Hello, I've got a used Power Mac G4 Digital Audio with 512 MB RAM. I'm trying to install Mac OS X Panther 10.3. However, the previous owner of this Power Mac decided to start installing OS X, but only used the first disc. Whenever I turn on the machine, I get asked to insert disk 2 of OS X (which OS X version is unspecified). I've tried holding down C as I boot the machine with the 10.3 disc 1 and disc 2, and I've tried holding down Ctrl + S as I boot, but neither works. I simply can't get the Mac to boot from CD, or to continue installation with any of the CDs that I have. Is there a way to interrupt the previous version's install, or even format the disk?
Used Power Mac G4 Installation Problem.
- Thread starter DrCruse
- Start date
DeltaMac
Tech
boot to disk 1, while holding the letter C.
If that doesn't work, reboot while holding the Option key.
You'll get a boot-picker screen, so choose the installer, then click the right-facing arrow. You won't be able to select the CD until the cursor changes back to a normal arrow.
Ctrl + S doesn't do anything. I guess you meant command + S ?
If you are not using an Apple-brand keyboard, you might find that some startup key commands just won't work properly. A keyboard with a Windows key, for example, will have alt/option, and command reversed.
Yes, when you are booted to the OS X installer disk, you can choose Disk Utility from the Utilities menu, and erase the hard drive then.
If that doesn't work, reboot while holding the Option key.
You'll get a boot-picker screen, so choose the installer, then click the right-facing arrow. You won't be able to select the CD until the cursor changes back to a normal arrow.
Ctrl + S doesn't do anything. I guess you meant command + S ?
If you are not using an Apple-brand keyboard, you might find that some startup key commands just won't work properly. A keyboard with a Windows key, for example, will have alt/option, and command reversed.
Yes, when you are booted to the OS X installer disk, you can choose Disk Utility from the Utilities menu, and erase the hard drive then.
jbarley
One more, for the road!
if you have access to another Mac computer you could try connecting the two systems with FW400 and using Target disk mode to format the G4.
Boot the G4 while pressing the "T" key, it should start in Target mode.
Now using Disk Utility on the other Mac you should be able to see and partition-format the G4s Hard drive.
Boot the G4 while pressing the "T" key, it should start in Target mode.
Now using Disk Utility on the other Mac you should be able to see and partition-format the G4s Hard drive.
ElDiabloConCaca
U.S.D.A. Prime
Your Windows USB keyboard should work fine.
If it's a wireless keyboard, you may or may not experience some difficulty -- is this keyboard wired or wireless?
If it's a wireless keyboard, you may or may not experience some difficulty -- is this keyboard wired or wireless?
DeltaMac
Tech
Some Windows USB keyboards might not provide the keycodes properly to accept some Mac startup key combinations. The "T" for target boot mode should normally work OK. Option/alt, and the command key would usually be swapped, but not necessarily at boot. You have to experiment with the Windows key, or option/alt to find out which ones work.
I've discovered that holding down alt brings me to what appears to be a selection screen between the HDD and the CD. There's a refresh symbol at the bottom left, and a right arrow at the bottom right. The HDD is highlighted, but I can't find out how to choose the CD!
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DeltaMac
Tech
You are in what is known as 'single user mode'
You can type in a number of different commands, browse through the hard drive, and a variety of other tasks. It is similar to the OS X terminal.
The task that I would do at that prompt?
fsck (File System ChecK), the format for that command is listed in the last couple of lines before the prompt. so, type fsck -fy
then press enter or return. You'll see several lines showing the progress of the file system check. If any repairs are reported, do the same command again, until no problems are found.
then, type mount -uw /
notice the space between the w and the /
Press enter. When the prompt returns, you can type reboot to exit single user mode, and your Mac will restart. As that doesn't really fix your issue of the system asking for disk 2 - you can boot to your installer CD by inserting that installer CD in the drive, then shutting off power to your Mac - you don't need to protect anything, so just hold the power button for 5 seconds or so, and the power will shut off.
Press and release the power button, while holding the letter C (which is the quickest method to boot to the CD) - or you could also hold the alt key, which SHOULD bring up the option boot-picker screen. Wait for the spinning cursor to change to a normal arrow, click on your installer CD icon, and click on the right-facing arrow to boot to that CD.
You can type in a number of different commands, browse through the hard drive, and a variety of other tasks. It is similar to the OS X terminal.
The task that I would do at that prompt?
fsck (File System ChecK), the format for that command is listed in the last couple of lines before the prompt. so, type fsck -fy
then press enter or return. You'll see several lines showing the progress of the file system check. If any repairs are reported, do the same command again, until no problems are found.
then, type mount -uw /
notice the space between the w and the /
Press enter. When the prompt returns, you can type reboot to exit single user mode, and your Mac will restart. As that doesn't really fix your issue of the system asking for disk 2 - you can boot to your installer CD by inserting that installer CD in the drive, then shutting off power to your Mac - you don't need to protect anything, so just hold the power button for 5 seconds or so, and the power will shut off.
Press and release the power button, while holding the letter C (which is the quickest method to boot to the CD) - or you could also hold the alt key, which SHOULD bring up the option boot-picker screen. Wait for the spinning cursor to change to a normal arrow, click on your installer CD icon, and click on the right-facing arrow to boot to that CD.
DeltaMac
Tech
The 'boot drive selection screen' has, at minimum on a PPC Mac, a curly arrow icon, and a right-facing arrow icon.
If you have bootable disks, including an OS X installer that is supported by your Mac, then you will also see an icon for each bootable drive or partition. Assuming the installer CD is in your drive, you should see an icon for that CD. Click on that icon, and then click the right-facing arrow, and there you go!
If the hard drive is slow to mount, or the CD drive is not in very good condition, or the OS X installer CD is not clean and undamaged, then you may have to wait for a couple of minutes (maybe longer) before all the icons appear. You can also try clicking on the curly arrow, which will restart the search for bootable partitions. It will also extend the time that it takes for the system to be ready to boot (meaning that you wait for the cursor to change to a normal arrow.)
Much simpler, with the installer CD in the drive, restart while holding the letter C.
If you have bootable disks, including an OS X installer that is supported by your Mac, then you will also see an icon for each bootable drive or partition. Assuming the installer CD is in your drive, you should see an icon for that CD. Click on that icon, and then click the right-facing arrow, and there you go!
If the hard drive is slow to mount, or the CD drive is not in very good condition, or the OS X installer CD is not clean and undamaged, then you may have to wait for a couple of minutes (maybe longer) before all the icons appear. You can also try clicking on the curly arrow, which will restart the search for bootable partitions. It will also extend the time that it takes for the system to be ready to boot (meaning that you wait for the cursor to change to a normal arrow.)
Much simpler, with the installer CD in the drive, restart while holding the letter C.
DeltaMac
Tech
All you need to do is click on the CD icon, which will show that it is selected, then click on the right-facing arrow.
Do you actually see an icon with the title "Mac OS X Installer CD" in that boot picker screen?
If not, what do you see (in addition to the two arrow icons?)
You are waiting for the cursor to change to a normal arrow, correct? You can't click on anything until that cursor is an arrow.
If that doesn't work for you, what happens when you try to boot while holding the letter C?
Do you actually see an icon with the title "Mac OS X Installer CD" in that boot picker screen?
If not, what do you see (in addition to the two arrow icons?)
You are waiting for the cursor to change to a normal arrow, correct? You can't click on anything until that cursor is an arrow.
If that doesn't work for you, what happens when you try to boot while holding the letter C?
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When I hold down C, the CD door spits out the CD and loads the half-installed OS X, asking for Disc 2 of the OS I don't have.
At the boot selection screen, the mouse turns into an arrow, and the under the CD something along the lines of "OS X Install CD" are displayed. When I left click the CD, nothing happens. When I right click it, it appears to become highlighted. Then I right click the arrow, and the arrow becomes highlighted and the CD becomes un-highlighted. And all this time, the HDD is still highlighted.
At the boot selection screen, the mouse turns into an arrow, and the under the CD something along the lines of "OS X Install CD" are displayed. When I left click the CD, nothing happens. When I right click it, it appears to become highlighted. Then I right click the arrow, and the arrow becomes highlighted and the CD becomes un-highlighted. And all this time, the HDD is still highlighted.
DeltaMac
Tech
Right-click doesn't function in any significant way on that boot-picker screen. I don't think you can click on something twice, either.
So, a left-click on the installer icon, then click on the right-facing arrow. The system is always a little slow to respond for booting from that screen, so give it a minute or two.
However, is the CD is simply ejected when you try the C, then it's likely that either the CD disk is damaged, scratched, smudged, etc. - or the CD drive just doesn't read the installer disk very well.
You can try cleaning the surface of the CD, or try cleaning the drive itself.
If you think the CD drive is original, then I suggest purchasing a replacement drive. You can find brand new drives for 20 or $30, even dual-layer DVD burners. Most any generic ones are fine. I found a good one on sale at CompUSA for $20, which is an MSI brand, but there's plenty of others.
It's easier than futzing around with an external drive, and you get a drive that will be significantly faster to read any disk than the original drive. And, you'll find out that you don't need to install any software, even if some comes with the drive (which will be for Windows anyway) The drives on a G4 PowerMac are easy to replace.
So, a left-click on the installer icon, then click on the right-facing arrow. The system is always a little slow to respond for booting from that screen, so give it a minute or two.
However, is the CD is simply ejected when you try the C, then it's likely that either the CD disk is damaged, scratched, smudged, etc. - or the CD drive just doesn't read the installer disk very well.
You can try cleaning the surface of the CD, or try cleaning the drive itself.
If you think the CD drive is original, then I suggest purchasing a replacement drive. You can find brand new drives for 20 or $30, even dual-layer DVD burners. Most any generic ones are fine. I found a good one on sale at CompUSA for $20, which is an MSI brand, but there's plenty of others.
It's easier than futzing around with an external drive, and you get a drive that will be significantly faster to read any disk than the original drive. And, you'll find out that you don't need to install any software, even if some comes with the drive (which will be for Windows anyway) The drives on a G4 PowerMac are easy to replace.
jbarley
One more, for the road!
If I read the OPs previous post correctly they already have tried what you are suggesting, and the CD does NOT show up at the Boot-picker screen.