barrieJay
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Q: 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

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barrieJay

Q: Formatting an internal HD for PowerPC G5

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 29, 2014 4:15 PM in response to barrieJay
    Level 10 (123,830 points)
    Mar 29, 2014 4:15 PM in response to barrieJay

    1: 10.3.x & Advanced Format don't understand each other, not positive that is the whole problem, but likely in my view.

     

    2: The Retail 10.5 Disc should boot any G5...

     

    Leopard requirements/10.5.x...

     

        *  Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor

     

    minimum system requirements

     

        * 512MB of memory (I say 1.5GB for PPC at least, 2-3GB minimum for IntelMacs)

        * DVD drive for installation

        * 9GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

    Classic/OS9 Apps no longer supported.

     

    Trouble is Apple no longer sells it, check eBay & such for the Retail version, not the Gray Discs...

     

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mac+os+x+leopard+retail+10.5

  • by barrieJay,

    barrieJay barrieJay Mar 29, 2014 4:42 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 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

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 29, 2014 5:41 PM in response to barrieJay
    Level 10 (123,830 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.

  • by barrieJay,

    barrieJay barrieJay Mar 30, 2014 12:28 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 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

  • by barrieJay,

    barrieJay barrieJay Mar 30, 2014 12:30 AM in response to barrieJay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 30, 2014 12:30 AM in response to barrieJay

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

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 30, 2014 11:59 AM in response to barrieJay
    Level 10 (123,830 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.

  • by barrieJay,

    barrieJay barrieJay Mar 31, 2014 12:02 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 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? 

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 31, 2014 10:33 AM in response to barrieJay
    Level 10 (123,830 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

  • by barrieJay,

    barrieJay barrieJay Mar 31, 2014 12:58 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 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

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 31, 2014 1:35 PM in response to barrieJay
    Level 10 (123,830 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.

  • by barrieJay,

    barrieJay barrieJay Mar 31, 2014 3:24 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 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.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 31, 2014 3:43 PM in response to barrieJay
    Level 10 (123,830 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 3:43 PM in response to barrieJay

    OK fingers crossed.

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