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whquaint · Oct 4, 2005, 12:14 AM

My PowerMac G4 Cube will not boot from any Mac OS 9, period. This includes various OS 9 (9.0, 9.1, 9.2) installation CDs and internal or external HDs. I just get a gray screen. It boots fine into Mac OS X, and Classic also runs fine. Any ideas?

Thanks.

vinster · Oct 4, 2005, 12:18 AM

Choose an OS 9 system folder as your startup disk in the OS X preferences. Just make sure you can boot back into OS X afterwards as I'm not sure if all OS 9 startup disk control panels recognize the OS X system folder.

whquaint · Oct 4, 2005, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by vinster

Choose an OS 9 system folder as your startup disk in the OS X preferences. Just make sure you can boot back into OS X afterwards as I'm not sure if all OS 9 startup disk control panels recognize the OS X system folder.

Done that. Still doesn't boot into Mac OS 9.

vinster · Oct 4, 2005, 12:27 AM

Does the startup disk preference confirm that you've chosen the OS 9 folder? If not, try resetting the PRAM.

whquaint · Oct 4, 2005, 12:55 PM

Yes, the OS 9 system folder is clearly selected in the startup disk preference. I have reset the PRAM (5 chimes in a row).

It's just weird. It used to boot from OS 9, now it doesn't.

I have the latest firmware, but I thought about re-applying it. However, the stupid firmware installer requires the Cube to be booted under OS 9!

Thade · Oct 4, 2005, 01:21 PM

hmmm You have OS 9 disk drivers installed? Any new hardware since you last booted into 9? Video card?

whquaint · Oct 4, 2005, 01:58 PM

It started when I tried to upgrade the hard drive. After that debacle, I put the old one back in and it won't boot into Mac OS 9.

Are drivers even an issue if I try to boot from a Mac OS 9 installation CD? (which doesn't work)

I've tried numerous HDs, and even without one or with only an external Firewire drive. Booting with Mac OS X generally works, and booting with Mac OS 9 always stops at the second gray screen.

Oh, I can boot into the Apple Hardware test CD, and it finds no problems.

I've taken out numerous hardware components to see if they are the issue (RAM, modem, Airport card, HD, DVD-ROM). I can't test without the video card or CPU. (Can I boot without video? Maybe I could add a sound file to the startup folder that would tell me if OS 9 booted.)

Thade · Oct 4, 2005, 02:48 PM

Just throwin' out ideas.....

I'm not sure if you can boot to CD without OS 9 disk drivers, it's been too long. I have had a similar symtom copying a system folder to a disk without OS 9 disk drivers. If the old disk hasn't been formatted, the disk drivers are still there and you can rule that out. You might also double check the jumper settings.

Not sure about the sound file. If it crashed, the CAPS lock key probably won't light up.

If you have a spare drive, try formatting it on the external and be sure to install the disk drivers.

Thade · Oct 4, 2005, 05:13 PM

On second thought, you SHOULD be able to boot to the cd with or without drivers. How else would you initialize a new drive.... duh

whquaint · Oct 4, 2005, 11:33 PM

Eureka! Video card went bad! I think. Anyway, I shutdown OS X, unplugged ADC monitor, pressed power button, and held down "C" key with OS 9 installation CD in drive. That's right, no video; flying blind! (Can't use my PM 8600 Apple-plug monitor. Can't use my integrated iMac G5 monitor.)

The CD/DVD drive went to town! All of the full, normal CD chugging sounds. When it finished making noise, I tried to imagine what the screen looked like if it had successfully booted. There should be a Finder window containing the installer files. I pressed the "I" key to go to the "Installer" icon, hopefully. I pressed apple-O (it's gay to say command-O) to launch the installer. More CD drive chugging away! I kept pressing "return" and getting more CD chugging. But then I hit the "Disagree/Agree" wall. I can find no keyboard keys to click "Agree".

Doesn't matter. The culprit is outed.

You might ask if the problem could be the monitor. I didn't give the monitor to the "professional" Apple shop that tried to find the problem. They used their own monitor and still had the problem (and no solution).

But is it only the ADC port or the entire card? I'll have to borrow a VGA monitor to test the VGA port.

How can the video card be bad in OS 9 but not OS X? WhTF knows.

Yes baby! Months of WTF are now over! (I think. I hope. Please God!)

vinster · Oct 4, 2005, 11:58 PM

Maybe if you reset the PRAM without the monitor attached it will fix what's wrong.