Mac OS 9 booting on: Mac mini G4 (Detailed Posts)

[nanopico]

The ROM I posted here http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2727.msg19816.html#msg19816
Is a modified version of the one you linked to, but it contains the scripts to update the processor version so you would not need to do that manually.

When I try to download the file from http://www.gnerder.com/files/rom.sit I get a 404 not found error.

I'm sorry about that. it's working now.

[androda]

Thanks for fixing the link.

I tried that Mac OS ROM, and still didn't get past here:

Code: [Select]

parsing <CHRP-BOOT>

evaluating <BOOT-SCRIPT>

[nanopico]

Thanks for fixing the link.

I tried that Mac OS ROM, and still didn't get past here:

Code: [Select]

parsing <CHRP-BOOT>

evaluating <BOOT-SCRIPT>

I didn't think you would get any further, but it does make booting easier as you don't have to enter the commands to change the CPU version.

[nanopico]

Just got a mini in my hands.
Let's see where I can get with this.
It appears to have some graphics issues though.

[nanopico]

The mini is going to be the most difficult.  Just in case any one wants to know.

It get's through all hardware initialization without a hitch, until it actually loads the kernel.
Then boom. I haven't figured out exactly what it's hating on, as the kernel log dump isn't scrollable so it makes it a little hard to read the sequence leading up to the hang.

It looks like it hangs right before displaying the Happy Mac Logo

[nanopico]

As of right now it looks like it the pmu.

This is bad news if that's it.
The pmu used in the mini was use only in the mini and not in any other machine. 
There is a small possibility it is compatible with the via-pmu as was commonly used.  This is based on entries in open firmware.

Layout and interface wise the mini is closest to the eMac based on the block diagrams. Not that it helps, but it's something.

[nanopico]

I keep responding to myself.

PMU not the problem.
Looking at all properties now and the OS X xnu/applevia source it's compatible with the apple via drivers used in OS 9.

So I'm at a dead end until I am home from work in an hour.
Maybe more info tonight.

[Bolkonskij]

aw it's a pity this hasn't worked out yet. The Mac Minis are such nice machines still. Fast, quiet, flexible and small. It'd be awesome to have OS 9 running on them. I have one of the last gen (I think a 1.42 Ghz model) Mini, so if there some way for me to helping in terms of testing, I'll gladly volunteer ..

[nanopico]

aw it's a pity this hasn't worked out yet. The Mac Minis are such nice machines still. Fast, quiet, flexible and small. It'd be awesome to have OS 9 running on them. I have one of the last gen (I think a 1.42 Ghz model) Mini, so if there some way for me to helping in terms of testing, I'll gladly volunteer ..

Don't lose hope.  Still in process.

[Bolkonskij]

Well, certainly crossing fingers! Would be awesome to boot back into OS 9 (and not Classic).

Let me know if I can help with some testing ... 

[geforceg4]

i would LOVE to have mac os 9 on a PPC mac mini!
i could try to track down one and help out any way i can???

[nanopico]

i would LOVE to have mac os 9 on a PPC mac mini!
i could try to track down one and help out any way i can???

Good news is that I have two of them at the moment and a third on the way so thankfully I have access to them now to work on them.

[geforceg4]

yea i cant imagine them being very expensive in this day + age

[MacOS Plus]

  I'm really only interested in buying one if I know it can be made to boot OS 9 and with adequate device support for enough of its critical guts.  Running OS X on it seems like a boring and underpowered waste of time!

[nanopico]

yea i cant imagine them being very expensive in this day + age

A couple people I know like to give me old mac stuff for some reason (oldest I've gotten so far is a G3 PowerBook PDQ).
I even acquired an xserve 2.8 Quad core xeon with an xServe Raid (maxed out with all 14 spaces holding 750GB drives)
So none of the mini's have cost me anything yet.

[MacOS Plus]

  Man, I wish I had friends like yours!

[ELN]

Anybody in Western Australia got a spare mini? I'd quite like to try my Nanokernel-patching toolkit on one.

[wilcofan]

Any news on OS9 and these G4 Mini's?  There's one locally here doesn't interest me if it's OSX only...

[macStuff]

the ppc mac mini?? its basically like an MDD in a smaller box minus the windtunnel + minus about 100lbs!!
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac_mini_g4_1.42.html

lack of pci hardware compatibility kills my interest
i was pretty interested to see someone posting in another thread about using a tibook with a PCI expansion chassis that kind of blew my mind for a few minutes

[wilcofan]

Yep that's the one.  My tower could use a little help with a few vsti's and it wouldn't take up so much space.

Anybody get the install to work?  I am half tempted to grab it and try but I get the feeling it hasn't been solved.