MacOSX Boot Problem - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

junglistic · 12-10-2003, 08:31 AM

Ok, so i cant get MacOSX to boot on my g3 powerbook

First I partitioned the 8gb drive into 2 parts, 1 - 5.5gig, 2 - 2.5gig

I have panther installed on 1, and OS9 installed on 2.

The panther installed with no problems, and the last thing it said was, your computer will restart in 30 secs, etc.. everything went normally.

As did the os9 install.

Note: I did it in this order Partition w/ OSX's DISK UTIL (included on osx cd), Install OS9, Install OSX

Just turning the system on, and doing nothing, i get a grey OS9 looking screen which has a flashing floppy disk and a ? in the middle.

If i hold shift, I get into os9, no problems, from their, i can select Mac OSX in startup, and it reboots, and i go back to the floppy with the ?.

Ive tried other apps, like Apple's disk config util and xpostfacto with the same result.

I cant get into open firmware on boot, but in disk config util i can config it, and it is configured to boot off partition 1 (panther).

Why isnt panther booting? I know its something with the boot sector (or whatever the mac equiv of boot sector is.. ) But how can I overwrite it or fix it.

Also, i can boot with no problems off either osx or mac os9 cds.

in the osx cd i can run disk util, and the panther partition checks out ok, says its bootable, etc...

if i go to the startup app included in the osx cd and select the panther parttion to boot, i get the same grey os9 looking screen with a question mark floppy

junglistic · 12-10-2003, 01:12 PM

no apple heads around?

cheerios · 12-11-2003, 12:24 AM

mac user, but honestly, I have no clue how to fix your problem. bumping it for ya, at least, though!!

madsenj37 · 12-11-2003, 07:47 PM

try reinstalling os x and see if it happens again. If so maybe you should intall os x before 9, also make sure you partitioned with os 9 drivers. Other than that i have no clue.

charliex · 12-11-2003, 08:25 PM

did you do a clean install of os9 ? i'm presuming you did since it got on.

its ok to install OS9 after OSX they don't interfere with each other ( well in rare circumstances with users and applications folders )

Can't think of anything other than a reinstall like madsen said

junglistic · 12-12-2003, 05:58 AM

After 3 tries, I gave up. Called apple and exchanged my copy of panther for jag. And it installed with no problems.

And the problem was, it wasnt installing completely.

After it had finished installing CD1, it should resatrt, then ask for cd 2, but it never got that far, it would restart, and then show me the grey screen.

Maybe a defective copy of panther? Who knows, but im loving osx all the same

a weeks worth of pain was plenty worth it!

simply put

osx > *

rubicon · 12-12-2003, 08:11 AM

Hmm, so they downgraded you from 10.3 to 10.2?? Not sure if that's a long-term solution but if it got you working...

junglistic · 12-12-2003, 10:03 AM

This was a retail copy I had purchased.

my powerbook came with OS9 originally.

I felt it was time to give OSX a try.

Panther has had this problem on other G3 Powerbooks, (as ive read on some other forums).

Until they get it sorted, ill stick with jag..

btw, i havent been this excited about an os since... ever.

rubicon · 12-12-2003, 03:03 PM

I'm still running Jaguar but looking to bump up to Panther. Apple tends to leave you in the dust faster than Microsoft so I'll give it a go. I've heard nothing but good things - aside from the firewire drive issue which doesn't impact me.

12-10-2003, 08:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
junglistic Insane	MacOSX Boot Problem Ok, so i cant get MacOSX to boot on my g3 powerbook First I partitioned the 8gb drive into 2 parts, 1 - 5.5gig, 2 - 2.5gig I have panther installed on 1, and OS9 installed on 2. The panther installed with no problems, and the last thing it said was, your computer will restart in 30 secs, etc.. everything went normally. As did the os9 install. Note: I did it in this order Partition w/ OSX's DISK UTIL (included on osx cd), Install OS9, Install OSX Just turning the system on, and doing nothing, i get a grey OS9 looking screen which has a flashing floppy disk and a ? in the middle. If i hold shift, I get into os9, no problems, from their, i can select Mac OSX in startup, and it reboots, and i go back to the floppy with the ?. Ive tried other apps, like Apple's disk config util and xpostfacto with the same result. I cant get into open firmware on boot, but in disk config util i can config it, and it is configured to boot off partition 1 (panther). Why isnt panther booting? I know its something with the boot sector (or whatever the mac equiv of boot sector is.. ) But how can I overwrite it or fix it. Also, i can boot with no problems off either osx or mac os9 cds. in the osx cd i can run disk util, and the panther partition checks out ok, says its bootable, etc... if i go to the startup app included in the osx cd and select the panther parttion to boot, i get the same grey os9 looking screen with a question mark floppy Last edited by junglistic; 12-10-2003 at 08:33 AM..

12-11-2003, 07:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
madsenj37 Still searching... Location: NorCal For Life	try reinstalling os x and see if it happens again. If so maybe you should intall os x before 9, also make sure you partitioned with os 9 drivers. Other than that i have no clue. __________________ "Only two things are certain: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe." -- Albert Einstein

12-12-2003, 08:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
rubicon Stop. Think. Question. Location: Redondo Beach, CA	Hmm, so they downgraded you from 10.3 to 10.2?? Not sure if that's a long-term solution but if it got you working... __________________ How you do anything is how you do everything.

12-12-2003, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
rubicon Stop. Think. Question. Location: Redondo Beach, CA	I'm still running Jaguar but looking to bump up to Panther. Apple tends to leave you in the dust faster than Microsoft so I'll give it a go. I've heard nothing but good things - aside from the firewire drive issue which doesn't impact me. __________________ How you do anything is how you do everything.

12-10-2003, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
junglistic Insane	no apple heads around?

12-11-2003, 12:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
cheerios Banned Location: 'bout 2 feet from my iMac	mac user, but honestly, I have no clue how to fix your problem. bumping it for ya, at least, though!!

12-11-2003, 08:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	did you do a clean install of os9 ? i'm presuming you did since it got on. its ok to install OS9 after OSX they don't interfere with each other ( well in rare circumstances with users and applications folders ) Can't think of anything other than a reinstall like madsen said

12-12-2003, 05:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
junglistic Insane	After 3 tries, I gave up. Called apple and exchanged my copy of panther for jag. And it installed with no problems. And the problem was, it wasnt installing completely. After it had finished installing CD1, it should resatrt, then ask for cd 2, but it never got that far, it would restart, and then show me the grey screen. Maybe a defective copy of panther? Who knows, but im loving osx all the same a weeks worth of pain was plenty worth it! simply put osx > *

12-12-2003, 10:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
junglistic Insane	This was a retail copy I had purchased. my powerbook came with OS9 originally. I felt it was time to give OSX a try. Panther has had this problem on other G3 Powerbooks, (as ive read on some other forums). Until they get it sorted, ill stick with jag.. btw, i havent been this excited about an os since... ever.