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Level 1

8 points

Formatting an internal HD for PowerPC G5

My powerMac G5 won't boot because the internal hard drive died. I purchased a new WD10EZRX 1.0TB and formatted it via a USB to SATA adapter cable from my macbookPro using "Disc Utility" that came with the macbookPro. When I put the new drive in the G5 and did a "Power+option" boot, the new HD did not show and I could not install the original OSX 10.3. Here are my questions:

1) Is it OK to use the Disc Utility on the macbookPro to format a HD for use in a G5? (I used the "extended" option).

2) I noticed that an external WD hard drive had a "WD Drive Manager" and the new internal HD does not. If it did have a "Drive Manager" It was erased when I formatted it. Does the new HD need a Drive Manager"?

3) If I get the new HD correctly formatted, can I simply drag the old system folder (on a backup disc) onto the the new HD and expect it to work?

I hope someone can help, I have been working on this for 2 days.

Thank you

Barrie

Power Mac G5 (Early 2005), Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Mar 28, 2014 12:45 PM

26 replies

barrieJay Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 29, 2014 4:42 PM in response to BDAqua

Many thanks. I was browsing OSX Leopard on ebay here in England. Cheapest are over $100. However, your comments make sense so i will get one in the near future. Thankyou very much for your help and for Niel's help. Though the problem is not yet solved, I learned a lot, and feel optimistic that it will be solved.

Barrie

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Mar 29, 2014 5:41 PM in response to barrieJay

OK Barrie, good luck with it! 🙂

One other thing on G5s is to make sure the Hard Drive is Sata 1.5 Gb/s compatable, not all are, & some that are only negotiate down to SATA I speed if there's a real SATA I drive in slot 0.

barrieJay Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 30, 2014 12:28 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for the HD tip.

Since I reformatted the old HD I now have two usable drives.

1: Old HD is Seagate 35.5 with transfer rate specified as "6.0/3.0/1.5 Gb/sec". Presumably this is 1.5 Gb/ sec compatible.

2: New HD is WD10EZRX with transfer rate specified as "up to 6.0 Gb/sec". Is this 1.5 compatible?

3: The G5 drives are labelled A and B. Does it matter where I put the drives?

I will try to remember to update this thread after I get the new Leopard OS.

Thank you again for your precious time and help.

Barrie

barrieJay Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 30, 2014 12:30 AM in response to barrieJay

I should have said the Seagate drive is SV35.5.

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Mar 30, 2014 11:59 AM in response to barrieJay

OK, slower drive in top slot I think is A or slot 0.

On the WD, try a jumper on pins 5&6 to at least slow it to 3.0 Gb/s, it may negotiate 1.5 Gb/s better that way.

And the WD is Advanced Format, so 10.5 should in theory do it... if the drive & G5 can negotiate the speed properly... I think it will.

barrieJay Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2014 12:02 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you . There are no places for jumper wires . Does this mean the new WD drive may not work?

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Mar 31, 2014 10:33 AM in response to barrieJay

Well it does, there should normally be a little chart on the label side...

The 8 pins for jumpers normally have no jumpers on them. You might mistake them for some sort of male pin connector. It comes without any cables, screws or mounting hardware.

http://mindprod.com/electronic/B006GDVREI.html

I think pins 5&6 might work...

http://www.overclock.net/t/99236/ssc-jumper-mode

barrieJay Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2014 12:58 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you very much. I installed a jumper across pins 5&6 and the G5 didn't recognize the HD.

1) Is this because the HD did not have a valid OS?

The HD had a system folder that was a time machine backup from the G5 when it was working OK. I transferred it from the backup drive with time machine.

2) Would you expect the system to be valid or invalid when copied in this way?

I hope to receive the Leopard DVD next week.

3) If the G5 doesn't recognize the HD now, would you expect it to recognize it after I boot G5 with the DVD?

Hopefully I won't bug you with more questions until I let you know that the problem is solved.

Thank you, I really appreciate your help.

Barrie

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Mar 31, 2014 1:35 PM in response to barrieJay

1: I think something else, but cannot be certain.

2: I'd expect valid, but how is the drive or G5 different now than when it worked? What OSX version was used to use TM?

3: Well, I' would expect 10.5 to see it, do we still have a slower HDD in the 1st slot?

PS. You're not bugging me at all. 🙂

barrieJay Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2014 3:24 PM in response to BDAqua

At the risk of boring you, here is a summary of my beloved G5's demise.

When i lived in Canada, it was running very well on system 10.5x (Leopard). When I moved to England it seemed rather sluggish, then it died after about 2 months. I am refurbishing a house and I thought dust had killed it. It wouldn't boot. After the power chime, the grey screen with grey apple logo came up. After a couple of minutes it switched itself off. The power light was on continuously until it switched off. I took it to a local computer "fixer" who told me the HD was dead. I bought a new one and the guy installed it and reported that it was now running OK. Cutting a long story short, it was not working when I tried it at home.... exactly the same fault..... I think he ripped me off.

I left my Leopard DVD in Canada but had the original 10.3 CD's here, so i tried to boot with them.

I tested the new HD in the top slot. Have also tried the old HD in the top slot. I will put the old Hd in the top slot when I get my Leopard DVD. If that doesn't work, I will probably scrap it.

Thank you so much for your help.

BDAqua

Level 10

239,363 points

Mar 31, 2014 3:43 PM in response to barrieJay

OK fingers crossed. 🙂

Formatting an internal HD for PowerPC G5