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christiann

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2020
449
167
North America
Happy 2023! Welcome to the community WikiPost. We will be discussing OS X Leopard on G3’s (and G4’s).


9A241 10.5 Developer Preview (August, 2006)
9A241e 10.5 Developer Preview (September, 2006)
9a283 10.5 Developer Preview (October, 2006)
9a303 10.5 Developer Preview (November, 2006)
9a321 10.5 Developer Preview (December, 2006)
9A326 10.5 Employees Preview (December, 2006)
9A343 10.5 Developer Preview (January, 2007)
9A377 10.5 Developer Preview (March, 2007)
9A377a 10.5 Developer Preview (March, 2007)
9a410 10.5 Developer Preview (April, 2007)
9A466 10.5 WWDC07 Preview (June, 2007)
9A499 10.5 Developer Preview (July, 2007)
9A500n 10.5 Developer Preview (August, 2007)
9A527 10.5 Developer Preview (August, 2007)
9A528a 10.5 (Server) Developer Preview (August, 2007)
9A528d 10.5 Developer Preview (September, 2007)
9A557 10.5 Release Candidate (September, 2007)
9A559 10.5 Release Candidate (September, 2007)
9A581 10.5 Gold Master (October, 2007)

As of early 2023, the guide is “active”. The content has been updated, however, we are still looking for someone to finish the shell script to automate the install.

If you want to discuss this project (as well as Snow Leopard on PowerPC Macs, which covers the 2008 WWDC build as well as build 10a190), you can chat on the joint Discord here: Mythical OSX on PowerPC Mac

This thread has guides and discussions about this topic.

images.macrumors.png


Let's begin here:

9A321 and newer are confirmed NOT working on G3s. This includes later builds such as 9A466.

Macintosh Garden download link to the builds

THANKS TO @Project Alice, any of the G3 builds that were previously locked up on BetaArchive are freed. So kudos to them.

The G3 patcher script development has been stalled as of early 2022.
We are searching for a developer willing to work with us on the script.

Build version:Working: (Y/N/Untested)
9A241YES, NATIVE
9A241eUNTESTED (NOT LEAKED YET) - based on testing of build 9A241, it is likely to also work on G3’s.
9A283UNTESTED (NOT LEAKED YET) - based on testing builds 9A241 and 9A303 - which come between this build, it is likely to work on G3’s as well.
9Z1554YES, NATIVE
9A303YES, NATIVE (CRASHING Finder OOTB: Might be fixable with components from build 9Z1554)
9A321YES (with components from build 9Z1554)
9A343NOT WORKING
9A377aNOT WORKING
9A410NOT WORKING
9A466NOT WORKING

- We recommend that you have 750MB of RAM or else you may not be content with the performance.

- Make sure that this Mac is able to officially run Tiger via a PowerPC G3.

- Have a FireWire cable, external drive, DVD, or USB for installing the OS. A USB drive may or may not work.

- Install Xar using MacPorts (After you install the MacPorts .pkg, run sudo port install xar in Terminal (if you have a network connection))

Thanks to @Jack Neill for finding the download link.

Thanks to @bunnspecial, and @dosdude1 for answering our questions!




First step: Download your chosen beta build of OS X Leopard (up to 9A303). Extract it.

Step two: Mount the image and go to System/Installation/Packages. Inside ”Packages”, find OSInstall.mpkg. Right-click the file and open with TextEdit.
  1. Open with TextEdit and delete OSmodelCheck.
  2. Next, change hwbeSupportedMachines to the model identifier of the Mac you are installing it on.
  3. Delete the BadMachines.
  4. Change the return false to return true to install on a G3 in the code below: var minRam = 512; function checkSupportedMachine(machineType){ // Fail on G3 if (1 != system.sysctl('hw.vectorunit') ) { return false; } var badMachines = ['MacBook3,1','iMac','PowerBook1,1','PowerBook2,1', 'AAPL,Gossamer', 'AAPL,PowerMac G3', 'AAPL,PowerBook1998', 'AAPL,PowerBook1999']; if(machineType){ var length = badMachines.length; // Fail if any of the compatible values match the list of badMachines for( var j = 0; j < length; j++ ){ if(machineType == badMachines[j]){ return false; } } } // require 867Mhz+ if (system.sysctl("hw.cpufrequency") < 866000000) { return false; } return true; }
  5. Let’s edit the processor speed. In the code below, xxx represents the processor speed. Set it to 200, for 200MHz. if (system.sysctl("hw.cpufrequency") < xxx000000) { return false;
  6. Now, edit the RAM requirements. We recommend at least 750MB. However, you can run this with less RAM. It’ll be slow though. In the following code, change 512 to 400: var minRam = 512;
  7. Once you finished all of your edits, save the file with TextEdit.
  8. Congrats! You have successfully edited the installer. Make sure that you saved your work. Now proceed to the install!
  9. Install using a (Dual Layer) DVD, Firewire, or USB flash drive.

If you realize that it is not working, force an install on a G3, use a G4 Machine*

*Any G4 is fine, even if Leopard is running unofficially. Just make sure it’s running the version of OS X Leopard that you’d like to force install.*

Running build 9A241, it is possible to take the Classic Environment from a Tiger installation and run it there.

Download the zip archive from https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/classic-environment-leopard-9a241 and extract it.

Copy the System folder to your hard drive.

Copy the Classic Startup app from CoreServices from an install of Tiger to your install of 10.5 (9A241) in the same location. Copy the Classic prefPane to
Code:
/System/Library/PreferencePanes
. Allow it to copy it to the destination, replacing files

to get Classic to work: in Terminal, run the following:
Code:
sudo chown root /System/Library/CoreServices/Classic Startup.app/Contents/Resources/TruBluEnvironment
Code:
sudo chmod u+s /System/Library/CoreServices/Classic Startup.app/Contents/Resources/TruBluEnvironment

Classic should now start. Currently speaking, it is slow to start.

I, @MacPro2006VBox am currently testing this so stay tuned!


All of the legacy G3 files for Leopard are below, including several kexts for G3 post-install patches.

Regards,

The G3 Community
 

Attachments

  • 10.5.5 files for later Leopard versions on Beige G3.zip
    4.5 MB · Views: 339
  • Kexts for Leopard on PCI Macs.zip
    370.9 KB · Views: 285
  • Extra kexts for B&W G3.zip
    1.5 MB · Views: 241
  • Leopard for unsupported Macs - installation and setup guide.pdf
    4 MB · Views: 358
Last edited:

z970

macrumors 68040
Jun 2, 2017
3,589
4,541
I swear, there's really something about this place.

Not even twelve days into membership, and our newest member has just written a semi-comprehensive installation guide in just over one hour's time, all from his own initiative. And he's not even done!

@556fmjoe You weren't kidding when you said that this forum makes things happen! You people are some of the most driven individuals I've ever seen! o_O
 
Last edited:

christiann

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2020
449
167
North America
I swear, there's really something about this place.

Not even twelve days into membership, and our newest member has just written a semi-comprehensive installation guide in just over one hour's time, all from his own initiative. And he's not even done!

@556fmjoe You weren't kidding when you said that this forum makes things happen! You people are some of the most driven individuals I've ever seen! o_O

Thanks for that. I appreciate it. :)
 

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
This thread is dedicated to running the Leopard beta (9A241) on our G3 Macs, much like the thread on Snow Leopard PowerPC on G4’s and G5’s.

The only major thing that needs fixed is Safari, which won’t even launch on our G3’s.

Testers welcome. Let’s see how far we can push this beta.

The original install image can be found here: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-os-x-105-leopard-beta-9a241

An image to simply restore to your hard disk or other storage medium (SSD, CF) via Disk Utility will come later.
 
Last edited:

MartinNobel

macrumors newbie
Aug 14, 2020
12
20
Australia
Have you by any chance looked at the Liger ShapeShifter theme? That could also help in some cases if you want to make it more like leopard themed (Downloads folder, etc)
 
  • Like
Reactions: B S Magnet
This thread is dedicated to running the Leopard beta (9A241) on our G3 Macs, much like the thread on Snow Leopard PowerPC on G4’s and G5’s.

The only major thing that needs fixed is Safari, which won’t even launch on our G3’s.

Testers welcome. Let’s see how far we can push this beta.

The original install image can be found here: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/mac-os-x-105-leopard-beta-9a241

An image to simply restore to your hard disk or other storage medium (SSD, CF) via Disk Utility will come later.

You might want to convert this thread into a WikiPost!
 

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
Have you by any chance looked at the Liger ShapeShifter theme? That could also help in some cases if you want to make it more like leopard themed (Downloads folder, etc)

Either that or I could have installed the free tool UNO to get rid of the brushed metal.
 

christiann

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2020
449
167
North America
Hi guys. You and I want to do the impossible. I have a sh script I worked on with someone a while back to get it working. I have several iBooks and an iMac G3. 9A241 is already native for a G3, so there wouldn’t be modifying. 9A303 is the last one that will run on G3’s. If someone gets the builds off betaarchive, we can make Leopard on G3’s true. Editing the installer is easy, and I have most of the kexts.

I’m interested in this project.
 
Last edited:

Project Alice

macrumors 68020
Jul 13, 2008
2,078
2,158
Post Falls, ID
I was going to make this thread one of these days lol..Beat me to it!

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive. I did make a couple posts on the "What have you done with a PPC thread" here, and here (this one was a G4).

The latest build that booted for me on a G3 was 9A410 (or it might've been 9A343 I don't remember. I haven't played with it in a few weeks) Which coincidentally is the last build with Tiger's UI. I did however boot the later ones such as 9A466 on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade, and found that the Rage 128 works, and is even able to display a translucent menu bar.
 

Jubadub

macrumors 6502
Nov 1, 2017
342
425
When I installed Leopard back in the day, it murdered Shapeshifter. Is that a hack?
I think it's a theme to make Tiger look like Leopard, since there's no ShapeShifter for Leopard and later.

Wonder if the final version of ShapeShifter would work on Leopard beta.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Project Alice

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
I was going to make this thread one of these days lol..Beat me to it!

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive. I did make a couple posts on the "What have you done with a PPC thread" here, and here (this one was a G4).

The latest build that booted for me on a G3 was 9A410 (or it might've been 9A343 I don't remember. I haven't played with it in a few weeks) Which coincidentally is the last build with Tiger's UI. I did however boot the later ones such as 9A466 on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade, and found that the Rage 128 works, and is even able to display a translucent menu bar.

9A410 might be more forgiving than 9A241.... iTunes 9.1.1 is unobtainable on this build due to QuickTime 7.5.5 breaking the system although it successfully installed, being stuck at the Apple logo and it just sits infinitely loading, not getting to the desktop. Safari will have to be manually installed as the pkg expects Tiger (10.4.11)
 

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
I was going to make this thread one of these days lol..Beat me to it!

I have an installation of every Leopard beta from the betaarchive running on an external drive. I did make a couple posts on the "What have you done with a PPC thread" here, and here (this one was a G4).

The latest build that booted for me on a G3 was 9A410 (or it might've been 9A343 I don't remember. I haven't played with it in a few weeks) Which coincidentally is the last build with Tiger's UI. I did however boot the later ones such as 9A466 on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade, and found that the Rage 128 works, and is even able to display a translucent menu bar.

Would you mind uploading those builds to the Macintosh Garden? I would like to try 9A410.
 

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
As for retail leopard... would just installing it over target disk mode work, an then just replace the apps with the Tiger versions?
 

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
Yeah that’s what I thought. I recall someone getting it working... but that was a long time ago. Anyhow 9A241 breaks when you install QuickTime 7.5.5
 

Project Alice

macrumors 68020
Jul 13, 2008
2,078
2,158
Post Falls, ID
So with build 9A343 you can’t easily edit OSinstall.mpkg....
It’s easiest to just install from a supported machine and boot from the unsupported one. Like sub 867MHz G4s on release Leopard. Once it’s installed there’s no compatibility check like there is in modern macos.

It’s also worth nothing that QT 7.5.5 also broke 343.
 
Last edited:

MacPro2006VBox

macrumors 6502
Oct 9, 2014
357
236
It’s easiest to just install from a supported machine and boot from the unsupported one. Like sub 867MHz G4s on release Leopard. Once it’s installed there’s no compatibility check like there is in modern macos.

It’s also worth nothing that QT 7.5.5 also broke 343.

What I would like to try is build 9A410... I hear it’s somewhat closer to retail (no brushed metal)
 
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