G4 clean install help

PreacherOfSin · PreacherOfSin #1 (**permalink**)

11-06-2004, 10:25 PM

I am a newb to macs. I just got a G4 Dual 1 GHz (mirrored-drive doors) on ebay and it came with the HD wiped clean. now i need to install OS 9.

I dont have an Apple keyboard. I have a normal usb keyboard and mouse plugged in. I got the cd in the drive, which I had to put in by manually opening the door with the emergency release (there is no eject button on the drive... brilliant). I tried to boot w/ the CD (holding the C key)... nothing.

The keyboard does not even seem to be responding (Num lock does not light up, etc.)

Please help end my pain.

immdb · immdb #2 (**permalink**)

11-07-2004, 08:04 AM

Have you tried the F12 function key? It is assigned the task of opening and closing the CD/DVD tray on third-party keyboards which are missing a dedicated Eject key.

It might not work at start up if your keyboard requires drivers to be loaded to be recognized.

PreacherOfSin · PreacherOfSin #3 (**permalink**)

11-07-2004, 10:56 AM

I thought of the F12 key as well, but I don't even think the boot process gets far enough to allow me to use a 3rd-party keyboard. Thanks for the suggestion though. :teen:

A friend of mine has an Apple keyboard, I will take my rig over there and see if it makes a difference. I will post an update if this works.

Avalon · Avalon #4 (**permalink**)

11-07-2004, 12:35 PM

I never tried a 3rd party keyboard on my Mac, but even on the original Apple keyboard the NUM-lock doesn't light up. It does light up though when I connect the Apple keyboard to a PC.

Another hint:
To eject the drive's tray, press the mouse button (the left one if you have a 2 button mouse) while booting.
Then put in the CD, and after a little moment, it should boot from the CD (if the CD is bootable, of course)

baggss · baggss #5 (**permalink**)

11-11-2004, 02:09 AM

I have a nice Logitech USB keyboard hooked up to my G4 Tower. It will not boot the Mac from the a CD by holding down the C key. I have to use my stock Apple Keyboard for that.

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PreacherOfSin #1 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	11-06-2004, 10:25 PM I am a newb to macs. I just got a G4 Dual 1 GHz (mirrored-drive doors) on ebay and it came with the HD wiped clean. now i need to install OS 9. I dont have an Apple keyboard. I have a normal usb keyboard and mouse plugged in. I got the cd in the drive, which I had to put in by manually opening the door with the emergency release (there is no eject button on the drive... brilliant). I tried to boot w/ the CD (holding the C key)... nothing. The keyboard does not even seem to be responding (Num lock does not light up, etc.) Please help end my pain.
	QUOTE Thanks

immdb #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2003 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 652 Mac Specs: Mac Pro Quad Xeon 2.66GHz 3GB RAM, G4 Quicksilver w/Sonnet 1GHz Encore ST, 1ghz G4 Powerbook	11-07-2004, 08:04 AM Have you tried the F12 function key? It is assigned the task of opening and closing the CD/DVD tray on third-party keyboards which are missing a dedicated Eject key. It might not work at start up if your keyboard requires drivers to be loaded to be recognized.
	QUOTE Thanks

Avalon #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 25, 2004 Location: Luxemburg, Europe Posts: 1,779 Mac Specs: PowerMac G5 Dual 2GHz (June 2004), 2.5GB, Airport, black 5G iPod 30GB, white MacBook 2.0 2GB	11-07-2004, 12:35 PM I never tried a 3rd party keyboard on my Mac, but even on the original Apple keyboard the NUM-lock doesn't light up. It does light up though when I connect the Apple keyboard to a PC. Another hint: To eject the drive's tray, press the mouse button (the left one if you have a 2 button mouse) while booting. Then put in the CD, and after a little moment, it should boot from the CD (if the CD is bootable, of course)
	QUOTE Thanks

baggss #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2004 Location: Margaritaville Posts: 10,308 Mac Specs: 27" 3.4 Ghz i7 iMac-13" C2D Macbook-OSX 18.8.2-64Gb iPad 2-32 Gb iPhone 5-ATV 2-14Tb of Storage	11-11-2004, 02:09 AM I have a nice Logitech USB keyboard hooked up to my G4 Tower. It will not boot the Mac from the a CD by holding down the C key. I have to use my stock Apple Keyboard for that.
	QUOTE Thanks

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