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| Powerbook G4 12" - Boot OS9? | |
| Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-05-15 09:36:35 Hi, Is there any hack that would allow a Powerbook G4 12" to boot natively into OS9? Maybe like a reverse XPostFacto utility? Thanks for any info, Steve | |
| Posted by: Unknown_K on 2025-05-15 10:23:47 If there was it would be mentioned on the os9lives forum. | |
| Posted by: jovianartifact on 2025-05-15 11:02:25 I want 9 on my M1 MBP, imagine the SPEED | |
| Posted by: zefrenchtoon on 2025-05-15 12:33:57 There is but only for the first revision if I’m not wrong. Check macos9lives forms as @Unknown_K said. Older revisions are stucked because of their unsupported gpu | |
| Posted by: CC_333 on 2025-05-25 11:20:23 I had OS 9 running on a 1.33 GHz 12" G4, and it was decent, but because hardware support was lacking, there was no video acceleration and no power management, so it was rather unuseful as a laptop. I can't remember if sound worked, but It probably did. c | |
| Posted by: opualuan on 2025-05-27 21:15:55 Agree with zefrenchtoon, it works without too much effort, including accelerated video. Stick to the first revision with geforce4 chipset and supported G4. Sound output from the speakers requires headphones plugged in or solder-bridge the contact on the board. | |
| Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-05-28 08:03:39 Thanks. I'll check out the video chips. I believe mine is the first revision (PowerBook6,1). 867mhz with mini VGA. | |
| Posted by: Hopfenholz on 2025-05-28 10:00:54 I got really bored in the Covid lockdown and got it working after a few hours on macos9lives.com Mainly open firmware commands. Main annoyance was no sounds unless you plug in headphones but also no sleep They do make a wonderful macos 9 machine!  | |
| Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-05-28 10:30:14 Oh cool!...was there a thread with the firmware commands? | |
Posted by: Hopfenholz on 2025-05-29 03:54:57Oh cool!...was there a thread with the firmware commands?Just search macos9lives, you'll find it. I didn't bookmark it or document what I was doing at the time, sorry | |
Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-05-29 08:52:02Just search macos9lives, you'll find it. I didn't bookmark it or document what I was doing at the time, sorryWill do. Thanks. | |
| Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-06-07 09:55:02 Man...MacOS9lives is such an unintuitive website try to search for a clue on how to do this. Not sure how you guys navigate that mess. I tried and tried. Mine is the first 12" 6,1 867mhz....Can a kind person throw me any clue? Thanks in advance. | |
| Posted by: opualuan on 2025-06-07 11:15:25 I’m getting an error on the site | |
Posted by: zefrenchtoon on 2025-06-07 14:16:39Man...MacOS9lives is such an unintuitive website try to search for a clue on how to do this. Not sure how you guys navigate that mess. I tried and tried.Here it is: OS9 Booted on 867Mhz Powerbook G4 (unsupported) 12"OS9 Booted on 867Mhz Powerbook G4 (unsupported) 12"
macos9lives.com
Where you will read DieHard saying: 3. Apple PowerBook G4 867 12" (Al) (Identifiers: A1010, M8760LL/A, PowerBook6,1) | |
Posted by: zefrenchtoon on 2025-06-07 14:19:33Man...MacOS9lives is such an unintuitive website try to search for a clue on how to do this. Not sure how you guys navigate that mess. I tried and tried.Another one here: OS9 Booted on 867Mhz Powerbook G4 (unsupported) 12"OS9 Booted on 867Mhz Powerbook G4 (unsupported) 12"
macos9lives.com
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Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-06-07 14:29:25Here it is:Thanks!! | |
| Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-06-15 20:09:14 I must be slow. I'm still not seeing firmware commands in any of those threads. I've got the MacOS9lives Unsupported G4 OS running but still cant find the additional open firmware commands need to get USB etc working. | |
| Posted by: opualuan on 2025-06-15 21:38:55 My setup didn’t require OF commands, maybe I didn’t get as many peripherals working as you’re testing. What are you trying to get working? | |
Posted by: smrieck511 on 2025-06-16 05:04:27My setup didn’t require OF commands, maybe I didn’t get as many peripherals working as you’re testing. What are you trying to get working?When it boots up and loads the OS9.2.2 desktop it says "The software needed to use the USB device "Unknown Device" cannot be found. Please refer to the device documentation...." Not sure what that is referring to? Nothing is plugged in to any ports at all but it does recognize a USB flash drive when plugged in and I do get sound as long as I have a dummy plug in the headphone port. DVD drive working too. Maybe I should be happy with it and move along to the next project. | |
| Posted by: opualuan on 2025-06-16 08:06:24 I remember this as a problem with the unsupported bluetooth module, I removed it. See step 53: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/PowerBook+G4+Aluminum+12-Inch+867+MHz+Bluetooth+Replacement/216 This is really deep in there, easier to unplug it and leave it in (step 30) With the audio, you can solder-bridge the jack on the audio daughterboard to simulate the dummy plug if you want to make this cleaner. If you are interested I can get a photo of this. | |
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