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G4 QS SSD options
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Doc HM
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Jul 1, 2024, 02:08 PM
 
Desperately trying to remember stuff I forgot 25 years ago!
I have a G4 Quicksilver. Looks like it's one of the early ones as it won't see above 128GB on any internal IDE drive.
Anyway I wanted to look at throwing in an SSD so I bought a cheap PATA/SATA adapter from Amazon. It certainly sees the drive OK and I did manage to instal macOS 9.2 onto it from the installer. The machine boots fine (fairly quickly as well given the speed of the ISE bus in this, but it then freezes immediately. I imagine its the old extension issue somewhere...

Any thoughts?
Also best way to get the data form the old 60GB HDD to the new SSD in a pre migration assistant world. Maybe just use disk imager to image the old drive?
Never thought I'd be doing this again but a crusty client is too set on using bloody Freehand 5!!
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reader50
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Jul 1, 2024, 02:37 PM
 
Macs used to be fussy about SSD brands. Samsung or Crucial were the safest choices IIRC. Along with OWC.

You'll do better using a PCI adapter - that gets rid of the 128GB limit, and fixes most (all?) brand compatibility issues. FirmTek has the best reputation for compatibility, but their prices haven't dropped in years. Their store links still worked a few months ago, but aren't loading when I checked just now. You can try contacting them directly. Their cards occasionally appear on eBay.

OWC still offers SSD options. But no PCI cards.

Your problem could be the PATA - SATA adapter. I've had trouble with cheap ones, that aren't sleep compatible. Where the drive doesn't remount after wakeup. Can be a real problem if it's the boot drive. Suggest getting an adapter from OWC or other Mac-specific shop.
     
andi*pandi
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Jul 1, 2024, 07:35 PM
 
<3 Freehand 5!
     
Doc HM  (op)
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Jul 7, 2024, 12:09 PM
 
Turns out it was a good old fashioned extension clash. Didn't manage to get it down to one particular extension however it's now running after turning a bunch off that seemed non critical.
SSD speed is limited by the bus but it doesn't seem lot snappier.
I was overthinking the migration issue, macOS9 is a simple soul, I just drag copied the old disk and that was it.
The only issue I have now is that despite it being a direct copy fonts are installed but dispatch;y as bitmap on the screen. I wonder if one of the extensions might be responsible form font smoothing.
I wish the client would realise that its much better in the modern world!
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Waragainstsleep
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Jul 12, 2024, 05:46 PM
 
G5 with Classic emulation might be a worthwhile update?
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
   
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