USB install on Mac iBook G4? (32 PPC)

Espionage724

Espionage724

I have a iBook G4 running Mac OS X 10.5. I dd'd FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-bootonly.iso to a USB, booted OpenFirmware, and can seemingly boot it, but during FreeBSD boot it gets to looking for something on cd9660, and spams Root mount waiting for: CAM for 1-2 minutes.

It eventually reports cd0 at ata0 and then continues the root mount waiting for cam. Waiting longer eventually reports my HDD at ada0 with a few more root mount waitings, but then seems to stop spamming (caps lock light responds so doesn't seem frozen?)


I tried devalias'ing cd to usb with:

Code: 
devalias cd /pci@f2000000/usb@1b,1/disk@1

and ls on cd: reported FreeBSD. Variations of boot cd:,\:tbxi and stuff on cd didn't boot (couldn't find file/something), but changing cd to ud (with above devalias usb@1b,1/disk@) and boot ud:,\:tbxi boots FreeBSD installer.


It looks like the install image expects to be burned to a disc; I don't have any RWs around :p But I didn't notice a memstick image at https://download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/

Is it possible to boot FreeBSD's installer from USB on powerpc?
 
i had one maybe 15 years ago. the 14" / 1Ghz / 1GB version.
netbsd worked on it.
it had this problem and after fixing it several times i ditched it
www.macintoshhowto.com

How to fix a broken G4 iBook logic board problem - Macintosh How To

There is a problem with the logic board in the Macintosh G4 ibooks. It can appear after a year or more in some machines and the symptom is that after being on for a few minutes, the screen goes black (it looks blank, but the light has gone off) , the fan turns on, and the computer freezes.
www.macintoshhowto.com www.macintoshhowto.com
 
I bought a CD-R :p (haven't burned a disc in years; even found a Sharpie to write on it FreeBSD PPC)

I'm thinking it has to boot from OpenFirmware though? Booting from Mac's boot menu (holding Option) loads the installer, but it seems to stop loading eventually (no waiting for CAM but don't recall anything notably specific); I'll try some more stuff on it within a few days.


Burned 4 Tiger install discs and installed 10.4 clean onto it no problem though! A more modern-OS would be nice for web browsing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top