Do I need an Apple keyboard to boot from CD?

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Do I need an Apple keyboard to boot from CD?

Hello all,

I just got a PowerMac G3 (B&W Rev. 2) from my friend and was trying to install Tiger on it. However, whenever I try to boot from the CD drive (not the original one though..) the computer simply boots into Panther (10.3.9.. which actually now gives a kernel panic because I kinda screwed it up with XPostFacto so I can't boot into Panther too) without even trying to boot from the CD drive even though I press the C key. At first I thought it might be the CD drive, but I can't even boot into open firmware by pressing the Cmd + Opt + O + F keys on my windows keyboard. It's a wireless USB keyboard (some generic brand.. BenQ or something, I'm not aware if it's mac compatible or not) and the light on the USB controller only turns on after a couple of seconds after I start the mac.

So I was wondering... do I need to get a Apple USB non-wireless keyboard or something in order to boot from the CD drive so that I can install Tiger or is it just the computer (perhaps the CD Drive is the culprit)?

PowerMac G3 350 Mhz, Mac OS X (10.5.2), 512 MB RAM | 40 GB ATA HDD | Wireless USB BenQ USB and Mouse

Posted on Mar 15, 2008 4:31 PM

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Answer 1

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Texas Mac Man

Level 8

46,839 points

Mar 15, 2008 6:21 PM in response to Rishikesh

Rishikesh, welcome to Apple Discussions.

A PC kbd may work if it is plugged directly into the USB port of the Mac. The CD that you are trying to boot to doesn't have the software for wireless.

There is another way to boot from a device other than the main hard drive which is selected as the startup disk. Depress/hold the following keys at startup: Command Option+ShiftDelete

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 2

Rishikesh Author

Level 1

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Mar 17, 2008 6:41 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I really appreciate it. You're right, OS X does not recognize the wireless keyboard as apparently they are only loaded after OS X boots. I tried a little experiment with my MBP only to find that the wireless keyboard is only recognized after OS X boots completely. So it is unlikely that the boot ROM on the G3 would have the drivers to accommodate a wireless keyboard. The DVD probably doesn't even have the drivers anyway.

I'll try the Cmd Option+ShiftDel combo with a proper apple usb keyboard and see if that works. I'm doubtful I'll be able to boot off the CD/DVD drive so I guess I'll have to use an external USB drive? It'll probably be slow but I guess that'll be the only way.

Thanks again for all your help!

Rishikesh

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Answer 3

Mar 17, 2008 9:02 PM in response to Rishikesh

Rishikesh,

The best option is to find an Apple Desktop Bus keyboard and some thrift store and use it. The next option is to disconnect power to the hard drive so it can not possibly try to boot up. Boot from the CD, allowing up to two minutes for the startup sequence to poll all devices and it will eventually get to the CD. Set the startup control panel to the CD, then reconnect power to the hard drive and boot again.

Jim

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Answer 4

Mar 17, 2008 11:01 PM in response to Rishikesh

Make sure your CD-ROM is Mac bootable first or no keyboard is going to help.

What is the brand/model of your optical drive ?

And Tiger on a 350MHz G3 is going to be slow. I would stick to OS 10.2 or 10.3.

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Answer 5

Apr 3, 2008 2:55 PM in response to Rishikesh

NO. I used a PC USB keyboard to boot from CD with my B&W G3. Press the C key and it should boot from the CD

Like others have said, you can't do this on a B&W G3 with the wireless keyboard - no drivers. I keep a cheap PC USB keyboard handy fopr the times I need to boot from a CD.

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