07-10-2008, 06:07 PM

Yep, you guessed it. They are PC mouse and keyboard. I am a recent convert.

I have a Power Mac G4 AGP 400 with 256 MB memory that normally runs OS X 10.4. I am in the process of putting in a dual quicksilver mod. This requires me to update my Bios, which required me to purchase a copy of 9.2 over the internets, which I did. It arrived today and it boots fine, but the mouse cursor is at the top left of the screen, and it won't move. When I hit the power button it goes into sleep, and when I hit it again, it wakes up, so it isn't locked up. The keyboard is also unresponsive.

I am assuming that I am screwed here. Should I pick up some used hardware or try to borrow something from a friend?

07-10-2008, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by drjayez

Yep, you guessed it. They are PC mouse and keyboard. I am a recent convert.

Good one! I use a PC mouse and keyboard too - but only with OS X. I'm assuming your units are USB, or that you're using a PS2-USB adaptor. Sadly, USB and OS 9.2 just don't get along without numerous drivers. You can search the website of the k/b and mouse manufacturers for drivers for OS 9 - but don't hold your breath whilst doing so.

When I boot my b/w PPC into OS 9, I hook my ADB roller mouse in first (of choice I use a Macally ADB keyboard all the time on this G3). A minor inconvenience, so your question about "used hardware" is appropriate. I *think* there are ADB-USB adaptors too, but whether or not they work I don't know.

07-10-2008, 08:54 PM

Quite often you do need to go to the manufacturers website and download suitable drivers. I take it you mean updating the firmware to 4.2.8f1 to run OSX?

Suggest you get hold of a genuine Apple keyboard and mouse to be on the safe side. Using Apple Bluetooth Wireless KB&M find it necessary to plug in the wired versions to run Apple Hardware Test, DiskWarrior etc. which require booting from disc.

07-10-2008, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by hughvane

USB and OS 9.2 just don't get along without numerous drivers.

Shouldn't native mac USB stuff work though? No ADB on this thing.

I bought one of these:
ebay

Do I need a keyboard? or will I be able to throw my update file in the hard drive and run it with just the mouse? will I have to do some sort of administrator login that will require a keystroke to run the firmware update?

07-10-2008, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by drjayez

Shouldn't native mac USB stuff work though?

Not necessarily. I'm not sufficiently familiar with your model of PPC to know what the hardware specs are (and I don't have Mactracker on this machine). I'm guessing you have 2 x USB 1.1 ports on it. The problem lies not with the hardware of your machine, but with OS 9.

Which raises a question: Are you looking to run OS 9 separately, as in boot into OS 9 (which I do with this particular machine of mine, it having dual hard drives); or simply run Classic applications from within OS X (Tiger)? If it is the latter, then the USB peripherals should work without regard to OS 9. In which case, harryb's suggestion of firmware update is particularly relevant.

Do you need a keyboard? I would imagine so, but mouse function only may complete the required job.

I bought one of these

Which should work just fine with OS X.

07-10-2008, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by hughvane

Are you looking to run OS 9 separately, as in boot into OS 9 (which I do with this particular machine of mine, it having dual hard drives); or simply run Classic applications from within OS X (Tiger)?

Yes, dual 1.1 ports, although I have an IOgear USB 2.0 card in there that works fine in Tiger.

My goal is to only run 9.2 long enough to install the firmware update to 4.2.8 which I understand that I will need in order to use dual processors and/or sawtooths on my motherboard.

I am actually running 10.4 right now reasonably well, albeit slowly.

So the Apple USB mouse may or may not work for this?

You guys are great, BTW

07-10-2008, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by drjayez

My goal is to only run 9.2 long enough to install the firmware update to 4.2.8 which I understand that I will need in order to use dual processors and/or sawtooths on my motherboard.
So the Apple USB mouse may or may not work for this?

Right, the picture becomes clearer. Unfortunately you're caught in a time warp between the transition from ADB to USB. The challenge is to make a mouse and keyboard work for you when you've booted using the OS 9.2 disk in order to load the firmware update. Hmmm.

My suggestion at this stage is to find the necessary mouse and keyboard drivers for the Apple peripherals (the most likely to succeed), install them to the OS 9 System ƒ > Extensions ƒ, reboot, and then see of those danged peripherals will work.

Option 2 might be to go to Griffin Technologies for an iMate (use Google to search for ADB-USB adaptor).

07-10-2008, 11:02 PM

Well, I actually got it to work. Not sure what I did. I actually reset the PRAM and rebooted, and it booted to the CD and I had use of my mouse and keyboard (USB PC models). I went ahead and installed 9.2 on my 2nd hard drive. I was then able to boot to the 2nd hard drive, run the firmware update utility, and I am now rocking 4.2.8

Hopefully this will be the last I see of 9.2, although it looks OK at 1920x1200 and runs reasonably snappy.

Thanks for the assist.

07-10-2008, 11:04 PM

Running Tiger! You HAVE the update and don;t need iot. Go to About This Mac>More Info and check what the Boot Rom Version says - bet is is 4.2.8f1! Boot ROM Version is another name for the firmware update.

Just take off the CPU undoing the screws after you remove the heatsink, position upgrade over connector and press lightly until it fits into place, replace screws and the new heat sink presto!

Look for a keyboard to match your mouse and you are in business,.

07-10-2008, 11:05 PM

A mod moved my thread. Wonder if they will offer to fix my user name...