[SOLVED] OS for old macs???

hungry_kirby · Nov 17, 2016

i recently got myself a collection of macs which include original emac, 2 powermac G5's (one with 2 single core cpus, the other with a 2.3ghz dual core) and a power mac G3.

Im new to the whole mac game so i need help. I want an operating software for all these, preferably OSX and the like (basically want something other than linux)

what are my options and where can i get them? Paid or free

the only pc with an OS right now is the emac, which will only boot properly in safe mode. I do also have an OSX leopard disk

amtseung · Nov 17, 2016

Realistically, I wouldn't run anything newer than 10.6 on any of those, but it's rather hard to find install media for 10.6. I'd browse the far reaches of the internet, or ask around a more mac-oriented forum to see if anyone's willing to let you use their install media or send you an ISO you can burn to a flash drive and use as an install media.

Solandri · Nov 17, 2016

The Power Macs used PowerPC CPUs (hence the name Power Mac). The last version of OS X which supported PowerPC was Leopard (10.5). Everything since then has been Intel-only. (10.6 supported software binaries for PowerPC running on Intel CPUs via an emulation mode, but did not support PowerPC CPUs). Which brings up another issue - while the OS is OS X, you'll need to find software compiled for PowerPC for it to run. Installing the latest version of Office for OS X (Intel) isn't going to work.

One of my clients has a couple of the older Power Macs, 8600 I think. They drive a $30,000 piece of printing equipment which relies on MacOS drivers, and the manufacturer has long since gone bankrupt so there are no drivers for newer OSes. Be aware that a common failure mode in these models is the power button. It's simply a long piece of plastic attached to the exterior that bends when you push it. On the other side is a plastic rod which pushes the actual power switch which is deep inside the case. After 20-25 years, the plastic becomes brittle and this button snaps off. You can fix it with some super glue (temporary) or epoxy (long-term). Just be ready for it so you don't panic when it happens.

hungry_kirby · Nov 18, 2016

amtseung :

Does mac OS have a license key/Activation like windows?

hungry_kirby · Nov 18, 2016

Solandri :

The Power Macs used PowerPC CPUs (hence the name Power Mac). The last version of OS X which supported PowerPC was Leopard (10.5). Everything since then has been Intel-only. (10.6 supported software binaries for PowerPC running on Intel CPUs via an emulation mode, but did not support PowerPC CPUs). Which brings up another issue - while the OS is OS X, you'll need to find software compiled for PowerPC for it to run. Installing the latest version of Office for OS X (Intel) isn't going to work.

One of my clients has a couple of the older Power Macs, 8600 I think. They drive a $30,000 piece of printing equipment which relies on MacOS drivers, and the manufacturer has long since gone bankrupt so there are no drivers for newer OSes. Be aware that a common failure mode in these models is the power button. It's simply a long piece of plastic attached to the exterior that bends when you push it. On the other side is a plastic rod which pushes the actual power switch which is deep inside the case. After 20-25 years, the plastic becomes brittle and this button snaps off. You can fix it with some super glue (temporary) or epoxy (long-term). Just be ready for it so you don't panic when it happens.

Ive seen the plastic get so brittle it breaks when used. 3D printers make a good replacement part maker if one is handy

amtseung · Nov 18, 2016

I don't remember mac OS ever having an activation key scheme like windows, but who knows about the new stuff, the last Mac OS I actually installed from scratch was 10.6, and that was quite a while ago. I don't remember having to do any verification. I feel like my memory is as good as a senile old geezer sometimes.

I don't know if 3D printers can print down to the tolerances some of the original plastic things were made (one damn fan bracket in my mac pro 4,1 snapped on me one day, printing a replacement was hell) but one of the higher resolution printers or a home CNC machine could probably get the job done.

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[SOLVED] OS for old macs???

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