Power Mac G5 Open Firmware boot error resolved with multi-boot

Hi all

this is referring to the following article but adding closure and possible solution: Power Mac G5 and Frustrating Open Firmwar… - Apple Community


While repairing my iMac G5, I faced the below error, a screen with this error flashing on the screen:

/usr/lib/libiconv.2.dylib - incompatible library version

sh requires version 7.0.0 or later, but libiconv.2.dylib provides version 5.0.0


I restarted the iMac, boot from OpenFirmware with CMD+OPT+F+O immediately after turning it on (don't wait for the chime) or grey screen).



After panicking I found: Mac Classic | Open Firmware Basics and Commands where I found the command:

multi-boot - Takes you to the boot selector which is otherwise accessible by holding the option/alt key while booting.


This opened the boot menu, that I wasn't able to open with any cd or DIR command in BootROM and helped me resetting the iMac.


Hope this helps someone else like me unable to find anything else online.


-ziobazzy83


Posted on Oct 10, 2026 11:44 AM

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Power Mac G5 Open Firmware boot error resolved with multi-boot

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