How can I wipe the hard disc and reinstall

[11642bill]

Hi.
I've got a G5 Power PC Dual 2.3 ghz machine, and I want to reinstall my software.

Originally I installed OS9.1, then updated to OS9.21. Later on I installed OE X 10.4.11 (I have a number of programs that I don't want to update that will run in the Classic environment.)

A number of files have been deleted by mistake when I've removed some programs a while ago, so i thought that I would simply wipe the drive and start again. However, when I try to boot using either the OS9 or the OS X discs, holding down the C key the system just loads as normal and not to the disc.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Ads]

[JezzerP]

Do you know for certain that the optical drive was working?

[11642bill]

Hi JezzerP, the drive reads any cd I put in, and they can be opened without any problems.

[JezzerP]

OK, have you tried holding the Option key down during boot? This should pop-up with a list of bootable drives for you to select.

[11642bill]

Hi. When I do that I get a blue screen with three items. On the left a button with a circular arrow symbol and when selected the computer seems to to do a search, then stops.
In the middle of the screen is a hard disc image, which isn't selectable.
To the right is an arrow button, which when pressed just opens the computer as normal.

[JezzerP]

OK, this proves that your keyboard is sending commands correctly at boot time, but it would suggest that the Mac is just not seeing the CD Drive at boot time for some reason. Does the CD drive spin up when you press C at boot time?

[JezzerP]

Have been doing some research and it would seem that a last resort method to get your PowerPC Mac to boot from CD is to boot into Open Firmware. To enter Open Firmware, you have to hold "Option"+"Command"+"o"+"f" as the machine boots. You will then be provided with a open firmware prompt. To then boot a CD-ROM, issue the following code:

boot cd:,\\:tbxi

Source : Booting from Open Firmware | Linux on your Apple Mac | iLinux

[11642bill]

Hi. I tried that and when I hit return the screen eventually displayed a "no entry" symbol, then just hung there. When I tried to restart the machine it went mad! Running at breakneck speed and I had to switch it off at the wall. After restart it booted as normal.

I've tried to start again with the code and now the following happens:
After hitting return, the system adds: load-size=39d2c4 adler32=bad6b3a6 parsing <CHAP-BOOT> Bootinfo is not compatible.

Regards

[JezzerP]

Right, I'm afraid I've just about run out of ideas. I am not really familiar with PowerPC macs, but one thought would be to try and clone your Install CD to a bootable USB memory stick, and try booting from that?