Power Mac 5500 & Mac OS 8.6

[nick004]

Hi!

Just got dumped with someones old Power Mac and wanted to play around with it. I only started on Mac's in the OS X times.

Anyway, I plug in the keyboard and the mouse into the keyboard. I turn it on and OS 8.6 freezes on the "Starting Up.." load screen. I do not have the install discs, any advice? Thanks in advance.

 

[jellomizer]

Linux?

You could try to put a PowerPC version of Linux or NetBSD on it. There is the questionability of legality on abandonware where you may get a copy. However someone may be willing to give up their legal copy for you, check ebay, I think OS 9 would work on it too.

 

[MonksMac]

Try this-
Hold down the shift key on the keyboard when the computer first turns on. This will disable all of the extensions and may get the computer to start up completely.

 

[froggytreafrogg]

You could try to put a PowerPC version of Linux or NetBSD on it. There is the questionability of legality on abandonware where you may get a copy. However someone may be willing to give up their legal copy for you, check ebay, I think OS 9 would work on it too.

No offense to the previous guy (Linux), but i don't suggest using any linux. word has it that they tend to install just fine, but when you try to reformat to put on a different operating system (go back to mac) or restore, etc. you won't be able to because the Linux is said to 'stick' in the computer.
My suggestion is to find a copy of mac os 8.5 from a person or such. Man, you can purchase install disks of os 8 for super cheap from the net. Or if the powermac has enough processor and ram, you can even find a copy of os x 10.1, they're rather cheap now too.
Anyway, good luck; and don't give up, you'll figure it out.

 

[Avenger23]

You can go up to Mac OS 9.1 on the Power Mac 5500. I would not recommend loading Mac OS X on it, since it will not handle the operating system. You can still find cheap copies of the older Mac OS's on the Internet to reinstall the system with.