03-27-2010, 10:55 PM

Hi everyone,

I just replaced the power supply in a power mac G4 Digital Audio tower and everything seems to power up okay with the exception that the computer won't boot.

The monitor comes on but only once in the multiple reboots did a see the grey apple logo on white screen. The computer however, doesn't have an OS installed and when I tried putting on OSX Tiger onto the computer is says something along the line of "driver not supported PowerPC 3,4"

I did a bit of reading on the net and found that I need to upgrade the firmware of the computer before it will allow me to install OSX Tiger 10.4.7

This was a donated computer and I believe it was working prior to its original PSU blowing up.

I am a bit confused though with the bootup screen b/c it doesn't show the apple like my imacs and macbooks.

Just a black screen. I do know the video card is working b/c I did try booting a cd that had ubuntu OS 6.06 and I was able to type and read text. Problem with the linux OS however, is that it never fully booted so I can't even verify if the computer is working or not.

Suggestions?

Thanks,

03-28-2010, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by stevescivic

Hi everyone,



The computer however, doesn't have an OS installed

I am a bit confused though with the bootup screen b/c it doesn't show the apple like my imacs and macbooks.

Just a black screen. I do know the video card is working b/c I did try booting a cd that had ubuntu OS 6.06 and I was able to type and read text. Problem with the linux OS however, is that it never fully booted so I can't even verify if the computer is working or not.

Suggestions?

Thanks,

This sounds some what confused If theres no OS on the HD then there will not be a boot screen. You should see a flashing ? mark. If you use a live version of Linux the machine should run.

03-28-2010, 12:42 AM

You'll need to buy a used (earlier) copy of Tiger or perhaps go back to Panther (retail versions for either) in order to boot this machine and update the firmware.

03-28-2010, 12:57 AM

Digital Audio will require booting to Mac OS 9.1 to update its firmware.

Power Mac G4 Firmware Update 4.2.8: Information and Download

There's the site, but the firmware update will NOT work in Mac OS X or in Classic. You must restart to native 9.1, 9.2, 9.2.1, or 9.2.2 for it to work.

03-28-2010, 12:40 PM

Hi everyone I got the "?" Mark to show up now in color on my screen after I did PMU reset twice. The computer has sat with a dead mb battery for years and wasn't plugged in eons. I do not have access to os 9 ( eBay I guess ) but I did try to install ubuntu 9.10 and it boots up to the point where it looks like it's ready to start and then the video goes blank and then nothing happens. I would imagine that if the video card was going bad that it would show junk and not show the consistent blacking out like what I am seeing. I even used the check function in Linux and all systems check out ok.

Not sure what to do now. System is clean but I can't get an os onto the hdd.

03-28-2010, 01:53 PM

The Linux version has to be for a PPC Mac not a windows version. You should now be able to boot from a retail version of OS 10. Hold down the C key at start up.

03-28-2010, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Mac SK

The Linux version has to be for a PPC Mac not a windows version. You should now be able to boot from a retail version of OS 10. Hold down the C key at start up.

Without the firmware update he may not be able to run versions of Mac OS X after 10.2. At least not reliably. That machine shipped with 9.1 and 10.0.3. 9.1-9.2.2 will be required to run the firmware update.

This isn't to say that it's not worth trying. Start it up from whatever Mac OS X disc you have and give it a shot!

03-28-2010, 02:31 PM

If the drive has not been wiped the firmware from its last install will still be there. Lets just get it running and work out the details later. You may have to run Linux on it if your not able to resolve the firmware issue. This will give you an idea of the pickle your in http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=14856

For some reason the Apple link will not open (Power Mac G4 Firmware Update 4.2.8: Information and Download) Like everyone has said you have to run OS 9+ to update.