Mac OS 9 Lives
Mac OS 9 Discussion => Mac OS 9, Hacks & Upgrades => Topic started by: OldMacDon on May 04, 2025, 09:19:49 AM
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Anybody out there have / use / install / play around with "the dog" these days?
Am interested in setting a machine up to run it.
Talk with me.
Thanks
OldMacDon
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Not since 2006 or so when I had it running on a iMac G3. Might be worth while to dig up the old dog again though ;)
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Back when it was new, I used the heck out of it. One very cool feature of later versions is the ability to run on some playstation 3's, at least ones that are able to boot "other os".
You may need to specify "ofonly" to use the Open Firmware display driver, instead of an ATI (or other) specific one. If you have video issues, definitely do this. (I think "No Video Driver" in BootX does this, but you may need to specify kernel parameters).
You also may also have network issues, and a driver may not be available, especially for some airport cards.
I'm using a more recent ubuntu distro on my main ppc machine, but believe I have ydl on an old performa 6360. I just now tried to get into it, but it looks like I was last doing crazy experiments, and the kernel and root settings are incorrect. I'll try and getting it running again and will post when (if?) I do.
NOTE: On old world rom machines (beige, like my performa), you'll be using the BootX Control Panel to start it, new world rom machines will be able to boot it (more) directly.
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I do. Well, not actively. At least not for a few years.
Depending on your hardware, you may want to stick to a specific version.
Back in 2006 I tried installed YDL3 on an eMac, but got video driver issues. Eventually I got YDL 4 working it, but migrated back to Mac OS X.
In 2008 I ran YDL 5 as my primary OS at university on a PowerMac G5 with Enlightenment. Generally great experience. Played a lot of Tomb Raider 2 on a Playstation emulator on it. YDL5 I think moved to E17 & XFCE for desktop environments.
Then a couple years ago I installed YDL 4(?) install on an mSATA that I can swap into a Clamshell iBook & PowerBook G3. It works generally well. Comes (primarily) with GNOME and KDE(3?). I always go for GNOME as I like the Wonderland theme (basically RedHat's bluecurve) on Gnome better.
I also have mSATAs with VoidLinux & Debian Jessie (with Windowmaker) installs. Those mostly drop in compatible with both the iBook and PBG3 as well. Haven't touched them in years, but I remember preferring YDL as it was the most ... "feature complete", as long as you don't consider modern internet access a "feature".
Sidenote: Debian Jessie needed a custom X config doc for running on the clamshell iBook.
What questions do you have?
What machine are you interested in setting up with it? Based on my experience with "trying out" various OSes, I'd recommend something with easy access to the harddrive, either a PowerMac G3/G4 tower, or PowerBook G3/clamshell iBook as they provide easy access to the HD by just flipping up the keyboard (clamshell only needs a little cutting with scissors--highly recommend this "mod"). With easy access to the harddrive (and a IDE to mSATA/m.2 adapter either open or with a hole cut into the enclosure) you can easily swap out the drivers and not worry about partitioning or getting mulitple OSes to play nicely together. Just drop in a pre-configured mSATA and you're good to go. You don't even need to play around with the bootloader.
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I bought YellowDog Linux's boxed set to install on a PB5300. That was a horrid experience. Maybe a learning experience, but I wanted to learn about Linux not learn about dealing with frustration. I ended up getting SUSE's boxed set for PPPC(Mac) and I was much happier. Later Ubuntu released for the Mac. I ordered a copy. It arrived, the first mail I had ever gotten from Switzerland. I had a Wallstreet by then and Ubuntu was very nice.
I stuck with Ubuntu on Mac for a good while. As my hardware aged and I looked to upgrade I got a Thinkpad and switched over to Debian. Adelie Linux is still available for PPC and although I have not tried it from what I have read it is a decent distro for old PPC machines.
I gave my boxed sets of SUSE and YellowDog to a friend who collects old boxed sets of OSes.
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Yeah, I think they went with Enlightenment when they had it as a distro for the ps3. Had to be all shiny and animated on a console!
I didn't know about the ibook mod...doing that very soon...will certainly make it more usable again, as optical drive is shot and usb1 is SO slow.
I set up MkLinux on my 5300, not because it would work well, but because I knew it would work at all, and I wanted SOME linux on it. Not as efficient as "straight" linux kernel.
I have tried SUSE ppc and liked it. Not sure why I didn't use it more, but I think maybe hardware support wasn't quite as good "out of the box" as others.
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I didn't know about the ibook mod...doing that very soon...will certainly make it more usable again, as optical drive is shot and usb1 is SO slow.
I bought some garden sheers for it, but they were *not* needed. The clamshell's shielding is super soft. I'd recommend sticking an mSATA/M.2 adapter in first--either without enclosure (it may flap around a bit) or with partial enclosure (for mounting holes), then trace out the area to cut on the cage. Afterwards some electrical tape can protect you from the edges: https://i.imgur.com/6i014GP.jpeg (https://i.imgur.com/6i014GP.jpeg)
Then you never need to open your clamshell again!