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UnixMac · Oct 19, 2004, 05:12 PM

I spent all morning on the phone with Apple and talked with a hardware specialist about an issue on the New Nvidia 6800 that I am sure Apple is going to have to address soon.

Your System Recovery disk that came with you G5 WILL NOT boot up with the 6800 inserted into your Mac. That is to say.. if you want to do a "disk repair" or re-format your hard drive with the disk that Apple provided with your G5, but your G5 didn't originally come with the 6800 card (or for that matter, did come with it).. the OS X.3.4 disk that came with it will cause a Kernel panic. So don't Panic... it's just that the drivers aren't on that disk so the computer can't operate the card.

I am hoping to get an email reply from Apple soon as to what they propose for a solution... I'm hoping it's a new recovery disk with 10.3.6 or something on it.

ReggieX · Oct 19, 2004, 05:22 PM

You should be able to roll your own disk and add the drivers, I can't see it being all that hard.

UnixMac · Oct 19, 2004, 05:25 PM

I'm not that sharp... how exactly do I "roll" a disk... and add the drivers? The recovery disk contains a fresh install of OS X 10.3.4 which is utterly useless to me should I a)want to sell my computer to someone and re-format it like new... or b)should I need to re-install OS X due to a catastrophic failure of my system drive.

Therefore... I need a new recovery disk that will recognize the Nvidia 6800 card.

CatOne · Oct 19, 2004, 07:35 PM

Originally posted by ReggieX:
You should be able to roll your own disk and add the drivers, I can't see it being all that hard.

Well... But that's really a PC type expectation and not something "Mac-like."

I think, what the issue is, is that the drivers for the 6800's aren't in the currently shipping release (10.3.5). So for people who order the 6800 stand-alone, it's a bit difficult... it's necessary to install the drivers before you install the card. And if you don't do that, it's a real chicken and egg problem.

I would wager good money that 10.3.6 will have the 6800 drivers built in to the system. So if you upgrade to 10.3.6 (when it's available) and *then* install the 6800, it should be smooth city.

And obviously people who get their G5 with the 6800 pre-installed will have no issues... this only affects people who order the 6800 and get it and don't install the drivers before the card. Still, a bit ugly.

UnixMac · Oct 19, 2004, 10:21 PM

Its more complicated that even that actually..

..you see, the card came with drivers that were to be installed PRIOR to the card it's self, and that is exactly what I did, and all works well.. The problem lies in the fact that my CD ROM was burned at Apple prior to the release of this card... therefore I cannot use the CD ROM, now that I have switched over from the ATI to the Nvidia card... ever..

Since I bought my machine with the Nv6800 as a BTO option, and since Apple delayed this card due to no fault of mine, I expect Apple will be burning a new CD for me (and others in my shoes) to use as a system recovery, and disk utility disk subsequently.

MOTHERWELL · Oct 19, 2004, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by ReggieX:
You should be able to roll your own disk and add the drivers, I can't see it being all that hard.

beautifly typical......

GoGoReggieXPowars · Oct 20, 2004, 09:49 AM

Originally posted by CatOne:
Well... But that's really a PC type expectation and not something "Mac-like."

Not really, my last PC was a 386 that I ditched back in 1994!

I'll retry my statement: relatively easy.

This tutorial was one of the better hits I found on Google, if I was at home I could spend a bit more time searching around. It uses BootCD and Carbon Copy Cloner as the tools to create the boot drive, which would need the 6800 drivers on it.

I would assume that one would do as the above comment says, install the 6800 drivers first, then the card, to make sure everything's working. Then and only then attempt to use BootCD to make the recovery disk.

I've been playing with the idea of making a bootable DVD-ROM that includes all the current Apple updates to go automatically from 10.3 to 10.3.5, rather than having to do 10.3 then run Software Update 2 or 3 times afterwords. I can't imagine that no one in OSX General hasn't done something similar.

PS to UnixMac, nice setup!

UnixMac · Oct 20, 2004, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by GoGoReggieXPowars:
Not really, my last PC was a 386 that I ditched back in 1994!

I'll retry my statement: relatively easy.

This tutorial was one of the better hits I found on Google, if I was at home I could spend a bit more time searching around. It uses BootCD and Carbon Copy Cloner as the tools to create the boot drive, which would need the 6800 drivers on it.

I would assume that one would do as the above comment says, install the 6800 drivers first, then the card, to make sure everything's working. Then and only then attempt to use BootCD to make the recovery disk.

I've been playing with the idea of making a bootable DVD-ROM that includes all the current Apple updates to go automatically from 10.3 to 10.3.5, rather than having to do 10.3 then run Software Update 2 or 3 times afterwords. I can't imagine that no one in OSX General hasn't done something similar.

PS to UnixMac, nice setup!

First, thanks for the compliment...

as for the boot CD, a good idea I agree, but it doesn't get Apple off the hook to make a good Boot CD for the 6800 MAC's they sold as CTO's like mine and others... even if they did ship the cards later (due to delays outside of their and our control).

When I go to sell this machine in 3 or 4 years, the new buyer will not want a jerry-rigged boot CD, they'll want an Apple gray CD to do their recovery and utilities.

kiazer · Oct 20, 2004, 10:05 AM

I have used "slipy" to create an all in one DVD with all updates that works really good - maybe you could try?

SO now if I reinstall -- My system is up to date with out running the update tool.

http://home.comcast.net/~crabbyapplesoftware/Slipy.htm

UnixMac · Oct 20, 2004, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by kiazer:
I have used "slipy" to create an all in one DVD with all updates that works really good - maybe you could try?

SO now if I reinstall -- My system is up to date with out running the update tool.

http://home.comcast.net/~crabbyapplesoftware/Slipy.htm

I'll download and try it, thanks! But Apple is still not off the hook!

GoGoReggieXPowars · Oct 20, 2004, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by kiazer:
I have used "slipy" to create an all in one DVD with all updates that works really good - maybe you could try?

Heh, I was just coming back here to post that!

UnixMac · Oct 20, 2004, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by GoGoReggieXPowars:
Heh, I was just coming back here to post that!

What options do I select on Slipy to do the all-in one DVD? It's asking me for the OS X install CD's which is not any help since they are no 6800 compatible?

GoGoReggieXPowars · Oct 20, 2004, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
When I go to sell this machine in 3 or 4 years, the new buyer will not want a jerry-rigged boot CD, they'll want an Apple gray CD to do their recovery and utilities.

Make a CD label for it?

I think at that point you'll have a more recent OS install disk.

Originally posted by kiazer:
I have used "slipy" to create an all in one DVD with all updates that works really good - maybe you could try?

Heh, I was just coming back here to post that!

The only problem with that is that the initial boot will still not have the 6800's drivers! So instant KP when it boots. The best bet really does seem to use BootCD to create a custom boot disk that mirrors the current working system, and see if Apple addresses the issue in the future. I somehow doubt it, but for now there are some solutions.

(jeez, how many edits did this post get?!)