (Burn the ISO to the optical media) and the drive needed to read correctly.

I'm all in favor of using USB since it's usually faster (unless your USB port/drive it's 1.1 that's slow as hell, but optical media can be slow too) and here in the forum are many posts discussing it.

 

[zcarm2013]

Super, thank you both @Amethyst and @dextructor for your useful information. I will try my best

 

[TheShortTimer]

If you need more help, do not hesitate to ask for it.

 

[zcarm2013]

Ok, I have downloaded #32 link from garden post burned the CD and even copied the content of the dmg file onto a USB stick (using as an device to boot up), but nothing works. When coming to the blue screen, no installation option appears. I am really lost now...You have any other idea ? Again, thanks so much for your efforts...

 

[TheShortTimer]

Ok, I have downloaded #32 link from garden post burned the CD and even copied the content of the dmg file onto a USB stick (using as an device to boot up), but nothing works. When coming to the blue screen, no installation option appears. I am really lost now...You have any other idea ? Again, thanks so much for your efforts...

What were the steps that you followed to burn the CD and create the USB stick? Are they even recognised when the computer is turned on?

 

[Amethyst1]

When coming to the blue screen, no installation option appears.

Do you mean it’s not showing any disk to install on? Can you post a picture of what appears on the screen?

 

[zcarm2013]

What were the steps that you followed to burn the CD and create the USB stick? Are they even recognised when the computer is turned on?

I have downloaded #32 link from garden post burned the DVD via "Finder" burn to disc and regarding the USB stick, after formatting I dbl clicked on the DMG file and copied the content to the USB stick and as mentioned, nothing was recognized at all. But with the 10.4.7 Server disc I was able to see the installation option on the blue screen. But the spinning wheel stuck...

 

[zcarm2013]

Do you mean it’s not showing any disk to install on? Can you post a picture of what appears on the screen?

Exactly. If I would take a screenshot, you would not see any installation option on the blue screen at all...

 

[TheShortTimer]

...and regarding the USB stick, after formatting I dbl clicked on the DMG file and copied the content to the USB stick and as mentioned, nothing was recognized at all.

Doing it that way wouldn't work.

There are various guides for converting a Tiger DMG to a bootable USB installer but I've never had any success with them. What has worked for me is to either use an existing CD/DVD or burn the DMG to create an actual install CD/DVD and then mount the disc so it's visible in Finder and/or Disk Utility, plug in the USB stick and then in Disk Utility, click onto the USB stick, select Edit from the Disk Utility menu and choose Restore.

As you can see in the screenshot below, Disk Utility then asks you to choose which volume you want to use as the source. Select the Tiger DVD and click on Restore and that's it. A working Tiger USB installer is created in a few minutes.