Mac OS 9 Lives

Classic Mac OS Hardware => Mac OS 9 on Unsupported Hardware => Topic started by: Greystash on January 02, 2019, 04:22:46 PM

Title: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on January 02, 2019, 04:22:46 PM
I managed to get Mac OS 9 installed on my PowerBook with the help of some posts I've stumbled across (nanopico, iMic, and others) and the CD image located at http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2143.0.html (http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2143.0.html).

First you need to boot into open Firmware and enter the following:

Code: [Select]
nvedit

dev /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0

80010201 encode-int " cpu-version" property

dev /pci@F2000000/mac-io/i2s/i2s-a

" screamer" encode-string " compatible" property

device-end

Now press Ctrl + C to exit the nvram editor.

Next type the following:

Code: [Select]
nvstore

setenv use-nvramrc? true

reset-all

The computer will now restart and you can either boot from the CD image listed above, or Mac OS 9 if it's been installed on your HD from the same image.

Installation
After restoring the HD image from the CD you must remove the following from the Extensions folder (within System Folder).

Now you will be able to boot OS9.

If these extensions remain in the system folder Mac OS 9 will not boot. The HID Library disables use of the trackpad. The ATI drivers are incompatible as the machine has an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64MB) which was not supported by the OS.

When the system boots it says that there is software is missing for the Apple Keyboard/Trackpad. The keyboard works fine but the trackpad is incredibly slow, I used a mouse instead.

The screen will also be set to a ~800x600 resolution rather than 1280x854px. You can fix this by changing the monitor arrangement in the Monitors control panel. I got multiple resolutions + all colour ranges working using a modified Jasper driver (from darthnVader) here: http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,4593.msg33157.html#msg33157 (http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,4593.msg33157.html#msg33157). If this driver is used the backlight will be turned completely off after the next reboot, so you will need to use a torch or something to light the screen, then go to the monitors control panel and change the brightness setting to zero (it has been reversed, most likey because this driver is for another GPU). It still appears that this is half the brightness of what the screen should be.

Sound also doesn't work (due to the screamer fix). The on-board audio doesn't appear to be supported by the Mac OS ROM.

In summary:
- The system boots and is usable with a mouse, and by either having no GPU drivers installed, or the fixed one listed above.
- Sound doesn't work
- Function keys don't work
- No Airport
- Haven't tested FireWire yet but everything else is functional!

If we can somehow get the correct GPU, trackpad and sound drivers this system would be amazing and super usable on OS9!! I have no idea how to do this but I'll do some research.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: FdB on January 02, 2019, 06:24:13 PM
Dare I think that maybe a slightly brighter glimmer of hope now exists
for this beautiful 1.5 GHz G4 PowerBook 5,5 to not simply sit around
looking pretty… but instead to possibly & finally run OS 9? Greystash,
I’ve bookmarked this and your Andrea Fabrizi, Fan Control post too.

You have been busy. Thanks. (Hats off to nano, et al. too!)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: GaryN on January 02, 2019, 09:26:17 PM
Congrats and thanks to Greystash! You not only have pretty much gotten OS9 working there but you've also, for perhaps the first time here on the Forum, managed to explain the process in language the rest of us non code–monkey types can actually understand!!

I'll be wishing you luck for any more progress reports!
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: darthnVader on January 03, 2019, 04:59:31 AM
I managed to get Mac OS 9 installed on my PowerBook with the help of some posts I've stumbled across (nanopico, iMic, and others) and the CD image located at http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2143.0.html (http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2143.0.html).

First you need to boot into open Firmware and enter the following:

Code: [Select]
nvedit

dev /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0

80010201 encode-int " cpu-version" property

dev /pci@F2000000/mac-io/i2s/i2s-a

" screamer" encode-string " compatible" property

device-end

Now press Ctrl + C to exit the nvram editor.

Next type the following:

Code: [Select]
nvstore

setenv use-nvramrc? true

reset-all

The computer will now restart and you can either boot from the CD image listed above, or Mac OS 9 if it's been installed on your HD from the same image.

Installation
After restoring the HD image from the CD you must remove the following from the Extensions folder (within System Folder).
  • All ATI extensions
  • HID Library
  • The MultiProcessing folder

Now you will be able to boot OS9.

If these extensions remain in the system folder Mac OS 9 will not boot. The HID Library disables use of the trackpad. The ATI drivers are incompatible as the machine has an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64MB) which was not supported by the OS.

When the system boots it says that there is software is missing for the Apple Keyboard/Trackpad. The keyboard works fine but the trackpad is incredibly slow, I used a mouse instead.

The screen will also be set to a ~800x600 resolution rather than 1280x854px. You can fix this by changing the monitor arrangement in the Monitors control panel. I got multiple resolutions + all colour ranges working using a modified Jasper driver (from darthnVader) here: http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,4593.msg33157.html#msg33157 (http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,4593.msg33157.html#msg33157). If this driver is used the backlight will be turned completely off after the next reboot, so you will need to use a torch or something to light the screen, then go to the monitors control panel and change the brightness setting to zero (it has been reversed, most likey because this driver is for another GPU). It still appears that this is half the brightness of what the screen should be.

Sound also doesn't work (due to the screamer fix). The on-board audio doesn't appear to be supported by the Mac OS ROM.

In summary:
- The system boots and is usable with a mouse, and by either having no GPU drivers installed, or the fixed one listed above.
- Sound doesn't work
- Function keys don't work
- No Airport
- Haven't tested FireWire yet but everything else is functional!

If we can somehow get the correct GPU, trackpad and sound drivers this system would be amazing and super usable on OS9!! I have no idea how to do this but I'll do some research.

Cool, MOAL( Mother of all laptops ).

I've run into the inverted backlight before, may have something to do with the Mac OS ROM. For me pressing fn+brightness down worked, but if the function keys are not working, that can be troublesome.

Odd the ATY,Jasper driver works, I was thinking I made that for the Radeon 9600 Mobility.....
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on January 06, 2019, 02:32:30 PM
I've been looking into creating/editing drivers for the GPU and Trackpad but keep hitting roadblocks. There seems to be very little/no information out there anymore for OS9 development..

If anyone could point me in the right direction, or give me some examples on how this has been done previously I would greatly appreciate it.

This would be a very usable OS9 machine if those two components worked correctly. It just needs the back-light boosted by ~50%, and trackpad compatibility. There are workarounds for sound so that's not a big issue.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: darthnVader on January 07, 2019, 05:46:55 AM
I've been looking into creating/editing drivers for the GPU and Trackpad but keep hitting roadblocks. There seems to be very little/no information out there anymore for OS9 development..

If anyone could point me in the right direction, or give me some examples on how this has been done previously I would greatly appreciate it.

This would be a very usable OS9 machine if those two components worked correctly. It just needs the back-light boosted by ~50%, and trackpad compatibility. There are workarounds for sound so that's not a big issue.

I spent a few hours working on the Trackpad issue, without any luck, I tried the HID and USB drivers from OS 9.1 (v1.4.6) and they didn't work any better.

I also tried USB Overdrive>use custom driver, but the mouse overdrive driver doesn't load for the trackpad.

I also removed the usb trackpad from the device tree in Open Firmware, but OS 9 probes the USB bus and finds it anyway, and it doesn't work any better doing it that way.

It's just a non-standard USB HID device, and OS 9 nor USB Overdrive know how to handle it.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: darthnVader on January 07, 2019, 06:02:38 AM
About the backlight:

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,4389.0.html
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on January 09, 2019, 11:25:32 PM
Thanks for trying darthnVader! I'll keep hunting around and see if I can find anything useful regarding the trackpad. Will also have a play around with OF and the backlight.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: anthonybisset on February 26, 2019, 01:43:10 AM
I'm about to try the unsupported 9.2.2 disk this on a Powerbook G4, 1.5ghz (boot rom 4.8.6f0)

What i'm curious about is:

Has anyone had success with getting the PCMCIA controller to work on these more recent machines?  I have a Korg Oasys PCI in a Magma chassis and have spent 8 or 9 hours trying to get it to run under Classic in 10.3.9 (tried Apple MIDI Manager and OMS.) Seems OMS cannot access the hardware via the OASYS PCI driver (which I believe is how the Synthkit application talks to the hardware when a *run* command is given.) So it seems I must go 100% native OS9 for this to work, however I've seen several reports that PCMCIA controllers aren't working on these later unsupported powerbooks.

Maybe the Magma pcmcia can work without the full pci controller implementation?


Gathering info before I rabbit hole.  Synthkit remains a very good platform for making physical models, hopefully I can get it working on this 1440x900 screen to make programming enjoyable (and laptops are typically quieter, so better in the studio.)
cheers,
A

Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Astroman on February 26, 2019, 07:28:46 AM
Gathering info before I rabbit hole.  Synthkit remains a very good platform for making physical models, hopefully I can get it working on this 1440x900 screen to make programming enjoyable (and laptops are typically quieter, so better in the studio.)
I agree on the equisite character of Synthkit (which fortunately opens even without a Korg card installed), but it easily filled my 1952x1200 desktop screen and I never enjoyed that Powerbook's keyboard.
A tower G4 Mac will be more quiet anyway... once the Powerbook's fan gets engaged.
You can replace the Mac's drive by a SSD and disengage some of the internal fans or drive them at lower voltage. I often use the 5V line instead of the regular 12V for fans, but take care the fan starts (some won't do at 5V).
Of course I carefully check components temperature with such reduced power settings.
(my G3/450 B/W with 2 Digidesign cards is a fairly quiet box, and I'm picky regarding noise)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: IIO on February 26, 2019, 11:20:26 AM
A tower G4 Mac will be more quiet anyway...

yeah, when you turn it off mb. :)

Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: S. Pupp on April 17, 2019, 08:34:54 AM
I tried this on a PowerBook G4 5,7 1.67GHz 17" with no luck.
Now, holding down the Option key during startup to select an external FW drive, I have trouble moving the cursor with the trackpad.
How can I "undo" the Open Firmware changes?
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on April 17, 2019, 02:33:21 PM
Boot into Open Firmware and pass the following commands:
Code: [Select]
reset-nvram
reset-all
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: franklin_m on April 20, 2019, 05:23:57 PM
I tried this on a PowerBook G4 5,7 1.67GHz 17" with no luck.
Now, holding down the Option key during startup to select an external FW drive, I have trouble moving the cursor with the trackpad.
How can I "undo" the Open Firmware changes?

S. Pupp, the trackpad is really slow in OpenFirmware. You need to wait 10-30 seconds, and then you can use the arrow keys to select the drive, and hit return to boot.

I got this to work using the images in the download part of the forum. OpenFirmware can be confusing, happy to help.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: hageir on April 17, 2020, 03:38:45 PM
Thank you very much for this!
Works perfectly on one of my 15” 1.67 GHz G4.

I’m eyeballing a 12” iBook which has a trackpad and works like it should,
what exactly is the difference?

If I swipe really fast on the PowerBook G4 it seems to be ok (but is very slow)
it’s a mix up of the speed/percentage/sensitivity of the trackpad = interpretation of the OS.
I also notice that when I leave a USB mouse plugged in during a restart, it doesn’t initialize and the port remains “off”.

ps. there are some official .pdf documents from Apple called Developer Notes. Might be some useful information there.
I also looked at an archived version of developer.apple.com (during my FireWire research) and it has quite a lot of detailed information about building drivers and such.

Anyways, this was more than enough, now I have an awesome G4 computer with OS9 :)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on May 14, 2020, 04:19:03 AM
I wish this worked on the slightly-better DLSD version of the PowerBook G4 15". :( Just tried it on mine to confirm it with my own eyes. It's strange, because the hardware is nearly identical, but it's true it won't boot. (It shuts down when attempting to boot from the CD.)

@Greystash, any chance of giving us a break-down of all the OF commands and values used in your first post?
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on May 23, 2020, 11:59:54 PM
I wish this worked on the slightly-better DLSD version of the PowerBook G4 15". :( Just tried it on mine to confirm it with my own eyes. It's strange, because the hardware is nearly identical, but it's true it won't boot. (It shuts down when attempting to boot from the CD.)

@Greystash, any chance of giving us a break-down of all the OF commands and values used in your first post?

For the 1.67Ghz model I found that it was the sound device that was preventing booting into OS9, as discovered by darthnVader when trying to boot do the same with an iBook. While this is an unrecognised device under OS9 It still worked and I had audio functionality after performing the Open Firmware commands below.
It's likely that the DLSD has other components that are unrecognised by OS9 and are preventing boot. You may be able to tinker with Open Firmware and the device tree to get things working however, all the 1.5 - 1.67Ghz models I have tested have unsupported track pads and I haven't found any drivers/extenstions that work. The track pads work but they're too painfully slow to do anything with. An external mouse works but it kind of defeats the purpose of having a laptop.

If you do manage to get it booting you may need to disable some USB extensions to get the track pad working.


Code: [Select]

1) nvedit

2) dev /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0

3) 80010201 encode-int " cpu-version" property

4) device-end

5) dev /pci@F2000000/mac-io/i2s/i2s-a

6) " screamer" encode-string " compatible" property

7) device-end


1) Opens the NVRAMRC editor
2) Selects the CPU device
3) Changes the CPU's 'cpu-version' property to '80010201'
4) Closes the CPU device
5) Selects the onboard audio device
6) Adds 'screamer' (audio device) to the 'compatible' property
7) Closes the audio device
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: IIO on May 24, 2020, 02:02:29 AM

I also tried USB Overdrive>use custom driver, but the mouse overdrive driver doesn't load for the trackpad.


isnt the trackpad connected via USB 2.0?
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: darthnVader on May 24, 2020, 04:04:12 PM

I also tried USB Overdrive>use custom driver, but the mouse overdrive driver doesn't load for the trackpad.


isnt the trackpad connected via USB 2.0?

I don't think it really matters, it is an OHCI device, I don't see any need for it to be EHCI.

We'd have to get a look at the Linux driver for the USB tracpad and see what they did there.

The USB tracpads also don't work with OS X versions prior to the one these iBooks/Powerbooks shipped with.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on May 29, 2020, 02:26:18 AM
For the 1.67Ghz model I found that it was the sound device that was preventing booting into OS9, as discovered by darthnVader when trying to boot do the same with an iBook. While this is an unrecognised device under OS9 It still worked and I had audio functionality after performing the Open Firmware commands below.
It's likely that the DLSD has other components that are unrecognised by OS9 and are preventing boot. You may be able to tinker with Open Firmware and the device tree to get things working however, all the 1.5 - 1.67Ghz models I have tested have unsupported track pads and I haven't found any drivers/extenstions that work. The track pads work but they're too painfully slow to do anything with. An external mouse works but it kind of defeats the purpose of having a laptop.

If you do manage to get it booting you may need to disable some USB extensions to get the track pad working.


Code: [Select]

1) nvedit

2) dev /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0

3) 80010201 encode-int " cpu-version" property

4) device-end

5) dev /pci@F2000000/mac-io/i2s/i2s-a

6) " screamer" encode-string " compatible" property

7) device-end


1) Opens the NVRAMRC editor
2) Selects the CPU device
3) Changes the CPU's 'cpu-version' property to '80010201'
4) Closes the CPU device
5) Selects the onboard audio device
6) Adds 'screamer' (audio device) to the 'compatible' property
7) Closes the audio device

Thank you very much for this post, Greystash. It couldn't have been any more helpful and clearer. This is the first time ever that I have understood what is going on with OF commands. It feels great and very empowering. I'll get on this PowerBook's case very soon.

I'm personally not troubled by the lack of trackpads: I always plug a mouse to any laptop I use, even when trackpads work perfectly. I can still take the laptop around to places with the mouse, and sometimes I lay the mouse on top of the laptop itself, when they have enough space on top (like this PowerBook). What I really, really love about the PowerPC Mac laptops (and 68k?) is to type on their keyboards, look at their screens and their portability. They feel absolutely delicious to type on (really high quality keyboards), screen looks excellent and spacey, and yet, it's all compact and portable to be brought wherever I go. I just love it.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Marlon on May 31, 2020, 07:03:22 AM
Following =)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: teroyk on May 31, 2020, 08:44:37 AM
Has anyone had success with getting the PCMCIA controller to work on these more recent machines?  I have a Korg Oasys PCI in a Magma chassis and have spent 8 or 9 hours trying to get it to run under Classic in 10.3.9 (tried Apple MIDI Manager and OMS.)

Maybe testing should start something simpler like PCMCIA card-reader or something. I don't know anybody who has managed OASYS PCI (or any another PCI-card that has only Mac OS 9 drivers) to work in Classic even supported Macs, I think you should boot to 9.2.2.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: IIO on May 31, 2020, 07:22:43 PM
dont use OMS and classic enviroment in one sentence.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: DracheMitch on June 21, 2020, 07:11:08 PM

I spent a few hours working on the Trackpad issue, without any luck, I tried the HID and USB drivers from OS 9.1 (v1.4.6) and they didn't work any better.

I also tried USB Overdrive>use custom driver, but the mouse overdrive driver doesn't load for the trackpad.

I also removed the usb trackpad from the device tree in Open Firmware, but OS 9 probes the USB bus and finds it anyway, and it doesn't work any better doing it that way.

It's just a non-standard USB HID device, and OS 9 nor USB Overdrive know how to handle it.

It’s not a USB device at all. Apple portables all used internal ADB connections for keyboard and mouse. On Mac OS 9, external USB input devices are actually run through a shim that translates the USB to ADB.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.6GHz
Post by: DracheMitch on June 21, 2020, 07:23:19 PM

I also tried USB Overdrive>use custom driver, but the mouse overdrive driver doesn't load for the trackpad.


isnt the trackpad connected via USB 2.0?

The 5,6 PowerBook should have a USB trackpad, but it’s possible they have an ADB, as Apple was mixing ADB and USB for trackpads starting in 2005.  EverMac says 5,6 doesn’t have ADB but every machine has multiple board revisions and you never know with Apple.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.6GHz
Post by: SDG on June 22, 2020, 04:30:14 AM

The 5,6 PowerBook should have a USB trackpad, but it’s possible they have an ADB, as Apple was mixing ADB and USB for trackpads starting in 2005.  EverMac says 5,6 doesn’t have ADB but every machine has multiple board revisions and you never know with Apple.

The PB 5,7 and 5,8 and the final iBook have USB trackpads. Prior to that all were routed via ADB hence applets like iScroll. It's part of the problem people find when they need replacement keyboards and try to mix and match across models.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: RadicalR on September 23, 2020, 11:12:11 AM
Hello there! Just wanted to report that I can get a PowerBook6,8 (model A1104) to boot up in 9.2.2. Have to do the Screamer fix, so no audio nor mouse control.

Going to see if I can find a wired mouse so I can install the OS and tinker with it.

edit: Ahahaha, it appears I've gotten the worst model if I wanted to play anything from the classic days.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on December 25, 2020, 06:17:05 AM
Hello there! Just wanted to report that I can get a PowerBook6,8 (model A1104) to boot up in 9.2.2. Have to do the Screamer fix, so no audio nor mouse control.

Going to see if I can find a wired mouse so I can install the OS and tinker with it.

edit: Ahahaha, it appears I've gotten the worst model if I wanted to play anything from the classic days.

Would it be possible for you to provide the exact steps you took to get it to boot?
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: hjalfi on January 02, 2021, 07:57:12 AM
I've just got this working on a PowerBook G4 15" 1.25GHz. I believe it's a Powerbook 5,2 A1046.

Everything works! Nearly. Touchpad, high screen depth, sound, etc. I haven't tried FireWire because I don't have any other devices. I just followed the instructions and it booted. Thanks very much!

The one thing which doesn't work is ethernet. Unfortunately, that's a bit I particularly need. When it's plugged into my switch, the lights light up and it appears to negotiate gigabit ethernet, but the computer can't see any traffic. Any ideas? USB ethernet adapters don't work (it wants to connect to the internet to get the driver...).

(Gigabit seems rather fast for a 2003 computer, and I wonder if it's getting confused by the switch and that it should be negotiation 100M. Can this be overridden at the computer end?)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on January 02, 2021, 12:03:03 PM
There are several things that might be contributing to it not working. Is the Ethernet device recognised in Apple System Profiler, or TCP/IP etc.?
Your router might be assigning an IP address that is out of range to your machine, and if this is the case you just need to do the following:
I wrote a brief guide on this a while back here if you need more information:
http://mac-classic.com/guides/no-internet-connection/

Otherwise if your equipment is too new to communicate with the Mac you could get an old router and connect that to the newer one and use it as a switch. This has worked well for me in the past but I think I still had to define the IP range it could assign.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on June 27, 2023, 11:44:39 PM
I wish this worked on the slightly-better DLSD version of the PowerBook G4 15". :( Just tried it on mine to confirm it with my own eyes. It's strange, because the hardware is nearly identical, but it's true it won't boot. (It shuts down when attempting to boot from the CD.)

For the 1.67Ghz model I found that it was the sound device that was preventing booting into OS9, as discovered by darthnVader when trying to boot do the same with an iBook. While this is an unrecognised device under OS9 It still worked and I had audio functionality after performing the Open Firmware commands below.
It's likely that the DLSD has other components that are unrecognised by OS9 and are preventing boot. You may be able to tinker with Open Firmware and the device tree to get things working [...]

I am revisiting this after what feels like an eternity, but I re-attempted booting OS 9 on my DLSD following all the steps in this thread plus anything else I could find from your personal website, such as:
https://mac-classic.com/articles/mac-os-9-on-unsupported-systems/
https://mac-classic.com/articles/open-firmware-scripts/

Unfortunately, I got the same result I did years ago. So then I went on to follow your advice on attempting to disable further devices in OpenFirmware, but I could not figure out how to do that. I looked up every OF syntax and command I could find:
https://mac-classic.com/articles/open-firmware-basics/
http://www.firmworks.com/QuickRef.html
https://library.morph.zone/Open_Firmware
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-open-firmware-wiki.2225024/

... But I still turned up with empty hands. I can somewhat browse around the device tree, set their properties and all that (to a very small capacity), but I still have no idea how to disable things.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. The DLSD has so much OS 9 potential (even without GPU acceleration), and getting even 10.2 Jaguar to boot would be very good with its superior Classic mode (and in some ways even superior OS X native environment over OS X Panther and even Tiger/Leo+).

Leaving this DLSD with just Tiger and Leo is just sad. I hope I can change that.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: ssp3 on June 28, 2023, 02:16:27 AM
You definitely have to get rid of Multiprocessing folder! The stupid thing is that you can't disable contents of MP folder with "Extensions off" (shift key), you have to remove manually while booted from another drive/volume.

I don't have PB 5,6 but I do have 12" PB 6,8 which is also 7447a based and I was able to boot it succesfully into OS9 by first using instructions by Greystash and later by using ROM file by Nanopico (I think, I modified it slightly) + only the Screamer fix in OF.

Code: [Select]
nvedit

dev /pci@f2000000/mac-io/i2s/i2s-a

" screamer" encode-string " compatible" property

device-end


Ctrl + C to exit the nvram editor.


nvstore

setenv use-nvramrc? true

reset-all


P.S. If you want to try the ROM I was using, let me know.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: DrNo7 on June 29, 2023, 10:37:21 AM
I am interested by the ROM file to try on my PB 12 1.5GHz ;)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: ssp3 on June 29, 2023, 07:36:20 PM
There you go.

Don't forget to:
1. apply the Screamer fix in OF,
2. remove Multiprocessing folder,
3. remove USB HID extension, if you want to use trackpad or leave it in place, if using mouse.

Bear in mind that all 7447a based PBs will run at reduced speed in OS9.

I think that Screamer fix could also be integrated into ROM, but I'm not a OpenFirmware specialist.

EDIT. This is the correct file, please re-download.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on June 30, 2023, 01:02:41 AM
You definitely have to get rid of Multiprocessing folder! The stupid thing is that you can't disable contents of MP folder with "Extensions off" (shift key), you have to remove manually while booted from another drive/volume.

I don't have PB 5,6 but I do have 12" PB 6,8 which is also 7447a based and I was able to boot it succesfully into OS9 by first using instructions by Greystash and later by using ROM file by Nanopico (I think, I modified it slightly) + only the Screamer fix in OF.

That tip about "Extensions Off" Shift key boot not being sufficient to prevent the MP Extensions from loading is very useful, thank you. I will give this another go, now with that in mind. I may also try that ROM you shared. I forgot to mention before, but the outcome I got each time happened regardless if I was holding Shift or not when booting. I will check the contents of the CD I was using to boot with to see if the MP Extensions were there or not.

Unlike Greystash's, my model is the PB5,8 rather than PB5,6 though, so there are some things in hardware and firmware that set my model apart from the PBs that successfully booted so far (DDR2 RAM, GPT booting support IIRC etc.). Still, I will keep trying. I wish I knew how to disable a given OF device tree item, though.

About 7447a-based PBs having reduced speed in OS 9, that's the first time I heard about such a thing, I have to admit I'm skeptical about that. I do think, though, that I have seen some discussions in the past on PPC MacRumors subforum darthnvader talking about configuring in OF processor states that allow us to underclock the PPC CPUs by setting them to some sort of "extra low power" state or the other, but that was years ago, so my memory is fuzzy on that.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: ssp3 on June 30, 2023, 02:00:47 AM
About 7447a-based PBs having reduced speed in OS 9, that's the first time I heard about such a thing, I have to admit I'm skeptical about that.

Try 'System Info' application from Norton Tools and see it for yourself.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: DrNo7 on June 30, 2023, 09:22:08 PM
About 7447a-based PBs having reduced speed in OS 9, that's the first time I heard about such a thing, I have to admit I'm skeptical about that.

Try 'System Info' application from Norton Tools and see it for yourself.

But could it be Norton reporting incorrectly the situation because it does not support 7447a CPUs or because the CPU is treated as another model in OpenFirmware to get OS9 to boot?
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: robespierre on June 30, 2023, 09:42:37 PM
The best way is to use "Clockometer" from Newer Technology.
Some of the latest G4s (like the Dual-Layer PBG4) use dynamic speed throttling and this can influence the measured clock speed.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: ssp3 on July 01, 2023, 12:10:59 AM
But could it be Norton reporting incorrectly the situation because it does not support 7447a CPUs or because the CPU is treated as another model in OpenFirmware to get OS9 to boot?

Norton does not "report the situation", it runs calculations and shows the results, which then could be compared to results from other machines. IIRC darthnvader determined it in a different way. Search the forum for his posts.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on July 29, 2023, 12:57:11 AM
You definitely have to get rid of Multiprocessing folder! The stupid thing is that you can't disable contents of MP folder with "Extensions off" (shift key), you have to remove manually while booted from another drive/volume.

I forgot to mention, I got back into this, and checked for the presence of the "Multiprocessing" folder, but it was already absent from the CD I was using (our "official" CD for "unsupported G4s" in general). For emphasis, my PowerBook is not the 5,6 model discussed in this thread, but rather its immediate successor, and final PowerPC PowerBook of them all, the 5,8 model.

I still wish I knew how to disable a given device in the OF device tree. Without that knowledge, I cannot even begin to experiment. I assume there must be a Forth command that does this.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: ssp3 on July 29, 2023, 08:49:07 AM
Re. disabling devices - here's the relevant post by nanopico:

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2727.msg20833.html#msg20833
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Opualuan on August 06, 2023, 11:15:02 AM
I have a Powerbook5,7 on the way to me, happy to join in with the MacOS9 tinkering!
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on August 07, 2023, 07:47:50 AM
Re. disabling devices - here's the relevant post by nanopico:

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2727.msg20833.html#msg20833

Thanks! Amazing you spotted that, that was quite buried in there. I will give this a try hopefully this week, slowly guttering my device tree, starting with some likely culprits. Let's hope we get a happy Mac and no bricked Mac. 8)
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Greystash on September 15, 2023, 06:46:36 PM
Re. disabling devices - here's the relevant post by nanopico:

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2727.msg20833.html#msg20833

Thanks! Amazing you spotted that, that was quite buried in there. I will give this a try hopefully this week, slowly guttering my device tree, starting with some likely culprits. Let's hope we get a happy Mac and no bricked Mac. 8)

@Jubadub did you have any luck with this? I ended up coming back to this a few weeks ago to see if I could disable some devices to allow sleep. I didn't get very far, when trying to disable a lot of the devices OFW would tell me that the devices don't actually exist.
Title: Re: Working - Mac OS 9 on PowerBook G4 5,6 1.67Ghz
Post by: Jubadub on October 13, 2023, 08:57:31 AM
Re. disabling devices - here's the relevant post by nanopico:

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2727.msg20833.html#msg20833

Thanks! Amazing you spotted that, that was quite buried in there. I will give this a try hopefully this week, slowly guttering my device tree, starting with some likely culprits. Let's hope we get a happy Mac and no bricked Mac. 8)

@Jubadub did you have any luck with this? I ended up coming back to this a few weeks ago to see if I could disable some devices to allow sleep. I didn't get very far, when trying to disable a lot of the devices OFW would tell me that the devices don't actually exist.

I didn't look into it, in the end. I had one of those "Mac breaks", so to speak. Honestly, I don't see myself coming back to this anytime soon.

But if someone jumped between us right now, and said "oh hey guys, I got it boot!!!", I would INSTANTLY follow all the steps. :D