PowerBook G3 Without Optical Drive

[moszio]

Hello,

Is it possible to install os x on a powerbook g3 lombard without a cd reader?
I tried with an external usb cd reader, but it doesn't see the disk.

Thank you in advance for your answers.
Best Regards,
moszio

 

[thewireless]

You could potentially replace the CD-ROM drive with a generic one; however, a small modification will be required for it to work. You will need to bridge two pins on the connector with some solder (guide).

Another option would be to install the hard disk drive into another Macintosh computer, set up the operating system there, and then return it to the PowerBook.

I am personally unfamiliar with this model, so I'm not sure if it can boot from USB through OpenFirmware, but that is certainly something you can try as well.

 

[moszio]

You could potentially replace the CD-ROM drive with a generic one; however, a small modification will be required for it to work. You will need to bridge two pins on the connector with some solder (guide).

Another option would be to install the hard disk drive into another Macintosh computer, set up the operating system there, and then return it to the PowerBook.

I am personally unfamiliar with this model, so I'm not sure if it can boot from USB through OpenFirmware, but that is certainly something you can try as well.

I'll try it, thank you

 

[moszio]

... out of curiosity, I remembered that there is a target mode... I thought about it, and it worked
🙏