Help Needed with iBook G4

[Smokin House]

Hi all,

I was recently given a iBook G4, but it has a problem.

When it boots I get a folder with a question mark and a smiley square face. I believe its something to do with not finding the OS on the HDD (sorry I'm a real noob with macs, always been on pcs before).

After a little searching, I've read that I can re-install the OS, sadly I have no discs (hold tight).

More research done and I read I can install from usb via open firmware (getting to it by pressing 'control-apple key-f-o' (It does boot into open firmware))

BUT

with being a noob I have no idea what to do after that and reading some of the commands, it confused me.

I asked around to borrow a osX disc to try and re-install and someone has lent me iBook Mac OS X Install disc with v10.1.2 on it. sadly it doesn't install after turning on the machine. The disc spins though.

I have also tried to boot the disc via open firmware only to get an error message to say that its not compatible

He also lent me a 'Apple Hardware Test' disc but when pressing 'C' on booting with the disc in I get an error message to say that the device isn't capable for hardware testing

Right now I'm stuck and would really appreciate anybodies 'guide for noobs' to help me get the ibook back to life and fully working please.

 

[redheeler]

10.1.2 is too old to boot on an iBook G4. As for booting from USB, try the method shown in this video:

Make sure the USB is correctly formatted using an install disk image and Apple Partition Map.

 

[spf2]

To be able to boot the ibook using USB, you need to be able to create a bootable USB. Here is a good tutorial on creating and booting. It goes through the process of creating a USB drive and then running from openfirmware. Unfortunately, you will need to have another Mac system to create the USB drive. It needs to be able to partition with a APM ( Apple Partition Map ). You need a bootable source (working hard drive / DVD install image) to restore to the USB partition.

https://timmerman.wordpress.com/2014/11/18/installing-os-x-through-a-usb-stick-on-powerpc-macs/

 

[Smokin House]

Thanks for the rapid response guys.

@redheeler
you state that 10.1.2 is too low. Can you recommend a firmware to use please, and possibly where to get an install image. Thanks

@spf2
Sadly I do not have access to another mac BUT as luck would have it I have paragon partition manager pro which can format a usb drive to APM So fingers crossed

 

[redheeler]

@redheeler
you state that 10.1.2 is too low. Can you recommend a firmware to use please, and possibly where to get an install image. Thanks

10.4 Tiger or 10.5 Leopard. This page has download links: http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-osx-mac-os-10-ppc

 

[Smokin House]

10.4 Tiger or 10.5 Leopard. This page has download links: http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-osx-mac-os-10-ppc

Thanks. Will keep you posted how it goes Thanks for the help