Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

ISSUE PowerBook G4 yaboot.conf Linux

minicm

minicm

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 10, 2019
20
9
Guatemala
PowerBook G4 & IBook G4 Yaboot.conf issue when installing
Hi.

Well its hard to explain but i have a problem when install any ppc distro for this 2 "macs".

Let me explain.

I havent a blank disk so i used a USB drive for that; the case is... i've download a "ubuntuPPC.iso" by example, and i used the Disk Utility for put it in the usb, well that was easy, i go to openfirmware Opt+Apple+F+O and make a devalias for usb bla bla bla etc. When using the command boot ud:/install/yaboot it goes to a black screen, then it shows me a error like this

/pci@f2000000/usb@1b/disk@1 yaboot.conf unknow or corrupt filesystem.

I tried with other distro, it gives me the same screen, recently i've installed succesfully a "Ubuntu 12.04 installation" on my Ibook G4, but when i try to make a new installation it gives me the same yaboot error, i tried with replacing the usb yaboot file with another yaboot files on other distros, it gives me the same error ¡Again!

¿What should I do in this scenario?

My PowerBook G4 has a recently 10.5 leopard installation and anyway it gives me that yaboot error. My Ibook G4 haved 10.4 Tiger installed, deleted by Ubuntu when install.

I really apreciate your help guys.

-Minicm
 
minicm said:
PowerBook G4 & IBook G4 Yaboot.conf issue when installing
Hi.

Well its hard to explain but i have a problem when install any ppc distro for this 2 "macs".

Let me explain.

I havent a blank disk so i used a USB drive for that; the case is... i've download a "ubuntuPPC.iso" by example, and i used the Disk Utility for put it in the usb, well that was easy, i go to openfirmware Opt+Apple+F+O and make a devalias for usb bla bla bla etc. When using the command boot ud:/install/yaboot it goes to a black screen, then it shows me a error like this

/pci@f2000000/usb@1b/disk@1 yaboot.conf unknow or corrupt filesystem.

I tried with other distro, it gives me the same screen, recently i've installed succesfully a "Ubuntu 12.04 installation" on my Ibook G4, but when i try to make a new installation it gives me the same yaboot error, i tried with replacing the usb yaboot file with another yaboot files on other distros, it gives me the same error ¡Again!

¿What should I do in this scenario?

My PowerBook G4 has a recently 10.5 leopard installation and anyway it gives me that yaboot error. My Ibook G4 haved 10.4 Tiger installed, deleted by Ubuntu when install.

I really apreciate your help guys.

-Minicm
Click to expand...

I had a similar issue that I solved by completely zeroing out my drive before installing linux. After the zeroing process, I used the 'dd' command to zero out the first and last blocks of the drive to be sure that any residual boot partitions were removed. The commands I used to do this were (on a linux machine. Not sure how you'd do this with OS X. Perhaps @z970mp has better advice than me):

Code: 
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=4096 count=4096
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=512 count=4096 seek=$(expr `blockdev --getsz /dev/sdX` - 4096)

(Replace the "X" in /sdX with your drive designation, but it'll usually be /sda unless it's a USB drive. The lsblk command will list your device assignments with their names. Be sure to use the back tick (`) and not the forward tick (') on that last command.)

I had no issues with partitioning and installing linux (in my case, Debian sid PPC64) once this was done. OS X leaves some weird partitions sometimes and they conflict with linux boot partitions, and partman won't remove them.

I need to try this with the Fienix USB image, as I'm having the same issue...
 
Last edited:
Alright, let's start from the top.

Here is the most recent PPC-compatible Ubuntu to download. I highly recommend using it instead of other, older releases. Make sure you have a thumb drive at least 1 GB in size before you start.

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/16.04.6/release/ubuntu-16.04.6-server-powerpc.iso

If you need to make a bootable Linux thumb drive, and happen to have another Linux system available for use, follow the instructions here:

https://fienixppc.blogspot.com/p/instructions-for-open-firmware-g5.html

Afterward, here is a guide to booting off of your thumb drive in video format, which may be easier to follow than the boot guide included in the above link:


If you do not have any other Linux systems available to make a bootable thumb drive with and must use Disk Utility, make sure to partition your drive as Apple Partition Map in the "Options..." button under the "Partition" tab prior to restoring, otherwise it will not boot properly. After you have partitioned your drive as Apple Partition Map, and have the newly-downloaded .iso ready, select your thumb drive's partition, and go into the "Restore" tab.

In this pane, on the immediate right side of the "Source:" box, click the "Image..." button and locate and select your Ubuntu 16.04.6 .iso. Then, drag and drop your thumb drive partition into the "Destination:" box below it, and hit "Restore".

When it is finished restoring, you should now have a bootable, PPC-compatible, Ubuntu 16.04 thumb drive at your disposal. At this point, you can boot back into Open Firmware and follow the instructions detailed in the above video. The Ubuntu installer will come on screen, and it will take you from there. If you have questions, we're happy to help. :)

(Alternatively, you could just burn a disc if that's easier.)

Just make sure to back up your data first. It's not Ubuntu's fault if you tell it to install itself on an already pre-occupied partition, but I'm sure you already knew that. ;)

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
swamprock said:
I had a similar issue that I solved by completely zeroing out my drive before installing linux. After the zeroing process, I used the 'dd' command to zero out the first and last blocks of the drive to be sure that any residual boot partitions were removed. The commands I used to do this were (on a linux machine. Not sure how you'd do this with OS X. Perhaps @z970mp has better advice than me):

Code: 
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=4096 count=4096
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=512 count=4096 seek=$(expr `blockdev --getsz /dev/sdX` - 4096)

(Replace the "X" in /sdX with your drive designation, but it'll usually be /sda unless it's a USB drive. The lsblk command will list your device assignments with their names. Be sure to use the back tick (`) and not the forward tick (') on that last command.)

I had no issues with partitioning and installing linux (in my case, Debian sid PPC64) once this was done. OS X leaves some weird partitions sometimes and they conflict with linux boot partitions, and partman won't remove them.

I need to try this with the Fienix USB image, as I'm having the same issue...
Click to expand...


That is a great idea, the problem is... i cant launch linux installation, so... i cant launch terminal for make a zeroing (Yaboot.conf) . My PBG4 boots normally in 10.5

z970mp said:
Alright, let's start from the top.

Here is the most recent PPC-compatible Ubuntu to download. I highly recommend using it instead of other, older releases. Make sure you have a thumb drive at least 1 GB in size before you start.

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/16.04.6/release/ubuntu-16.04.6-server-powerpc.iso

If you need to make a bootable Linux thumb drive, and happen to have another Linux system available for use, follow the instructions here:

https://fienixppc.blogspot.com/p/instructions-for-open-firmware-g5.html

Afterward, here is a guide to booting off of your thumb drive in video format, which may be easier to follow than the boot guide included in the above link:


If you do not have any other Linux systems available to make a bootable thumb drive with and must use Disk Utility, make sure to partition your drive as Apple Partition Map in the "Options..." button under the "Partition" tab prior to restoring, otherwise it will not boot properly. After you have partitioned your drive as Apple Partition Map, and have the newly-downloaded .iso ready, select your thumb drive's partition, and go into the "Restore" tab.

In this pane, on the immediate right side of the "Source:" box, click the "Image..." button and locate and select your Ubuntu 16.04.6 .iso. Then, drag and drop your thumb drive partition into the "Destination:" box below it, and hit "Restore".

When it is finished restoring, you should now have a bootable, PPC-compatible, Ubuntu 16.04 thumb drive at your disposal. At this point, you can boot back into Open Firmware and follow the instructions detailed in the above video. The Ubuntu installer will come on screen, and it will take you from there. If you have questions, we're happy to help. :)

Just make sure to back up your data first. It's not Ubuntu's fault if you tell it to install itself on an already pre-occupied partition, but I'm sure you already knew that. ;)

Good luck.
Click to expand...


Yeah, i always backup.¿If i want to try other flavors like debian? i was wondering if the old isos have a bug with yaboot.
 
minicm said:
i was wondering if the old isos have a bug with yaboot.
Click to expand...

Not to my knowledge.

I recommend following my above guide if you want to install Ubuntu, or Debian, on your machine. It's been tested.
 
z970mp said:
Not to my knowledge.

I recommend following my above guide if you want to install Ubuntu, or Debian, on your machine. It's been tested.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, i booted from usb succesfully, but debian asked for me to mount cd-rom drive, i dont know how to fix, i will try with other linux :oops:
 
minicm said:
Thank you very much, i booted from usb succesfully, but debian asked for me to mount cd-rom drive, i dont know how to fix, i will try with other linux :oops:
Click to expand...

Would you, by chance, have any other USB devices plugged in? I had the same error until I removed another plugged in drive.

If you are installing from USB you will need to remove all USB devices but the bare essentials.
 
z970mp said:
Would you, by chance, have any other USB devices plugged in? I had the same error until I removed another plugged in drive.

If you are installing from USB you will need to remove all USB devices but the bare essentials.
Click to expand...

No, only 1 usb plugged in, and the ethernet cable.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20190416_121538.jpg
    IMG_20190416_121538.jpg
    1.8 MB · Views: 212
minicm said:
Alway giving that error
Click to expand...

I'd try a different USB drive.

As I recall, I believe that fixed the error for me.

Along with removing all other drives, of course. There are 2 solutions, from what I've seen.
 
Last edited:
ctrl+f4 gives me that log, is anything wrong with that? , i tried with a 4gb usb and 8gb usb, i need to say that i make the usb with Disk Utility on Mac Osx 10.5
 

Attachments

  • 15554471003797014191007315315166.jpg
    15554471003797014191007315315166.jpg
    3.6 MB · Views: 216
minicm said:
ctrl+f4 gives me that log, is anything wrong with that? , i tried with a 4gb usb and 8gb usb, i need to say that i make the usb with Disk Utility on Mac Osx 10.5
Click to expand...

A difficult situation...

Some machines are not so keen on working off of USB drives, so I think you should just burn a CD at this point to avoid unnecessary prolonged frustration. Disk Utility can do that for you, with the Burn option. That should work without fail.

PPC Linux is a completely different story from Intel Linux, unfortunately. It can be a tough nut to crack indeed.
 
Last edited:
z970mp said:
A difficult situation...

Some machines are not so keen on working off of USB drives, so I think you should just burn a CD at this point to avoid unnecessary prolonged frustration. Disk Utility can do that for you, with the Burn option. That should work without fail.

PPC Linux is a completely different story from Intel Linux, unfortunately. It can be a tough nut to crack indeed.
Click to expand...


Dude, i really apreciate your help, finally I did it. The problem was "DiskUtility", i burn the iso file to usb from a Windows pc with rufus, i make the usb and later plug in into a fully functional Mac osx 10.5 to make it recognizible, and unpluged it.

Later i go to my Ibook G4 and boot the usb and plug the Ethernet cable, it works perfectly (To boot it i use { boot usb0/disk@1:,\install\yaboot } later i use { probe-usb } because it wasnt recognized at first time. And now i am installing Debian 7 on my Ibook G4 via Ethernet. Dude you really helped me via this "BIG TROUBLE" thank you very much.

//ADVISE\\
If someone has problems intalling Linux can reply to this thread, or may be i should make a Post with my experiences :0
 

Attachments

  • 15554559598038288870826275765710.jpg
    15554559598038288870826275765710.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 131
  • Like
Reactions: z970
minicm said:
Dude, i really apreciate your help, finally I did it. The problem was "DiskUtility", i burn the iso file to usb from a Windows pc with rufus, i make the usb and later plug in into a fully functional Mac osx 10.5 to make it recognizible, and unpluged it.

Later i go to my Ibook G4 and boot the usb and plug the Ethernet cable, it works perfectly (To boot it i use { boot usb0/disk@1:,\install\yaboot } later i use { probe-usb } because it wasnt recognized at first time. And now i am installing Debian 7 on my Ibook G4 via Ethernet. Dude you really helped me via this "BIG TROUBLE" thank you very much.

//ADVISE\\
If someone has problems intalling Linux can reply to this thread, or may be i should make a Post with my experiences :0
Click to expand...

I've always had a bad feeling about Disk Utility. Though, I didn't say anything because I didn't think you had anything else to use...

That is excellent news. Congratulations. :D Wheezy, although relatively outdated, is one of my favorite releases and is a very good option for PowerPC installs.

Might I suggest visiting this thread after Wheezy finishes installing. Steps 9 and higher might give you some extra pointers - as long as you tweak them to function correctly in your environment (i.e. changing "apt" to "apt-get", downloading Wi-Fi drivers from the Wheezy repos instead of the Jessie repos, etc.).

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/debian-sid-installation-guide-powerpc.2146795/

Enjoy your new system. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back