Power Mac G5 Dual Core (2.0) Tiger (X 10.4) installation woes

[Tamh]

Hello everyone.

I'm new to the site, and I'm sorry if this has been answered before, but I haven't been able to find the information I'm needing right now.

I recently bought a Power Mac G5 Dual Core 2.0 GHz, from my local university.
It is this model: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g5/specs/powermac_g5_dual_2.0.html

It came with Mac OS X 10.5.3 Leopard, and it works pretty well as it is.
It doesn't crashes, it doesn't bares his fangs against me.
The memory modules and the hard disk are the original ones that came with the system.

It is my desire to run old Mac OS Classic software (of which I ended up with 2 boxes of floppies, for some reason, including Wolfenstein 3D), thus I wanted to install Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, so that I can install Classic 9.
The guy who was in charge of setting up the system for the sale was very helpful and lent me a 4 gray CD box set to install Tiger.

However, whenever I try to boot up from the first CD to install (via pressing C or Option and then choosing the CD unit), I get this unhelpful message:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4xwE828jm3ySHdPM3VKekhOaU0

For those whom can't read the message, it basically says:

Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x300 - Data access DAR=0x0000000000000000 PC=0x0000000027AA8F94
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
   Exception state (sv=0x27A0A500)
      PC=0x27AA8F90; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x27AA8F90; R1=0x177C39A0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
      Backtrace:
0x27AA8F90 0x002B9088 0x002DCE6C 0x002DD064 0x002DCD4C 0x002DB7E8
         0x0023F400 0x27AA8828 0x002BD350 0x002BD118 0x002BDB80 0x002BE1EC 0x000A9654
      Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
         com.apple.driver.AppleMacRISC4PE(1.6.0d9)@0x27aa7000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.6)@0x27a89000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.IOPlatformFunction(1.7.0b1)@0x27a97000
Proceeding back via exception chain:
   Exception state (sv=0x27A0A500)
      previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
   Exception state (sv=0x00EBFC80)
      PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.0.0: Sat Mar 26 14:15:22 PST 2005; root:xnu-792.obj-1/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0003): 0x300 - Data access

And so on, as it shows in this image:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xwE828jm3yZ2EzMFRTNnoyczA/view?usp=sharing

(Sorry for linking the images from my Google Drive, as this occurs outside of the regular OS, I can't retrieve these error messages. Yup, I copied that part by hand)

Then, I asked him if they had other installation medias, and he lent me the installer for Tiger in one black DVD.
It didn't work either, resulting in the same kernel panic (only changing the hexadecimal values here and there)

I removed the RAM modules, cleaned the contacts, kind-of cleaned the DIMM sockets (used compressed air).
I disconnected the hard drive, cleaned the SATA contacts, booted from CD without the hard disk connected.
I removed the PCIe video card, cleaned the contacts and inserted it again.
I disconnected my screen, connected it in the other DVI port in the video card.

Only thing I didn't do was disconnect the SuperDrive, because... Well, I need it for installing Tiger.

What could be happening here? I'm in a stump, and feel kinda bummed.
I can't return it or change it for other, because I specifically picked that one out of a lot of 5 they had.

Any insight you may have towards this would help me a lot.

 

[chscag]

The original version of OS X for that machine was OS X 10.4.2 (Tiger). It appears that the media you're using is not compatible. The black Tiger DVD should have worked since it's a retail version but keep in mind that the retail DVD has to be at least Tiger 10.4.2 or later. If not, it won't work. What happened to the Leopard DVD?

 

[harryb2448]

And Classic software (OS 9 etc) will not run on a G5. What you have is the 'latest and greatest' for an old machine.

 

[Slydude]

Just to clarify things a bit the G5 series of computers can't boot to OS 9 but can run OS 9 software through an environment Apple referred to as Classic. Didn't trust my memory so I looked that up to be sure. You can find more info here. I had Classic installed on a G5 for quite a while and it worked pretty well.

 

[harryb2448]

I was referring to the operating system after the comment by Tamh on installing OS 9.

And check the PCI-e video card as it should be straight out PCI. PCI-e cards applied to the Dual Core late 2005 models from memory.

 

[Slydude]

I was referring to the operating system after the comment by Tamh on installing OS 9.

I was pretty sure that's what you meant. Just wanted to make sure. For some reason that point seems to cause a lot of confusion.

 

[Tamh]

The original version of OS X for that machine was OS X 10.4.2 (Tiger). It appears that the media you're using is not compatible. The black Tiger DVD should have worked since it's a retail version but keep in mind that the retail DVD has to be at least Tiger 10.4.2 or later. If not, it won't work. What happened to the Leopard DVD?

Thank you for your answer. You were right, the black Tiger DVD is not compatible. I found out about that due to the Leopard DVD working perfectly.
I contacted an Apple authorized support partner in my city, and they sold me a Mac OS X 10.4.6 Retail DVD for about 10 USD.
Apparently they don't need those "old things" laying around.

That DVD worked wonders and now it is running really well.

Just to clarify things a bit the G5 series of computers can't boot to OS 9 but can run OS 9 software through an environment Apple referred to as Classic. Didn't trust my memory so I looked that up to be sure. You can find more info here. I had Classic installed on a G5 for quite a while and it worked pretty well.

Sorry for the confusion. That was what I was trying to say. I wanted to use the Classic environment, but I found out that some apps have a lot of bugs.
One of my favorite games of when I was a child, Number Munchers, just goes haywire and displays major graphic artifacts.
Wolf 3D crashes randomly and the mouse support is wonky.
Either way, I don't regret getting this handsome piece of hardware, that machine is very pretty.

I'm wondering if I should just get an iMac G3 for my Mac OS 9/old software running needs?

I was referring to the operating system after the comment by Tamh on installing OS 9.

And check the PCI-e video card as it should be straight out PCI. PCI-e cards applied to the Dual Core late 2005 models from memory.

Actually, that is my model, the late 2005 one.
I'm looking into upgrading it, even adding a better PCIe video card. One of the ones supported by this system.

 

[Slydude]

Getting a G3 iMac might or might not help depending upon what exactly is causing that software to crash. It could be any one of a number of things some of which might not be resolved by shifting to a different processor/Mac model. To better answer your question we would have to know more about the specific crashes in law.

 

[harryb2448]

That is great Tamh. Lots of folks completely confuse the 2GHz Dual Processors with the 2GHz Dual Cores. The fastest, and best, graphics card update in my Dual Core 2.3GHz Dual Core days was the nVidia 7800GTX. They sometimes appear on eBay etc. Be prepared ~ they ain't CHEAP:-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nvidia-7800...ST-G5-Graphics-Quadro-4500-RARE-/251632876303

Or some claim this one is the go:-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-G5-Appl...797fcaf&pid=100011&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=251632876303

 

[Tamh]

That is great Tamh. Lots of folks completely confuse the 2GHz Dual Processors with the 2GHz Dual Cores. The fastest, and best, graphics card update in my Dual Core 2.3GHz Dual Core days was the nVidia 7800GTX. They sometimes appear on eBay etc. Be prepared ~ they ain't CHEAP:-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nvidia-7800...ST-G5-Graphics-Quadro-4500-RARE-/251632876303

Or some claim this one is the go:-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-G5-Appl...797fcaf&pid=100011&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=251632876303

Hmmm, looks really, really interesting. Might drop some cash on that Quadro. According to a certain page I saw it is (after the 7800 GTX 512 MB) the best option.
Either way, as it is right now it works fine. When it had 10.5 it was a little laggy in the visual department, but with 10.4 it looks okay.

Getting a G3 iMac might or might not help depending upon what exactly is causing that software to crash. It could be any one of a number of things some of which might not be resolved by shifting to a different processor/Mac model. To better answer your question we would have to know more about the specific crashes in law.

Well, actually, I don't know what could be wrong with those apps and games.
In the case of Wolf 3D, it just crashes the entire Classic Environment when it fails. I have to start it again from the Preferences pane (or the icon area).
One of the most old games of whom I still have a diskette, called 1000 Miles (http://www.macintoshrepository.org/2964-1000-miles), crashes randomly as well (sometimes when picking a card, or when choosing New game), but it doesn't crashes the Classic Environment.
I also have Blackout on a diskette (http://www.macintoshrepository.org/3521-block-out-), and it crashes after the California Games logo when first booted. Afterwards it works OK, until the anti-piracy check prompt, where I can't click any button there.
And in the other end of the spectrum, Aldus Freehand 4 works really well.
So, I was wondering if maybe running it natively, instead of a simulated environment could be

 

[chscag]

If you're looking for a version of Wolf 3D that will work in Tiger or Leopard try this one. I had it working great when I was using Snow Leopard, however, it does not work on any version of OS X after Snow Leopard. Give it a try, I used to play it for hours at a time. Note: This is NOT the classic version. It's the DOS version ported to Mac OS X.

 

[Tamh]

<EDIT #1> A quote post that I though I had sent has mysteriously disappeared. Please excuse me.</EDIT>

That is great Tamh. Lots of folks completely confuse the 2GHz Dual Processors with the 2GHz Dual Cores. The fastest, and best, graphics card update in my Dual Core 2.3GHz Dual Core days was the nVidia 7800GTX. They sometimes appear on eBay etc. Be prepared ~ they ain't CHEAP:-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nvidia-7800...ST-G5-Graphics-Quadro-4500-RARE-/251632876303

Or some claim this one is the go:-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-G5-Appl...797fcaf&pid=100011&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=251632876303

I will look into this, because it is relevant enough. And actually, according to some page, that one is the second to best video card available for this model.

Getting a G3 iMac might or might not help depending upon what exactly is causing that software to crash. It could be any one of a number of things some of which might not be resolved by shifting to a different processor/Mac model. To better answer your question we would have to know more about the specific crashes in law.

About the crashes, I'll tell you about the software that I have in diskettes:
In the case of Wolf 3D, I had it once crash after I finished a level and made Classic environment crash as well. I had to restart it from the Preferences pane to use it again.
A 1987 game named 1000 Miles crashed after trying to lay a card down. It didn't take Classic environment out as well, but still blew out.
Block Out crashed once after showing the California Dreams logo, but then it worked until I had to input the anti-piracy code, but I got stuck because I couldn't click any of the buttons.
Aldus PageMaker 4 works perfectly.

I know that this might not be in the spirit of this thread, but it is relevant enough. I wanted to ask you about your input on this iMac G3 model.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_500_indigo.html#macspecs1
Someone around my city is selling this one with the original keyboard and mouse, just a little banged up, for roughly 30 USD.
What do you think about it, as a worthy enough Mac for old apps, as the ones I've been mentioning?

 

[harryb2448]

If just for games the price is okay. I would suggest using Google to download tear aparts from ifixit etc for future refence on say replacing hard drive, optical drive, memory and PRAM battery. To be honest I always found that classic environment software pretty flakey and abandoned it. When you get the G3, make sure it is running OS 9.2.2, the final classic system. There were a number of viruses about in those old days, and Peter Norton made great software for AV and utilities such as Disk Doctor I think it was called. The Classic version NOT OSX!!!