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

PowerBook G4 12" 1.5ghz (USB BOOT)

ExclusiveMac

ExclusiveMac

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 29, 2017
127
58
Japan
Howdy!

I am the owner of a PowerBook G4 12" 1.5ghz, and i replace the old IDE HDD with an MSATA 120GB SSD with an adapter, now i want to install Leopard OS, i create the bootable USB of 8GB stick, but nothing is showing when i boot with option key at startup.

I tried also with the command option+command+F+O, it starts but i can't find the USB drive.

Does anyone have some solutions regarding this issue?
 

Attachments

  • MVIMG_20201103_232548.jpg
    MVIMG_20201103_232548.jpg
    533.8 KB · Views: 627
ExclusiveMac said:
Howdy!

I am the owner of a PowerBook G4 12" 1.5ghz, and i replace the old IDE HDD with an MSATA 120GB SSD with an adapter, now i want to install Leopard OS, i create the bootable USB of 8GB stick, but nothing is showing when i boot with option key at startup.

I tried also with the command option+command+F+O, it starts but i can't find the USB drive.

Does anyone have some solutions regarding this issue?
Click to expand...
Unlike Intel Macs, PowerPC Macs (except for some early models) were not designed to boot from USB. They can, but you have to kickstart the process through Open Firmware. The command that @1deadhead mentions assumes you have booted into Open Firmware.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Amethyst1 and ExclusiveMac
1deadhead said:
You can try this, assuming you have your drive plugged into the rear USB.

boot usb1/disk@1:,\\:tbxi

Replace the usb1/ with usb0/ if it's in the front one
Click to expand...
I tried, no success.
 

Attachments

  • MVIMG_20201104_082053.jpg
    MVIMG_20201104_082053.jpg
    568.4 KB · Views: 432
Or maybe i didn't create properly the USB? Can someone tell me how to create it properly for the PowerBook G4 12"
 
I created like that, but as you can see in the screenshots, the USB drive is not on the list on.

I tried:
Command ⌘+Option+O+F dev / ls, no USB disk on the list.
boot usb1/disk@1:,\\:tbxi, the same.

Seems that boot usb3/disk@1:,\\:tbxi is doing something but i receive just the restricted logo.
 

Attachments

  • MVIMG_20201104_231037.jpg
    MVIMG_20201104_231037.jpg
    248.9 KB · Views: 321
Last edited:
ExclusiveMac said:
Howdy!

I am the owner of a PowerBook G4 12" 1.5ghz, and i replace the old IDE HDD with an MSATA 120GB SSD with an adapter, now i want to install Leopard OS, i create the bootable USB of 8GB stick, but nothing is showing when i boot with option key at startup.

I tried also with the command option+command+F+O, it starts but i can't find the USB drive.

Does anyone have some solutions regarding this issue?
Click to expand...
Follow this Youtube instruction below faithfully and you should have no problems seeing and booting from the USB flash drive with your PowerBook 12". Though I prefer restoring from a DVD copy myself when I was refurbishing those PowerBooks when I was working at the recycling depot.

 
  • Like
Reactions: ExclusiveMac
iluvmacs99 said:
Follow this Youtube instruction below faithfully and you should have no problems seeing and booting from the USB flash drive with your PowerBook 12". Though I prefer restoring from a DVD copy myself when I was refurbishing those PowerBooks when I was working at the recycling depot.

Click to expand...
Is the video that i followed before posting here, no chance. Nothing!
 
It seems like you are successfully telling Open Firmware to boot from USB, but the device itself is then not bootable. Did you create the USB using a PowerPC Mac? I have had issues like this when creating it in a modern Mac, but using Tiger/Leopard Disk Utility (using the exact same settings) it magically worked.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ExclusiveMac
r6mile said:
It seems like you are successfully telling Open Firmware to boot from USB, but the device itself is then not bootable. Did you create the USB using a PowerPC Mac? I have had issues like this when creating it in a modern Mac, but using Tiger/Leopard Disk Utility (using the exact same settings) it magically worked.
Click to expand...
Yeah, i tried on a modern Mac with Catalina to create the USB on Recovery Mode, I will try on to do it on PowerPC.
 
My dvd drive is broken, is there a way to use the Apple Super Drive? I have one around and I would like to use it, I know that Super Drives are working for models from 2008 but is there a way to make work on PowerBook?
 
Okay, this drives me crazy, I bought another one, everything working, boot options, c key to boot from DVD.

I tried to change the HDD with an SSD from the other power book with os x already installed, everything okay it boots and it arrives on the desktop.

So, i decided to reinstall the OS, I insert the DVD, and before chimes, I press the C key to boot from DVD, nothing, also ALT key not working, basically ALT key and C key not working and it boots directly to OS on desktop.

Then I tried to boot directly from the DVD from the desktop, prompt me to restart, it restarts and yes, it boots from DVD and now I reinstalled the OS.

I will try to check again the ALT key and C key to see if working after reinstall.

If it doesn’t work what should I do?
 
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