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chimivee · Jan 6, 2003, 12:13 AM

I just installed OSX (10.2) on a biegie G3 333, but I can't get it to start. I can start from OS 9 (separate partitition) just fine, but when I choose the OSX startup disk and restart, it just reverts to OS9.

I tried starting from the OSX CD, but I simply get a white screen with a circle-with-a-line-thru-it icon.

If I start from an OS9/Norton CD and select the OSX startup disk, it get's stuck in a restart loop: Mac start sound chimes, happy mac icon appears, then it restarts...over and over.

Before installing OSX I checked for firmware updates and none were necessary.

Any ideas? Thanks.
James

wataru · Jan 6, 2003, 12:17 AM

Hmm. It works on my G3/300, so clearly it's not impossible.

Are you using a video card other than the built in one?

Earth Mk. II · Jan 6, 2003, 12:23 AM

How big are your partitions?

on the beige G3's your OS X partition must be in the first 8 GB of the disk.

I'd suggest moving OS 9 to your second partition and installing X on the first.

chimivee · Jan 6, 2003, 12:54 AM

Wataru: There's an ixTV card installed, though not in use.

Earth: OSX is on the 2nd partition, 4GB in size. First partition is 12GB. The ReadMe said "if you get a message that you need to install OSX on the first 8GB...", but I didn't so I thought I was okay. Sounds as if that could be the problem, though.

Any other possibilities before I reinstall?

-Q- · Jan 6, 2003, 10:50 AM

Nope. That's it. OS X won't work at all if it's not on the first partition, and within the first 8 GB of the drive.

Although I'm surprised you were able to install it. Usually the installer will tell you it won't install....

Emotionally Fragile Luke · Jan 6, 2003, 11:10 AM

What "Q" said.

Millennium · Jan 6, 2003, 11:31 AM

The immediate question has been answered, but here is one other thing to consider, based on my experiences with my own Beige G3. You say that the OSX CD won't boot: are you sure you're using the right disc? Jaguar comes on two discs, and Disc 2 doesn't boot (it shows the slashed-circle you describe).

chimivee · Jan 6, 2003, 01:51 PM

Thanks all. I'm sure that's the problem. Although, it IS weird that it let me install.

Millenium: I double checked and it was Disc 1 (Disc 2 was still in the case). Dunno.

MacManMikeOSX · Jan 6, 2003, 02:55 PM

osx on a hfs disk will work even if on the last partion it just requirs some handy work ie in front of all other partions put a bootloader partion just like in UFS. Theres an easy way to do this next time you format make the first partion UFS than al after that what you want the ERASE NOT FORMAT the UFS partion to HFS from the 10.2 install cd there should now be a bootloader partion in front of all others when you install osx on any other partion now it will link its self to it.

Warning untested in 10.2 i had this working in 10.0 though.

stew · Jan 6, 2003, 03:03 PM

Are you using a single IDE drive? I had similar problems on a Beige G3, turned out I had to change the drive jumper. Either from master to cable select or the other way round - don't remember. But that acutally solved the whole thing.

chimivee · Jan 6, 2003, 06:39 PM

Are you using a single IDE drive?

Nope...it's a brand new 18GB SCSI drive. Original 9GB just kacked.

trusted_content · Jan 6, 2003, 10:03 PM

I dont think OS X even recognizes the internal SCSI on the Beige G3. At least that's what I've heard.... unless you're using a supported SCSI PCI card, I think you'll have to go IDE.

Millennium · Jan 6, 2003, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by trusted_content:
I dont think OS X even recognizes the internal SCSI on the Beige G3. At least that's what I've heard.... unless you're using a supported SCSI PCI card, I think you'll have to go IDE.

It supports the internal SCSI. For a while I booted this way, though I later moved that drive into an external enclosure. I still boot off of it, however.

trusted_content · Jan 6, 2003, 10:39 PM

Wow that opens up a world of possibilites for what I can do with MY beige g3 ;]

chimivee · Jan 7, 2003, 08:57 AM

Well, as expected, it worked. And I'm suprised at how well it runs on a G3 333mhz (512MB ram).

Jaja · Jun 30, 2003, 03:52 PM

Well I am having almost the same problems, machine was reverted to the original configuration, except for two minor things.

1) The factory IBM hard drive that came with it a year ago, so I am unising a 6 GB samsung, and an adittional 30 GB HD (OS X installs quite well on the 6GB disk)

2)I overclocked the machine from 300 Mhz to 375.

Any good ideas?

Gene Jockey · Jul 1, 2003, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by Jaja:
Well I am having almost the same problems, machine was reverted to the original configuration, except for two minor things.

1) The factory IBM hard drive that came with it a year ago, so I am unising a 6 GB samsung, and an adittional 30 GB HD (OS X installs quite well on the 6GB disk)

2)I overclocked the machine from 300 Mhz to 375.

Any good ideas?

I would not classify overclocking your G3 that much as minor. Try jumpering it back to stock speed and see if it boots. If it does...there's your problem.

--Josh

eyadams · Jul 1, 2003, 11:00 AM

I would not classify overclocking your G3 that much as minor. Try jumpering it back to stock speed and see if it boots.

I'll second that. The only time I've had trouble with OS X on my Beige G3 was when I was experimenting with overclocking. Speeds that seemed to work fine under OS 9 would lock up under OS X; or it would work fine for hours on end but then, when put under heavy load, the machine would lock up. I eventually got a new CPU that supported higher clock rates and everything is cool.