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[torvan]

I know there was a call a while back for an OS X only eMac as a test bed for an OS 9 install. I have one that is just sitting on a shelf and demanding attention. Let me know.

As a point of reference, the OS 9 MDD CD does not work. You can option-boot it and the startup manager sees it as a valid startup disk, but it goes to a grey screen and just sits there.

[Knezzen]

Have you tried the CD for unsupported machines? That should be something to start with

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=2143.0

[torvan]

I did, that was the CD I was referring to. Still just hangs after you select the CD in Startup Manager.

[supernova777]

its because of the video drivers...same reason why my g4 system crashes with a radeon 9200LE
if we could just solve this fucking 9200 driver issue wed be set

did u ever try the extended desktop hack?

However, the hardware is capable of using an external display in dual or "extended desktop mode", Apple just blocked the capability in firmware to protect sales of more expensive Macs. Unsupported third-party hacks are available. -- http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/emac/specs/emac_1.25.html

[MacTron]

its because of the video drivers...

... may be ...
... but the 7447 isn't supported in Mac Os 9 unless it is Open Firmware tricked.

[iMic]

In reality, on an eMac it could be one of three things halting the boot

- Video Hardware (if the machine thinks a second display is attached and is handing off the OS 9 boot and desktop to it)
- 7447 incompatibility (attempt to tweak Open Firmware and see what happens)
- Incompatibility deeper in the system (like an incompatibility running on the Intrepid IC - this issue affects the Mac Mini and the eMac is also an Intrepid system)


If it's one of the first two, follow the ideas put forward by chrisNova and MacTron respectively. If it's the third issue, that will take more effort to overcome. So far I haven't been able to crack it.

[torvan]

Tried the extended desktop hack and was unsuccessful.

I really do not want to search through the 6 pages of text to find the right Open Firmware hack. I know it was modified, then corrected, then re-corrected. Call me lazy and that is fine, but really it is more confused than lazy.

Regarding the 9200 video driver--I would bet the farm that is the actual issue given it sees the CDR as a valid boot drive as you can see.

I select the drive, hit Enter and I hear the CDR start to spin, then stop and I am left with the grey screen. I verified the CDR works with my G4 MDD FW 800.

[IIO]

a nonworking support for the video card would not make the mac unbootable with classic.

a seen in the macbook 1.3 ghz firmware hack - which lets you boot into OS9, but does not let you use the monitor.

[supernova777]

sounds like its seeing the 7447a type cpu and quitting before it even tries to boot
to me

imic had outlined how to change this in openfirmware nv-ram temporarily i think
he even quoted me talking about the possibility of doing this on his page, thinkclassic...

the 'hack' temporarily changes the string in nv-ram rather then permanently writing to the firmware of openfirmware

[torvan]

Well, the eMac is sitting on the dining room table waiting--can someone post the actual instructions for making the change either in OF or in NVRAM?

I looked over the string and to be honest, I am dazed and confused and I don't smoke the stuff.

[supernova777]

dubbed the "nvedit trick" by imic
https://www.thinkclassic.org/viewtopic.php?pid=3313#p3313

if it is indeed the "macrisc3" string that enables/disables boot.. this info is contained in *the root node of the open firmware device tree* with property name "compatible" can't we just overwrite this parameter in openfirmware nv-ram?? rather then having to change the 'mac os rom' ??....

this was my idea.. but i didnt know the commands to do it;) lol

https://www.thinkclassic.org/viewtopic.php?pid=4889#p4889
i think the instructions are here

its a temporary fix because if u clear the nvram then u have to do this again

[MacTron]

The macrisc issue is solved in the custom iMic Mac ROM. The OF commands jus rename the 7447 or 7448 to 7455 that Mac Os 9 can accept.

The Open Firmware Patch:

Code: [Select]

" /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0" find-package if drop " /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0" find-device 80010201 encode-int " cpu-version" property then

device-end \ PLX-OS9-PATCH


[supernova777]

I select the drive, hit Enter and I hear the CDR start to spin, then stop and I am left with the grey screen. I verified the CDR works with my G4 MDD FW 800.

this sounds like the type of thing i experienced when i had the radeon 9200 LE pci graphics card installed in a g4 sawtooth.. then swapping the video card out for the supported ati rage 128 and it would boot up no problem.. obviously u cant swap out the graphics card unfortunately.

[supernova777]

have u tried using target disk mode to copy an existing install of the "unsupported install" to its drive? (That contains the 9200 mac drivers?)

[torvan]

Well, I can only find OS X drivers for the 9200 online.

But I did do the NVRAM edits. I did the target mode install. The install went okay, did the reboot-and again, grey screen.

Made sure that OS9 was installed--you know just in case the installer lied.

So I think it just might be a video driver, or as commented earlier--IC chips a roadblock.

I am somewhat new to trying these things--but how do I get and edit the iMic ROM? I did search the forum, but the results were confusing to follow given I am not familiar with that level of the Mac.

[MacTron]

iMic edited the Mac Os ROM for the unsupported machines, so this ROM is ready, there is no need to edit it.
But the success of booting Mac Os 9 with this ROM in the unsupported Macs is a try and error matter.

[supernova777]

yep i guess u will be stuck running panther or tiger on that one.. which isnt so bad 


u said u could only find osx 9200 drivers..
the drivers for the 9200 are posted here on the site
and on this page: http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/

on everymac the introduction date of the 1.25 emac is :
Introduction Date:    April 13, 2004

so i would try the july 2004 update
http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/#CR

but yes.. its wierdness + trial + error like mactron said.
the 9200 drivers have me totally confused.. i really dont understand why some of them crash - its a huge confusing mess.

not all 9200 gfx adapters are the same gpu or something..
like the 9200 le is different somehow from teh 9200 mac edition
or the drivers are screwed.. like i said i hope we can one day finaly once + for all,  figure out the 9200 graphics mystery.

[baraktorvan]

Okay, so where the OS9 driver is--that is now satisfied.

But how in the heck can I blend that driver with the OS9 CD for the MDD FW 800? Do I just create a new one and add those drivers into the System & Extensions folders?  As I mentioned before, I am a novice here.

Also, the iMic ROM I see tons of references to in a Search of the site, but not the file itself.

[MacTron]

I have successfully boot the eMac with Mac OS 9. But there is no video acceleration, for making things worst, the second display output is enabled, so the computer can't be used for real work in mac Os 9. 

[torvan]

I have the same question really.

Oh, nice that you have a user name similar to mine!

Okay, so where the OS9 driver is--that is now satisfied.

But how in the heck can I blend that driver with the OS9 CD for the MDD FW 800? Do I just create a new one and add those drivers into the System & Extensions folders?  As I mentioned before, I am a novice here.

Also, the iMic ROM I see tons of references to in a Search of the site, but not the file itself.