Project G3: Getting Leopard on an Unsupported Mac

[christiann]

Happy 2023! Welcome to the community WikiPost. We will be discussing OS X Leopard on G3’s (and G4’s).

Spoiler: GitHub Page

https://theg3project.github.io

Spoiler: 2023 Updates

Spoiler: Beta Build List

9A241 10.5 Developer Preview (August, 2006)
9A241e 10.5 Developer Preview (September, 2006)
9a283 10.5 Developer Preview (October, 2006)
9a303 10.5 Developer Preview (November, 2006)
9a321 10.5 Developer Preview (December, 2006)
9A326 10.5 Employees Preview (December, 2006)
9A343 10.5 Developer Preview (January, 2007)
9A377 10.5 Developer Preview (March, 2007)
9A377a 10.5 Developer Preview (March, 2007)
9a410 10.5 Developer Preview (April, 2007)
9A466 10.5 WWDC07 Preview (June, 2007)
9A499 10.5 Developer Preview (July, 2007)
9A500n 10.5 Developer Preview (August, 2007)
9A527 10.5 Developer Preview (August, 2007)
9A528a 10.5 (Server) Developer Preview (August, 2007)
9A528d 10.5 Developer Preview (September, 2007)
9A557 10.5 Release Candidate (September, 2007)
9A559 10.5 Release Candidate (September, 2007)
9A581 10.5 Gold Master (October, 2007)

As of early 2023, the guide is “active”. The content has been updated, however, we are still looking for someone to finish the shell script to automate the install.

If you want to discuss this project (as well as Snow Leopard on PowerPC Macs, which covers the 2008 WWDC build as well as build 10a190), you can chat on the joint Discord here: Mythical OSX on PowerPC Mac

This thread has guides and discussions about this topic.

Let's begin here:

9A321 and newer are confirmed NOT working on G3s. This includes later builds such as 9A466.

Macintosh Garden download link to the builds

THANKS TO @Project Alice, any of the G3 builds that were previously locked up on BetaArchive are freed. So kudos to them.

The G3 patcher script development has been stalled as of early 2022.
We are searching for a developer willing to work with us on the script.

Spoiler: “TESTED BUILDS”

Build version:	Working: (Y/N/Untested)
9A241	YES, NATIVE
9A241e	UNTESTED (NOT LEAKED YET) - based on testing of build 9A241, it is likely to also work on G3’s.
9A283	UNTESTED (NOT LEAKED YET) - based on testing builds 9A241 and 9A303 - which come between this build, it is likely to work on G3’s as well.
9Z1554	YES, NATIVE
9A303	YES, NATIVE (CRASHING Finder OOTB: Might be fixable with components from build 9Z1554)
9A321	YES (with components from build 9Z1554)
9A343	NOT WORKING
9A377a	NOT WORKING
9A410	NOT WORKING
9A466	NOT WORKING

Spoiler: Prerequisites

- We recommend that you have 750MB of RAM or else you may not be content with the performance.

- Make sure that this Mac is able to officially run Tiger via a PowerPC G3.

- Have a FireWire cable, external drive, DVD, or USB for installing the OS. A USB drive may or may not work.

- Install Xar using MacPorts (After you install the MacPorts .pkg, run sudo port install xar in Terminal (if you have a network connection))

Thanks to @Jack Neill for finding the download link.

Thanks to @bunnspecial, and @dosdude1 for answering our questions!

Spoiler: Install Method 1

First step: Download your chosen beta build of OS X Leopard (up to 9A303). Extract it.

Step two: Mount the image and go to System/Installation/Packages. Inside ”Packages”, find OSInstall.mpkg. Right-click the file and open with TextEdit.

1. Open with TextEdit and delete OSmodelCheck.
2. Next, change hwbeSupportedMachines to the model identifier of the Mac you are installing it on.
3. Delete the BadMachines.
4. Change the return false to return true to install on a G3 in the code below: var minRam = 512; function checkSupportedMachine(machineType){ // Fail on G3 if (1 != system.sysctl('hw.vectorunit') ) { return false; } var badMachines = ['MacBook3,1','iMac','PowerBook1,1','PowerBook2,1', 'AAPL,Gossamer', 'AAPL,PowerMac G3', 'AAPL,PowerBook1998', 'AAPL,PowerBook1999']; if(machineType){ var length = badMachines.length; // Fail if any of the compatible values match the list of badMachines for( var j = 0; j < length; j++ ){ if(machineType == badMachines[j]){ return false; } } } // require 867Mhz+ if (system.sysctl("hw.cpufrequency") < 866000000) { return false; } return true; }
5. Let’s edit the processor speed. In the code below, xxx represents the processor speed. Set it to 200, for 200MHz. if (system.sysctl("hw.cpufrequency") < xxx000000) { return false;
6. Now, edit the RAM requirements. We recommend at least 750MB. However, you can run this with less RAM. It’ll be slow though. In the following code, change 512 to 400: var minRam = 512;
7. Once you finished all of your edits, save the file with TextEdit.
8. Congrats! You have successfully edited the installer. Make sure that you saved your work. Now proceed to the install!
9. Install using a (Dual Layer) DVD, Firewire, or USB flash drive.

Spoiler: Install Method 2

If you realize that it is not working, force an install on a G3, use a G4 Machine*

*Any G4 is fine, even if Leopard is running unofficially. Just make sure it’s running the version of OS X Leopard that you’d like to force install.*

Spoiler: Installing the Classic Environment

Running build 9A241, it is possible to take the Classic Environment from a Tiger installation and run it there.

Download the zip archive from https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/classic-environment-leopard-9a241 and extract it.

Copy the System folder to your hard drive.

Copy the Classic Startup app from CoreServices from an install of Tiger to your install of 10.5 (9A241) in the same location. Copy the Classic prefPane to

/System/Library/PreferencePanes

. Allow it to copy it to the destination, replacing files

to get Classic to work: in Terminal, run the following:

sudo chown root /System/Library/CoreServices/Classic Startup.app/Contents/Resources/TruBluEnvironment

sudo chmod u+s /System/Library/CoreServices/Classic Startup.app/Contents/Resources/TruBluEnvironment

Classic should now start. Currently speaking, it is slow to start.

I, @MacPro2006VBox am currently testing this so stay tuned!

All of the legacy G3 files for Leopard are below, including several kexts for G3 post-install patches.

Regards,

The G3 Community

 

[z970]

I swear, there's really something about this place.

Not even twelve days into membership, and our newest member has just written a semi-comprehensive installation guide in just over one hour's time, all from his own initiative. And he's not even done!

@556fmjoe You weren't kidding when you said that this forum makes things happen! You people are some of the most driven individuals I've ever seen!

 

[christiann]

I swear, there's really something about this place.

Not even twelve days into membership, and our newest member has just written a semi-comprehensive installation guide in just over one hour's time, all from his own initiative. And he's not even done!

@556fmjoe You weren't kidding when you said that this forum makes things happen! You people are some of the most driven individuals I've ever seen!

Thanks for that. I appreciate it.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

This thread is dedicated to running the Leopard beta (9A241) on our G3 Macs, much like the thread on Snow Leopard PowerPC on G4’s and G5’s.

The only major thing that needs fixed is Safari, which won’t even launch on our G3’s.

Testers welcome. Let’s see how far we can push this beta.

The original install image can be found here: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-os-x-105-leopard-beta-9a241

An image to simply restore to your hard disk or other storage medium (SSD, CF) via Disk Utility will come later.

 

[MartinNobel]

Have you by any chance looked at the Liger ShapeShifter theme? That could also help in some cases if you want to make it more like leopard themed (Downloads folder, etc)

 

[B S Magnet]

This thread is dedicated to running the Leopard beta (9A241) on our G3 Macs, much like the thread on Snow Leopard PowerPC on G4’s and G5’s.

The only major thing that needs fixed is Safari, which won’t even launch on our G3’s.

Testers welcome. Let’s see how far we can push this beta.

The original install image can be found here: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-os-x-105-leopard-beta-9a241

An image to simply restore to your hard disk or other storage medium (SSD, CF) via Disk Utility will come later.

You might want to convert this thread into a WikiPost!

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

You might want to convert this thread into a WikiPost!

Done!

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

Have you by any chance looked at the Liger ShapeShifter theme? That could also help in some cases if you want to make it more like leopard themed (Downloads folder, etc)

Either that or I could have installed the free tool UNO to get rid of the brushed metal.

 

[B S Magnet]

Done!

Actually, I’m going to ask the mods to merge this WikiPost with the OS X Leopard or Leopard Beta on G3/G4 WikiPost thread, as it covers the same purpose and objective.

 

[christiann]

Hi guys. You and I want to do the impossible. I have a sh script I worked on with someone a while back to get it working. I have several iBooks and an iMac G3. 9A241 is already native for a G3, so there wouldn’t be modifying. 9A303 is the last one that will run on G3’s. If someone gets the builds off betaarchive, we can make Leopard on G3’s true. Editing the installer is easy, and I have most of the kexts.

I’m interested in this project.

 

[Sydde]

Have you by any chance looked at the Liger ShapeShifter theme?

When I installed Leopard back in the day, it murdered Shapeshifter. Is that a hack?

 

[Project Alice]

I was going to make this thread one of these days lol..Beat me to it!

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive. I did make a couple posts on the "What have you done with a PPC thread" here, and here (this one was a G4).

The latest build that booted for me on a G3 was 9A410 (or it might've been 9A343 I don't remember. I haven't played with it in a few weeks) Which coincidentally is the last build with Tiger's UI. I did however boot the later ones such as 9A466 on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade, and found that the Rage 128 works, and is even able to display a translucent menu bar.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

Actually, I’m going to ask the mods to merge this WikiPost with the OS X Leopard or Leopard Beta on G3/G4 WikiPost thread, as it covers the same purpose and objective.

Not a bad idea. I learned one thing, and that is not everything you hack in will work here. iTunes is an exception as installing normally gets stuck at the post install scripts.

 

[Jubadub]

When I installed Leopard back in the day, it murdered Shapeshifter. Is that a hack?

I think it's a theme to make Tiger look like Leopard, since there's no ShapeShifter for Leopard and later.

Wonder if the final version of ShapeShifter would work on Leopard beta.

 

[Amethyst1]

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive.

Could you upload them to the Garden at some point, so that others might have a play with them as well? BA's barrier to entry has become quite high.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

I was going to make this thread one of these days lol..Beat me to it!

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive. I did make a couple posts on the "What have you done with a PPC thread" here, and here (this one was a G4).

The latest build that booted for me on a G3 was 9A410 (or it might've been 9A343 I don't remember. I haven't played with it in a few weeks) Which coincidentally is the last build with Tiger's UI. I did however boot the later ones such as 9A466 on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade, and found that the Rage 128 works, and is even able to display a translucent menu bar.

9A410 might be more forgiving than 9A241.... iTunes 9.1.1 is unobtainable on this build due to QuickTime 7.5.5 breaking the system although it successfully installed, being stuck at the Apple logo and it just sits infinitely loading, not getting to the desktop. Safari will have to be manually installed as the pkg expects Tiger (10.4.11)

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

I was going to make this thread one of these days lol..Beat me to it!

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive. I did make a couple posts on the "What have you done with a PPC thread" here, and here (this one was a G4).

The latest build that booted for me on a G3 was 9A410 (or it might've been 9A343 I don't remember. I haven't played with it in a few weeks) Which coincidentally is the last build with Tiger's UI. I did however boot the later ones such as 9A466 on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade, and found that the Rage 128 works, and is even able to display a translucent menu bar.

Would you mind uploading those builds to the Macintosh Garden? I would like to try 9A410.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

As for retail leopard... would just installing it over target disk mode work, an then just replace the apps with the Tiger versions?

 

[Amethyst1]

As for retail leopard... would just installing it over target disk mode work

Retail Leopard won't even boot on a G3 (and that nut hasn't yet been cracked) - apps are the least of your problems

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

Yeah that’s what I thought. I recall someone getting it working... but that was a long time ago. Anyhow 9A241 breaks when you install QuickTime 7.5.5

 

[Amethyst1]

I recall someone getting it working... but that was a long time ago.

With a G4 upgrade. I bet.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

Well I found a copy of build 343 of it.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

So with build 9A343 you can’t easily edit OSinstall.mpkg....

 

[Project Alice]

So with build 9A343 you can’t easily edit OSinstall.mpkg....

It’s easiest to just install from a supported machine and boot from the unsupported one. Like sub 867MHz G4s on release Leopard. Once it’s installed there’s no compatibility check like there is in modern macos.

It’s also worth nothing that QT 7.5.5 also broke 343.

 

[MacPro2006VBox]

It’s easiest to just install from a supported machine and boot from the unsupported one. Like sub 867MHz G4s on release Leopard. Once it’s installed there’s no compatibility check like there is in modern macos.

It’s also worth nothing that QT 7.5.5 also broke 343.

What I would like to try is build 9A410... I hear it’s somewhat closer to retail (no brushed metal)