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Nadav

Q: Sheepshaver and PowerPC - why does Sheepsaver lock up so much?

Hello,

Though, I use mostly OS X these days, sometimes there is a moment when I just want to go back to 1999 or 2000 to relive Mac OS 9, however for some odd unknown reason when I use sheepshaver after awhile the program locks up and renders my virtual OS 9 useless. Has someone on here ran sheepshaver on a Power Mac based machine where it doesn't lock up? Am I better off just booting natively into OS 9?

My mac is the last G4 before the G5's. a 2003 MDD dual 1.25 and is DUAL-BOOTABLE into OS 9.2.2.

Thank you,

Power Macintosh 2003 G4 MDD 1.25DP System w/ 2MB L3 Cache/2GB PC2600U, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Apple 4.7GB DVD-RAM Drive/BenQ 16x Superdrive/Plextor 16x Superdrive

Posted on Sep 4, 2008 7:30 PM

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Q: Sheepshaver and PowerPC - why does Sheepsaver lock up so much?

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  • by Don Archibald,

    Don Archibald Don Archibald Sep 4, 2008 9:55 PM in response to Nadav
    Level 10 (101,435 points)
    Sep 4, 2008 9:55 PM in response to Nadav
    Hi, Nadav -

    I don't use Sheepshaver, never have, so can't comment on how to keep it running.

    However, if you use OS 9 only infrequently, and your machine is OS 9 bootable, then that is what I would do - boot into OS 9 when I wanted to use it.

    Consider...

     - with Sheepshaver, in order to use an OS 9 program: program runs under OS 9, which runs under Sheepshaver, which runs under OSX. That's an awful lot of layers requiring successful cooperation, lots of opportunities for something to misfire or go kerplunk.

     - when booted into OS 9: program runs under OS 9. That's it - simple, uncomplicated.
  • by Nadav,

    Nadav Nadav Sep 4, 2008 10:41 PM in response to Don Archibald
    Level 3 (565 points)
    Sep 4, 2008 10:41 PM in response to Don Archibald
    Hi Don,

    I know.. My 2003 MDD can boot natively into OS 9.2.2 thereby eliminating the need for sheepshaver, however I just got a new video card for my mac. Well, it was originally from a G5, and by taping pins 3 and 11, disabled the ADC feature. I don't even have an LCD monitor, though I will be considering one as soon as I get things going with my job

    The video card in question is an Ati Radeon 9600 from the G5, MODDED to work in a G4. And for some reason, when OS 9.2.2 is booting up, there is a big red X crossed out on the video extention. Once my mac has gotten to the desktop of OS 9.2.2, it just locks up, though my keyboard is still functioning properly. When I put my Ati Radeon 9000 card back in, OS 9.2.2 behaved as it always does: fast and furious.

    What could be the problem here with the 9600? Surely, OS 9.2.2 has drivers for later Ati cards to work in OS 9.2.2 - I hate to keep having to swap my video cards. Hence, I looked into Sheepshaver - bad mistake since I have a PowerPC mac already.
  • by yksoft1,

    yksoft1 yksoft1 Sep 5, 2008 12:20 AM in response to Nadav
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Sep 5, 2008 12:20 AM in response to Nadav
    The original 2006 build of Sheepshaver is full of critical bugs.
    You can try this newer build made by the folks from emaculation.com:
    http://www.xs4all.nl/~ronaldpr/sheepshaverforum/SheepShaverUB210708.zip
  • by Don Archibald,

    Don Archibald Don Archibald Sep 5, 2008 11:58 AM in response to Nadav
    Level 10 (101,435 points)
    Sep 5, 2008 11:58 AM in response to Nadav
    Hi, Nadav -

    I don't have sufficient experience with ATI cards (none, in fact, other than those that come with a Mac), so can't address the apparent incompatibility issue between the ATI 9600 and OS 9.2.2.

    Perhaps someone who is versed in that, such as japamac, will drop in with some ideas and facts.

    However, if you've not yet done so, check ATI's site for supplemental drivers for OS 9 that can be downloaded.
  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 6, 2008 12:35 AM in response to Nadav
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 12:35 AM in response to Nadav
    What could be the problem here with the 9600? Surely, OS 9.2.2 has drivers for later Ati cards to work in OS 9.2.2 - I hate to keep having to swap my video cards. Hence, I looked into Sheepshaver - bad mistake since I have a PowerPC mac already.


    I use SheepShaver on PPC & Intel, no problems to speak of.

    One thing,I don't think the 9600 works in OS9 and it's recommended that you have at least a 300-Watt power supply or greater.

    Do you have the last OS9 ATI drivers...

    http://web.fastermac.net/~bdaqua/
  • by japamac,

    japamac japamac Sep 6, 2008 4:41 AM in response to Nadav
    Level 7 (24,390 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 4:41 AM in response to Nadav
    Hi-

    The 9600 is a much later card than OS 9.
    There is no support in OS 9 for the card.
    There also is no support for the 9600 flashed PC versions. Radeon 9600 cards only have support in OS X 10.3.6 and later.

    Yes, the Radeon 9800 does allow boot to OS 9, but has no acceleration in OS 9. This is due to firmware features of the 9800 that allow use of what OS 9 has to offer...........
    The same will be said for any flashed card that allows boot to OS 9, that is, there is a firmware feature that allows basic support in OS 9.
  • by Nadav,

    Nadav Nadav Sep 6, 2008 5:17 PM in response to japamac
    Level 3 (565 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 5:17 PM in response to japamac
    Ok, so basically in this means that the card won't work at all in OS 9, at least as a standard video card - the acceleration.

    Yeah, as the thing boots up I do see a small extention, looking like a mirror with a BIG RED X crossed out - this must be what you are saying. Well, I did mark inactive that extension and I think I got it working - problem is that I can't watch a movie using Apple DVD player while in OS 9.2.2.
  • by Nadav,

    Nadav Nadav Sep 6, 2008 5:21 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 3 (565 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 5:21 PM in response to BDAqua
    Hi, got close to a 400 watt power supply - Its a 2003 MDD! Anyway, I think I got OS 9.2.2 to work, under certain restrictions. I marked "inactive" the extension which looks like a mirror extension which has a BIG RED X crossed out on it. I can use OS 9.2.2, however when I goto watch a movie using DVD player 2.7 in OS 9.2.2, it won't work or locks up the system - I guess this extension provides acceleration and by disabling that I also disable acceleration features.

    No, I am a bit furious as to why sheepshaver won't really work well on my G4 MDD as its supposed to. I mean, I understand that under powerpc emulation it gives a lock up box saying that Sheepshaver caused an error, but still boots up fine.

    But, after awhile when I access various programs, I get a spinning beach ball and it locks up sheepshaver. I guess since I have a machine which boots natively in OS 9.2.2, sheepshaver is really a waste of time for me.
  • by eww,

    eww eww Sep 6, 2008 5:39 PM in response to Nadav
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 5:39 PM in response to Nadav
    I guess since I have a machine which boots natively in OS 9.2.2, sheepshaver is really a waste of time for me.


    Indeed.
  • by eww,

    eww eww Sep 6, 2008 5:42 PM in response to Nadav
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 5:42 PM in response to Nadav
    ...problem is that I can't watch a movie using Apple DVD player while in OS 9.2.2.


    Apparently you'll have to watch them in Tiger, which you say you use most of the time anyway. Problem solved!
  • by Nadav,

    Nadav Nadav Sep 6, 2008 9:53 PM in response to japamac
    Level 3 (565 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 9:53 PM in response to japamac
    Japanmac,

    The 9600 Radeon we are talking about here originally was from a G5 where I had to tape pins 3 and 11. I am sure this is the same or close to the same card as the PC/MAC edition one, except this one that I have came from a G5.
  • by japamac,

    japamac japamac Sep 6, 2008 10:32 PM in response to Nadav
    Level 7 (24,390 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 10:32 PM in response to Nadav
    The 9600 Radeon we are talking about here originally was from a G5

    Yes, this is understood.
    had to tape pins 3 and 11

    Because all 9600 cards are 8x AGP and the MDD is ADC capable.
    I am sure this is the same or close to the same card as the PC/MAC edition one

    Close, but not quite. All early Mac 9600's and PC 9600's are different than the 9600 PC and Mac version.
    The 9600 PC and Mac version is also only supported from OS X 10.3.6 on. No OS 9 support.
  • by Nadav,

    Nadav Nadav Sep 6, 2008 10:49 PM in response to japamac
    Level 3 (565 points)
    Sep 6, 2008 10:49 PM in response to japamac
    Ok, I don't know what the actual name for the extension is, but as soon as OS 9.2.2 boots up it presents an extension, resembling like a window or monitor shape icon, and has a BIG RED X through it - this happens when I put the Radeon 9600 in. The 9000 pro which I used to have and still have(for emergency use!) did not display this.

    So, what I did was download the absolute last os 9.2.2 drivers support from ATI's website, now AMD, and installed that. This seems to have solved the lock up problems. Then I disabled or de-activated the extension Apple or ATI acceleration extension. This stopped all acceleration and allowed me to use the 9600 within OS 9.2.2, however when wanting to watch a movie using 2.7 dvd player, it locked up.

    I am trying to understand the scenario here.. So, when one says minimal OS 9.2.2 video support, does one mean that the card, though not fully supported under OS 9.2.2 can't be used for say, watching a movie? Anything related to acceleration?
  • by Nadav,

    Nadav Nadav Sep 7, 2008 12:28 AM in response to eww
    Level 3 (565 points)
    Sep 7, 2008 12:28 AM in response to eww
    Thats it!! I have had it up to here with sheepsaver!!! Its back to OS 9.2.2 for me. It keeps locking up on me!
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