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[nikdoof]

Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, but my search-fu has failed me.

Today I picked up a G4 Sawtooth with a Sonnet Encore/ST 1.8ghz installed. Initially it had no battery installed and was in a abandoned state, a previous owner had tried to get it running but failed as it seemed trying to use PC133 memory in the system which gave some weird and inconsistent results.

Using some known good PC100 from another Sawtooth I've got it booted with a working install of OSX 10.3.6, everything seems fine on the OSX side.

Trying to boot OS 9 starting with some weird hard stop, non-responsive boot, then getting stuck while loading extensions. After narrowing down the issues above I found other posts saying about 'Apple CPU Plugins' extension, after disabling the extension I now get a consistent boot of 'Unimplemented Trap' (see trap.jpg attachment).

Booting with extensions disabled works (where previously it didn't before removing the Apple CPU Plugin).

Does anyone have any advice?

[Greystash]

Hello!

Have you installed any Sonnet drivers under Mac OS 9? You should be able to do this booting with extensions off.
I'm not 100% sure if these are the correct drivers, I'm not familiar with this CPU but take a look at Sonnet's website.
You may also need to perform a firmware update? I know this is required for some models.

[aBc]

Of course…

I just trashed excerpts from the Sonnet installer directions (from the website mentioned by Greystash) this morning. The instructions are a bit odd (for Quicksilvers) but just read them carefully. Installation in a Sawtooth might not be as confusing / problematic. (With the way the instructions were written.)

I’ve a 1.6 GHz installed in a Quicksilver here and it did require a Sonnet firmware update to be installed via OS 9 and with the original CPU in place [in order to boot under OS 9 (after the new CPU installation & update)]. Some did install these to work only under OS X - without that firmware update. So you might need an original CPU to go back and do the install for OS 9.

Need to run out of here for a moment but will check back later for other comments. AND if you’re in the U.S. (and without an original CPU) I could possibly loan / mail one to you for this purpose.

Good luck.

In the U.S. and need original CPU + heatsink?
PM me your address.

ADDENDUM:

From Sonnet’s online Manual for the 1.8 GHz:
https://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/encore_st_1800_qsg.pdf

“OS 9 users: Select and open Apple System Profiler from the Apple
Menu. Click the triangle next to Production Information, and
find the Boot ROM version information (Figure 2). If it reads
“$0004.28f1”, skip the rest of the steps in this section and
proceed to section B below.”

If it doesn’t report 4.2.8, here’s a possible source for that:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/DL1126/en_US/G4_FW_Update_4.2.8.smi.bin

[The original Sonnet install files are around here somewhere on CD - if necessary.]

Wonder if the Boot ROM can be updated to 4.2.8
after the Sonnet CPU has already been installed?

I began here with a two-partitioned, dual boot (OS 9 and OS X) hard drive.
Followed Sonnet’s instructions with original CPU in place, with OS 9 booted.
And then swapped out the processor afterwards. Zero problems to this day.
(Thanks again to Tugboat!)

[nikdoof]

I think I may of jumped the gun a little. After a few boots the system started complaining about one of the RAM sticks, and after removing it works better. I did have a few successful boots of OS 9 even with the Apple CPU Plugin, but I screwed up the installation and I'm having to install OS9 from scratch, which is more problematic than it seems.

I've got another G4 Sawtooth in the house, so worse comes to worse I can swap the CPUs and try the firmware update again. The ROM does seem to be the expected version, I think I just need the OS9 Sonnet package, which I can't seem to find anywhere.

[nikdoof]

OK, I have a working 9.2.2 install using the universal installer.

It seems I had a collection of issues. First of all the mix of bad RAM, unreliable installation media, and a dying DVD drive meant I was getting mixed results and weird errors on startup of the OS 9 installer. After I narrow them down I got the universal installer to boot in No Extension mode (Shift on boot) and was able to run the installer through without issue.

Next, the 9.2.2 install would hang at the end of loading all extensions, as mentioned in the Sonnet and other board manf documentation the 'Apple CPU Plugins' needed removing. I thought it may of worked with the latest and greatest version in the installer, but I guess not. I booted to OSX and removed the file, and OS9 booted.

But, again, at the very end of the boot up it went to a black screen, but booted fine in no extension mode. I suspected it was the graphics so I switched in a known good ATI Rage 128 VGA/DVI card for the Rage 128 ADC card that was in there, after boot the resolution jumped to 1600x1000 mode which I didn't even know my monitor supported. I corrected it back to 1650x1050 which I know was a good combo for the Rage and my monitor and switched the cards back, and it worked perfectly.

Thank you everyone for your tips regarding documentation and such.

[aBc]

This is indeed great news. Congrats! 
(No need for the shovel to dig out that CD here.)

[smilesdavis]

I will try and delete this file as setting up my 9.2.2/1.8 single core sonnet marathon setup was stopped by me not figuring out which extensions to disable

[ubergrafik]

Ok, I have really gone down the rabbit hole… from one G4 this time last week, to four:)

I just got a G4 Gigabit Ethernet with the Sonnet 1.8ghz upgrade. Under OSX, all works well and is good. I have checked and the Boot ROM version is 4.2.8f1, as required for this processor.
Will I need to reinstall the original dual 500mhz processors (which I have), then do the thing for os9, or is there another way to flash it so os9 will be good? I have booted into os9, including with extensions off, but it gets to 99% of loading, then freezes. I assume this is because it hasn’t got the firmware upgrade for os9?

I am wary of swapping the processor unless its the only choice.

[aBc]

Looks like YES... reinstall original processor and
make sure that the machine CAN boot into OS 9.

If not, then reinstall OS 9 or whatever is necessary
in order for it to actually, fully boot into OS 9.

Then follow the instructions...


Installation guide from Sonnet:
https://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/encore_st_1800_qsg.pdf

Be ye not afraid.

Besides, you can renew heatsink paste in the process.

Afterthought:
AND / OR you might try booting into OS X and then
remove the 'Apple CPU Plugins' - FROM the OS 9 partition
(as mentioned above by nikdoof) just to see if that might work.

[ubergrafik]

If I want to return the original processor BACK into a machine, do I need to do anything first? e.g. given the firmware was updated to put the new one in, does somethign need to be done to it to return it to original?

[smilesdavis]

i also have a Marathon PowerRack G4 Sonnet 1.8

OS9 is a must - when i left it i was trying to figure out which extensions it doesnt like
but it booted you gotta put some extensions in there and remove if i remember correctly
the multiprocessor extension then it boots - the rest is normal extension testing

this is supposed to be my main G4 rig so i should invest some time soon into it

[Jubadub]

If I want to return the original processor BACK into a machine, do I need to do anything first? e.g. given the firmware was updated to put the new one in, does somethign need to be done to it to return it to original?

IIRC You have to make sure whatever is inside System Folder > Extensions > Multiprocessing is the same as a stock Mac OS 9.2.2 install in order to use the orignal processors. If even that, actually, as I think the Sonnet and other updaters shouldn't break compatibility with what is already available stock.

But whatever the case, that Multiprocessing folder is definitely one thing to keep an eye on.

[aBc]

Stated above:

“I just got a G4 Gigabit Ethernet with the Sonnet
1.8ghz upgrade. Under OSX, all works well and is
good. I have checked and the Boot ROM version is
4.2.8f1, as required for this processor.”

Does the Apple System Profiler report the same
4.2.8f1 under OS 9? ? Or you can’t really boot all the
way into OS 9 before OS 9 freezes to actually check
that.

Sounds like a re-install (clean install) of OS 9 might
actually be in your future anyway. Are OS 9 and OS X
already on their own separate partitions? If not, might
be a good time to do that while you’re at it.

[I’ve been pulling my hair out today trying to install an
SSD in a Sawtooth and its’ original HD had 10.3.9 and
9.2 on the same single partition. It has not been fun
and is not solved yet. More not fun tomorrow!]

And as far as the multiprocessing folder and the
“Apple CPU Plugins” inside, if my memory serves me
well… I always disable / remove that. Dual processors
or not. Has caused problems in the past here and I
don’t believe they’re active on any machine under this
roof. (I’ll check the Quicksilver with the dual Sonnet in
it here tomorrow.)

And if the firmware is already installed under OS 9, it
won’t hurt to try to install it again anyway. In fact, it
might tell you that it isn’t necessary when you do try to
install it… if it’s already done.

Yes I went downstairs. (It's 4 a.m.!)

And now that I think about it - 4.2.8f1 is the last G4
firmware update from Apple for the Gigabit machine,
just as it was for the Quicksilvers. Just checked the
Quicksilver with the Sonnet and no there’s no
Multiprocessing Folder with Apple CPU Plugins inside.
And the firmware is 4.33f2 - so the 4.2.8 firmware is a
basic prerequisite perhaps for the installation of
Sonnet’s 4.33f2 firmware? (At least in the Quicksilver
anyway.)

I just upgraded the firmware in that Sawtooth tonight
to guess what?     4.2.8f1

[smilesdavis]

i know one thing for sure

once im back from this kajaking weekend im taking the boys ill get my 1.8 marathon project back on track and we two can figure those rare processor upgrades up and maybe make a working image for the next one