Hello PowerPC Linux users,
I have an old 400MHz G3 Blue & White (Yosemite) on which I already installed Mac OS 10.3 Panther. The Mac OS is running all right and, according to the System Profiler, the CPU type is a PowerPC 750 (82.1), the boot ROM version is f4 (PowerMac1,1 1.1f4), and OpenFirmware is 3.1.1. It also has an original 16MB ATi rage 128 GL (AMC ver. 2.0 PN 109-57400-00) PCI video card, and I am now using a borrowed 17" Apple Studio Display.
Now, my trouble... I am really willing to install Linux on my B&W G3.
So far, I didn't succeed booting any of my Linux installation CDs. I tried my original "Ubuntu 5.10 'The Breezy Badger' for Mac" Installation and Live CDs. I also have downloaded and tried YDL 4.0.1, Debian 3.1 r1, and Gentoo 2005.1, all for PPC. In order to burn the ISO images onto CDs, I followed the instructions on the YDL website.
None of Linux CDs are displayed as boot options in the (System Preferences) Startup Disk utility application, although they are shown on my Desktop and I can browse them. In the other hand, my Mac OS Installation CD is displayed so I can select it. If insert a Linux CD, and I try to restart and boot holding [alt] or [C] keys it ends up starting the Mac OS... and again, if I try the Mac OS Installation CD, it will boot from the CD.
I am using an Apple ADB keyboard on my G3, but I tried an Apple USB keyboard from my Mac mini too. I also tested the Ubuntu Live CD on my mini and it is selectable if I hold the [alt] key, i.e. the CD is OK. Instead of the original CD-ROM, my G3 has an original Apple DVD-ROM from a G4 Graphite, but it is working fine since I can play CDs or DVDs with it. Then, it looks like my CDs are not "bootable" on my G3 only.
Any ideas on why I can't boot my CDs? Any suggestions?
I will greatly appreciate any help.
Andre W.