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Trouble with USB booting on Powerbook G4

mectojic

mectojic

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 27, 2020
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Sydney, Australia
Hi, this is not the usual question about "how do I boot from USB in Open Firmware??" I know how to do that now :)

Here's a problem I've had on a Powerbook G4, and it may be a problem on other PowerPC too (but not all, as I've had it work before!!!)

I've just tried 2 different USBs to try boot + install OSX Tiger in the PB G4 12". OF is able to identify that I have the "disk@1", but I can't perform "dir ud:3,\" without getting "can't OPEN the DIR device".

Now the problem is visually noticeable obvious, because I've tried using a USB that flashes when it's plugged in. And it doesn't flash. For some reason, the PB G4 doesn't provide power to the USB drives until it is well into the booting phase. (The USB can be read perfectly fine once I'm on the dock of an OS, and it flashes, but not at the OF stage).

I really need help here, because the DVD drive is dead, I don't own FW, so USB boot/install is my only hope.

N.B. have tested this with 2 different Powerbooks 12" G4 1.33, so it's a consistent problem on these models??
 
M

Macbookprodude

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Jan 1, 2018
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Hello,

Go into OF and type devalias.. If u see ud, then type this: boot ud:,\\::tbxi - This should boot the USB.
 
M

Macbookprodude

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Jan 1, 2018
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mectojic said:
Thanks for the tip – didn't know this. But no, there is no ud. As I say, the USB doesn't physically light up, meaning there is no power going to it.
Click to expand...
Where is the USB plugged into ? Also, did you try to test if USB itself is problem on another machine ? If its not lighting up, chances are it maybe a broken USB flash drive. Since I can't see a pic of this, I am not sure if this is the case or not.
 
mectojic

mectojic

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 27, 2020
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Sydney, Australia
Macbookprodude said:
Where is the USB plugged into ? Also, did you try to test if USB itself is problem on another machine ? If its not lighting up, chances are it maybe a broken USB flash drive. Since I can't see a pic of this, I am not sure if this is the case or not.
Click to expand...
To eliminate all variables, I did the following:

1) Tested both USB sticks in separate computers. Both work perfectly.
2) Tested both USB sticks in the Powerbook, both ports, while it was running 10.5 Leopard. Both USBs work perfectly and can be read. The USBs light up, naturally.
 
mectojic

mectojic

macrumors 65816
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Dec 27, 2020
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An update: after extensive google searching (I'm amazed this information isn't easier to find!!) – I discovered that some Powerbook G4s (and other G4s?) do not support USB booting. For clarification, I tested this on a PB G4 12" 1.33.

For some reason, Apple removed the ability to USB boot on these. It's very annoying, and there doesn't seem to be any workaround.
 
DearthnVader

DearthnVader

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Dec 17, 2015
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Red Springs, NC
mectojic said:
An update: after extensive google searching (I'm amazed this information isn't easier to find!!) – I discovered that some Powerbook G4s (and other G4s?) do not support USB booting. For clarification, I tested this on a PB G4 12" 1.33.

For some reason, Apple removed the ability to USB boot on these. It's very annoying, and there doesn't seem to be any workaround.
Click to expand...
That would be odd, they may not have the ud alias, but you should still be able to boot from them, unless maybe they are USB3 flash drives?

First thing to check, with the flash drive connected, boot into Open Firmware:

Code: 
dev / ls

Use the spacebar to scroll down the device-tree looking for a disk connected to a usb device, such as:

Code: 
/usb,1b
/disk@1

Next check your alias for that usb:

Code: 
devalias

On my system usb1 is the alias for usb,1b, so to check if we can read files on this disk:

Code: 
dir usb1/@1:,\
 
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mectojic

mectojic

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 27, 2020
1,321
2,509
Sydney, Australia
DearthnVader said:
That would be odd, they may not have the ud alias, but you should still be able to boot from them, unless maybe they are USB3 flash drives?

First thing to check, with the flash drive connected, boot into Open Firmware:

Code: 
dev / ls

Use the spacebar to scroll down the device-tree looking for a disk connected to a usb device, such as:

Code: 
/usb,1b
/disk@1

Next check your alias for that usb:

Code: 
devalias

On my system usb1 is the alias for usb,1b, so to check if we can read files on this disk:

Code: 
dir usb1/@1:,\
Click to expand...
Sorry, tried that, still says "can't OPEN the DIR device".

Yes, I believe I am using USB 3 flash drives. However, this has never caused me a problem before – I've used USB3 drives to boot onto iBook Clamshell and iMac G4, both of which are USB1.1... unless there is some problem with USB3 and USB2 ??
As I said above, once the PB is booted, it can read/write USB3 drives without problem. It just can't perform the dir command in Open Firmware.
 
DearthnVader

DearthnVader

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Dec 17, 2015
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Red Springs, NC
mectojic said:
Sorry, tried that, still says "can't OPEN the DIR device".

Yes, I believe I am using USB 3 flash drives. However, this has never caused me a problem before – I've used USB3 drives to boot onto iBook Clamshell and iMac G4, both of which are USB1.1... unless there is some problem with USB3 and USB2 ??
As I said above, once the PB is booted, it can read/write USB3 drives without problem. It just can't perform the dir command in Open Firmware.
Click to expand...
I have the same issue with a drive I have, the disk shows up in Open Firmware, but it can't be read.

I assume it's just an issue with the type of flash used on the drive, I don't know of any New World Mac's that can't boot from USB.
 
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J

Jackness

macrumors newbie
Aug 13, 2024
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DearthnVader said:
I have the same issue with a drive I have, the disk shows up in Open Firmware, but it can't be read.

I assume it's just an issue with the type of flash used on the drive, I don't know of any New World Mac's that can't boot from USB.
Click to expand...
I have the same issue here, not sure if anyone's found some fix/bypass for it?
 
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