Amiga OS4 on old (PPC) Macs

[DBAlex]

I don't think that the Ghz should make a difference, only the BIOS version.

Yep but the "secret" speed bump that apple made are the only versions of the mini with the correct bios/firmware... [Until someone else confirms running it on a 1.25ghz or 1.42ghz model ] :-)

[DBAlex]

@Debaser:

Tried option 1?

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I forgot to tell everyone, also.  All USB devices are recognized (Keyboard + Mouse)... [With option 4 or 5] You obviously knew about the mouse as I got to the early boot screen but just confirming the keyboard works too...! [I can press the caps lock key etc] From looking at the files it also seems that Mass Storage devices can be used... [Boot from a USB key?]

Also, I was fiddling about looking at the files and found out you can also use the command boot cd:\\slb_v2_mm instead of the standard boot cd:\\slb ... The slb_v2_mm is more of a quiet boot, less output on the Open Firmware and it appears to be a little faster...! Also, im going to test plugging in some USB devices today to see if they are shown in Boot Options in the early boot screen.

Alex. :-D

[DBAlex]

@motorollin

Thanks dude, you finally found out how to make a torrent, hehe!

Yup, grab the video while you can, i've removed my link and the pictures temporarily.

[DBAlex]

OK, I just booted the CD again with Option 5 [CDROM MM_Full_Silent_USB] and it booted fine, intrestingly the USB mass storage device (1gb Sandisk Cruzer Micro) isn't recognized as a boot device, but if I don't go to the early boot menu and let the cd boot the flash drive flashes for a few seconds... Which possibly means its looking for files on it?  :-?

Anyway, I don't really want to say any more [Don't want to get into trouble] But i'm gonna try some more "things" in the next couple of days to see if I can push further into getting a more "successful" boot.  :-)

EDIT: also, I found its easy to boot from the USB key in the Open Firmware... You do the following:

setenv boota-device usb:

boot usb:\\

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I'm also thinking of combining the commands to boot from the CD and then the USB key E.g.:

setenv boota-device cd:
boot cd:\\slb_v2_mm usb:\\

Not completely sure that would work though... Would it just boot from the USB after its finished with the files on the CD?

Hope someone is a bit more clued up on how Open Firmware works and can help me out...  :-D

[DBAlex]

@Ohforf:

Hehe, Thanks, You did something I was too scared to do... everyone go watch now...  :-D [Although its not that amazing ]

We also need to thank AmigaMac... I hope he turns up or at least gets un-banned from EAB (!)

[DBAlex]

@gizmo350

Hehe, Sounds about right, although as someone posted earlier I think you can spoof these things so that OS4 can boot on every Mac... I PM'ed the guy but he hasn't responded. (beakster2)

The only commands I have received are the standard ones that everyone has:

setenv boota-device cd:
boot cd:\\slb

I also found out though that:
setenv boota-device cd:
boot cd:\\slb_v2_mm

Also works... and the slb_v2_mm is more of a quiter boot with less Open Firmware output, I don't think it will magically boot your mac if its not the 64mb model though... You can give it a go though.

Im trying to contact beakster2 about spoofing the openfirmware for the boot rom version and the vram [if thats even possible] so far he still hasn't responded though.

Alex.  :-D

[DBAlex]

Apple really made a G4 1.5ghz MINI? I cannot find any info on this machine.
I only found the 1.25, and the 1.42ghz versions.mmm..
I did find info on the 1.5ghz intel Mac Mini..

Please someone clarify, which model is required, and why doesn't the 1.25,1.42 Mac Mini work? I have a G4 1.67 PowerBook 17"..why wont it work on any of these machines..or even an older G4 @500mhz..
Please someone explain.

Thanks
Rich

Apple did make this machine, as I own it!

Apple quietly updated the Mini's to an overclocked spec, The 1.25ghz Mini was overclocked to 1.33ghz and the 1.42 boosted to 1.5ghz... They didn't publicize this "secret" speed bump and it was luck if you got one or not [Luckily I did]

I think [I'm talking with beakster2 over PM's now] that the way to boot it on those machines is to spoof the Open Firmware into thinking that your machine is either a 1.33ghz with a 64mb Radeon 9200 or a 1.5ghz with a 64mb Radeon 9200... Im asking beakster2 now if its possible to spoof the vram amount, he says that it IS possible to spoof the CPU spped though (read his post on the previous page)

Alex.

[DBAlex]

@BooBoo1200

Yup, they all shipped with 64mb.

Alex. :-D

[BTW you can find some of these Mini's for sale on Ebay.co.uk... However don't expect anything big yet, I only have the kernel booting of course... Its gonna take some work to push further]

 

[DBAlex]

Quick bump, I know a guy who has this installed on a HD...

Not naming any names...

But yeah, it's possible to get a working OS4 from this...

Whether this is legal or not i'm not sure...?

Probably not though so I won't say any more. Also "I know a guy" means someone else, i've never had any success getting any further than the kickstart screen :-(

Alex.