Resolved Boot options not working (PM G4)

[pet84rik]

Hi guys,

I am new here and I just bought my first Mac, an older PowerMac G4 AGP (400/1G/40G).

The only bigger issue is that I am not able to boot any other media than OSX one (burned DVD).

When I am trying to boot with Option key or CMD+OPT+F+O, screen stays blank (power saving on monitor).

What is working - booting OSX DVD from Startup disk or when the HDD is erased.

Not working - booting recognized OS9 CD from Startup disk, booting any other OS (NetBSD, OpenBSD, etc.).

Any ideass?

Thank you in advance.

 

[QSDP-User]

When I am trying to boot with Option key or CMD+OPT+F+O, screen stays blank (power saving on monitor).

"screen stays blank (power saving on monitor)"
Do you mean that the monitor stays dark (like it doesn't show the Apple Icon) ?
Does the G4 have the original Apple video card?

 

[pet84rik]

No image, monitor woke up for second after I turn the computer on and then it goes to the power saving (like if you do not have any video output).

There are 2 outputs and 2xRage 128

EDIT: now that you mentioned it, I put the VGA cable to the upper VGA output (blue one) and when I start my Mac, I can see Apple logo with circle spinning and after that I can see the bootup MacOSX screen. Before this, I was only able to see a grey screen and then the startup screen.

So maybe now it is a time to test again :-D

 

[QSDP-User]

Cool, I hope it works out for you.

 

[KawaiiAurora]

Hi guys,

I am new here and I just bought my first Mac, an older PowerMac G4 AGP (400/1G/40G).

The only bigger issue is that I am not able to boot any other media than OSX one (burned DVD).

When I am trying to boot with Option key or CMD+OPT+F+O, screen stays blank (power saving on monitor).

What is working - booting OSX DVD from Startup disk or when the HDD is erased.

Not working - booting recognized OS9 CD from Startup disk, booting any other OS (NetBSD, OpenBSD, etc.).

Any ideass?

Thank you in advance.

PRAM resets never hurt lol. You can try USB booting as it works well on Sawtooths

 

[pet84rik]

I have tried those key combinations as well (before I switched the VGA out), no luck. I will test that as soon as I can

Thanks.

 

[KawaiiAurora]

I have tried those key combinations as well (before I switched the VGA out), no luck. I will test that as soon as I can

Thanks.

Hmm.. I doubt it's a video issue tho. Did you try booting via Open Firmware?

 

[0248294]

Hmm.. I doubt it's a video issue tho. Did you try booting via Open Firmware?

When I am trying to boot with Option key or CMD+OPT+F+O, screen stays blank (power saving on monitor).

 

[KawaiiAurora]

Since I see it as 'O+F' all the time, I didn't notice it ;p Maybe the OP can try Linux via USB. It's worth a shot.. or try a different DVD drive if they have one lying around. Resetting the PRAM when changing the OS you're booting never hurts tho. When I have my Rage 128 Pro in my Sawtooth, Open Firmware only displays when I reset PRAM. Doesn't display afterwards btw. You can also press the 'c' key to boot from a DVD/CD. Macs don't boot from the CD/DVD ROM automatically, I think or at least mine don't.

 

[pet84rik]

It was all about that VGA output change. Thank you guys, now I am able to boot OpenBSD CD.