Power Mac G4 Won't Mount DVDs in OS X

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Level 1

30 points

Power Mac G4 Won't Mount DVDs in OS X

I have a Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) and when I insert an OS X Leopard install DVD, it won't come up on the desktop. It spins in the drive, but it doesn't mount. The CD drive does not show at all in Disk Utility. I replaced the drive, but that didn't fix it.

What's strange is that the open firmware recognizes the DVD fine. It comes up if I hold option while booting. The drive won't mount or show ANY CD'S OR DVD'S if the computer is on.

It's currently running 10.4.11.

Thank you!🙂

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), 16GB RAM, 15", 512GB SSD.

Posted on Jan 11, 2016 6:58 AM

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Answer 1

Jeff

Level 6

12,058 points

Jan 11, 2016 9:20 AM in response to LukeLindblom

Older Power Macs can have problems with certain brand DVD-ROM/±R/±RW drives. Pioneer, Toshiba, and NEC drives seemed to have better compatibility. Other no-name brands didn't fare as well. Keep in mind that you must use the retail/universal installer disk that was designed for PowerPC and Intel processors, if you wish to attempt to install Leopard on the G4. A Restore disk from a newer, Intel processor-based Mac won't work.

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Answer 2

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jan 11, 2016 12:10 PM in response to LukeLindblom

I would think that you should see them. There were drivers for certain types of dvd drive [ I seem to remember. ] I never looked into this much, but I started having problems with my external dvd drive on my iMac g3 600 running 10.4.11.

You have verified that you want to show dvds on the desktop? I do not think this is the problem but it never hurts to check.

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Answer 3

LukeLindblom Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 11, 2016 4:30 PM in response to rccharles

Yes, I have verified that it shows DVDs. It must be the drive is incompatible...

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

238,997 points

Jan 11, 2016 4:47 PM in response to LukeLindblom

Is it a Retail 10.5 Install Disc?

All others would be IntelMac only.

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Answer 5

LukeLindblom Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 11, 2016 5:12 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes. It's the one with the big purple "X" on it. I've tested the CD with an iMac G5 and I know it works on PowerPC. Im cloning the DVD to a USB drive now, I'll see if that lets me install Leopard.

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Answer 6

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jan 11, 2016 6:42 PM in response to LukeLindblom

Im cloning the DVD to a USB drive now,

You will not be able to boot via a usb drive. You should be able to see the data. Only a very few g5's would boot via usb devices. However, there were unconfirmed reports you could get a flash drive to boot via messing in the firmware.

R

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Answer 7

LukeLindblom Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 11, 2016 6:42 PM in response to rccharles

Thank you. I just figured that out the hard way, after the G4 wouldn't boot off the USB.

I took the hard drive out and connected it through a USB cable to the iMac G5 and booted the G5 off the Leopard DVD. The G5 is now installing Leopard on the G4's hard drive, although very slowly because it's over USB. Once it's done, I'll put the HD back in the G4. This will work, right?

Thank you for your hep!

Sorry for the delayed response. I suddenly got this:

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Answer 8

LukeLindblom Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 11, 2016 6:56 PM in response to LukeLindblom

Now I got this and when I install the HD in the G4, its just the flashing folder. Any ideas?

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Answer 9

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jan 11, 2016 7:17 PM in response to LukeLindblom

I'm not certain I understand the objective. I thought you were wondering why the dvd didn't show up on your desktop.

Since the dvd shows up in the startup manager, did you try to boot the dvd?

There is a way to use the g5 dvd reader as a dvd drive. Somehow you set this up in target disk mode on the g5, I think

You could try target disk mode if you have another mac around.
http://www.dan-taylor.com/reinstalling-mac-os-x-without-a-dvd-drive-target-disk- mode/

cd sharing across ethernet.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5287

Normally, you need to boot up the disk to complete the installation, i seem to recall. You could place the drive back in the g5 and boot there. Not sure if g5 installations work in g4's.

R

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Answer 10

LukeLindblom Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 11, 2016 7:24 PM in response to rccharles

I am sorry if I was not clear...

The goal is to get leopard installed on the power Mac G4. The built in DVD drive won't mount, so I'm trying to figure out other possible ways. i will try target disk mode tomorrow though if I get a chance.

Thank You!

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Answer 11

LukeLindblom Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 12, 2016 5:34 AM in response to LukeLindblom

So I am assuming that since my PowerPC iMac can not install OS X on USB hard drive, it can't boot up from one either? The iMac is SATA and the power Mac is IDE.

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Answer 12

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jan 12, 2016 10:32 AM in response to LukeLindblom

So I am assuming that since my PowerPC iMac can not install OS X on USB hard drive, it can't boot up from one either?

Oh... you can I believe install on a usb drive, but you cannot boot. I forget exactly how the install goes. You need to boot the dvd to install. Once once the software is copied, the installation software will attempt to boot from the disk. This will fail.

So, install. then move the drive. boot.

R

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