08-12-2011, 12:25 PM

My hard drive on my G5 Power Mac recently died. I'm looking into purchasing a used G5 with the Adobe software, OS, etc. already loaded. I've taken the non-working hard drive out of my existing G5 and was wondering if it is possible to put in the new HD (with the software, OS and everything already loaded) in its place without any issues. My existing G5 is a slightly later model than the one I plan to buy, but I need all the software, OS, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

08-12-2011, 02:20 PM

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I am waiting for more info before I proceed with purchasing a computer. I just want to know if i could insert an internal HD that is already loaded with software and OS into my existing G5 without any problems. Can this be done?

08-12-2011, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by ChipBeef

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I am waiting for more info before I proceed with purchasing a computer. I just want to know if i could insert an internal HD that is already loaded with software and OS into my existing G5 without any problems. Can this be done?

Need exact model info on each computer (old one & new one you're thinking of buying)...and what OS version (10.x.x) is on the HD from your old G5.

- Nick

08-12-2011, 03:07 PM

Old G5 is Model # A1117 M9590LL/A 2.0 Ghz the hard drive i had was ATA, but it has completely failed. I was running OS 10.5.8 on my old hard drive.

The new mac would be this: Power Macintosh G5 2.5 DP (PCI-X) Specs (Mid-2004, M9457LL/A, PowerMac7,3, A1047, 1969C) @ EveryMac.com it is model #A1047...Older model of the G5.

08-12-2011, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by ChipBeef

Old G5 is Model # A1117 M9590LL/A 2.0 Ghz the hard drive i had was ATA, but it has completely failed. I was running OS 10.5.8 on my old hard drive.

The new mac would be this: Power Macintosh G5 2.5 DP (PCI-X) Specs (Mid-2004, M9457LL/A, PowerMac7,3, A1047, 1969C) @ EveryMac.com it is model #A1047...Older model of the G5.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm getting a bit confused...all this talk about old & new hard drives...and older & newer Powermac G5's.

Let's see if I got it straight:

- Your old Powermac G5 works fine...but the HD died.
- This newer Powermac G5 does not work...but the HD is fine
- You want to take the HD from the newer 2.5ghz Powermac G5 & install it in your older working 2.0ghz Powermac G5.
- You're thinking of purchasing this newer non-working 2.5ghz Powermac G5 for it's HD?

If I got this correct...how much are you paying for this non-working 2.5ghz Powermac G5 (with the good HD)?

- Nick

08-12-2011, 05:17 PM

My old power mac G5 works fine. It's just that the hard drive has died. I was thinking of buying a used G5 that is an older model and putting the hard drive from that into my current newer model. I'm wondering if putting a fully-loaded HD from one G5 to another would work without me having to initialize that hard drive and erase all the programs on it.

I feel like buying an older model of a G5 is downgrading from what I already have. Do you know if there is much difference as far as the performance of a slightly older G5 model?

08-12-2011, 05:55 PM

Best option is to purchase a brand new SATA HDD, format and do a cleans install of OS X.5 Leopard, update to OS X.5.8 and do a clean install of your applications etc. Clean install is much better. This assumes you own the software complete with install discs and activation codes, of course?

08-12-2011, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by harryb2448

Best option is to purchase a brand new SATA HDD, format and do a cleans install of OS X.5 Leopard, update to OS X.5.8 and do a clean install of your applications etc. Clean install is much better. This assumes you own the software complete with install discs and activation codes, of course?

If I were to do that what SATA would you recommend?

08-13-2011, 01:14 AM

It is not what I would recommend - a G5 will handle SATA I only with the 1.5GB/s transfer rate. Most SATA II drives are backwards compatible with SATA I, but not does happen the drive may have to be throttled back with jumpers.

Plain old SATA is getting pretty rare these days. Here is a reasonably priced 1TB Hitachi SATA II drive which should be backwards compatible. Hitachi took over the manufacture of IBM disks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1TB-HITACHI-INTE...ht_3858wt_1180

08-13-2011, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by harryb2448

It is not what I would recommend - a G5 will handle SATA I only with the 1.5GB/s transfer rate. Most SATA II drives are backwards compatible with SATA I, but not does happen the drive may have to be throttled back with jumpers.

Plain old SATA is getting pretty rare these days. Here is a reasonably priced 1TB Hitachi SATA II drive which should be backwards compatible. Hitachi took over the manufacture of IBM disks.

1TB HITACHI® INTERNAL 3.5" SATA HARD DRIVE 7200RPM 32MB | eBay

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying about the transfer rate. Would this drive not work? :Seagate - Barracuda 500GB Internal Hard Drive for Desktops - ST3500641AS-RK

08-13-2011, 11:47 AM

I was kind of all set to go with getting a new HD, but now I'm confused. Wouldn't I be able to get a Seagate Barracuda 3.5 ? Aren't these made for G5 computers? I'm hoping to make some sort of a decision soon because I need a working computer. I'm in a bit of a desperate situation and not a lot of money. I appreciate all the help I can get.

I don't have all the system software or adobe programs, and that is why I was wanting to get a computer/hard drive already loaded with these. Getting a new hard drive and having someone load their software on for me would possibly be a better alternative, but the last response has me a little confused. I just assumed that as long as the HD was 3.5 for desktop G5 it would be compatable.

08-13-2011, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by ChipBeef

I don't have all the system software or adobe programs, and that is why I was wanting to get a computer/hard drive already loaded with these. Getting a new hard drive and having someone load their software on for me would possibly be a better alternative, but the last response has me a little confused.

I was just going to ask you what you goal was for getting this new HD...and you clarified it with your post above.

Getting a new HD for a Powermac G5 is no problem at all...but if your goal is to purchase a hard drive from someone with a whole bunch of programs (Adobe) already installed...and if the seller is not including the original install DVD's & software licenses/serial numbers...then this is ILLEGAL!!!

We DO NOT discuss illegal activities at Mac-Forums!

- Nick

08-13-2011, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

I was just going to ask you what you goal was for getting this new HD...and you clarified it with your post above.

Getting a new HD for a Powermac G5 is no problem at all.

If a G5 will handle SATA I only with the 1.5GB/s transfer rate would it not be wise to purchase just any 3.5 internal hard drive? I was looking at the Seagate Barracuda.

08-13-2011, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by ChipBeef

If a G5 will handle SATA I only with the 1.5GB/s transfer rate would it not be wise to purchase just any 3.5 internal hard drive? I was looking at the Seagate Barracuda.

Exactly. What I would do is just shop for the least expensive 3.5" SATA drive you can find (of the capacity you're interested in)...pop it into your PM G5...and you're good to go.

You can give these guys a try if you want:

OWC

Good luck,

- Nick

p.s. Here's a 500 gig drive for $36.99

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Weste.../WD5000AAKSFR/

08-13-2011, 03:45 PM

Thanks for the info.

Just out of curiousity do you, or does anyone, happen to know what exactly is the clicking noise on my old hard drive. I've been trying to recover some of my lost files off the drive. I've even tried freezing the drive, but it still seems to click when trying to boot up. What exactly is it that is clicking?