> * The DVD burner drive I installed, an IBM-branded Hitachi HL_DT_ST G10N, is > recognized only as a CD reader. It won't burn DVDs and blank DVDs are simply > ejected. I don't know anything about locating Mac drivers or if that is even > necessary. I want to burn some DMGs or audio CDs from here. I've found that > Roxio Toast 7 Titanium is supported on 10.3, can this tool burn DVDs even > where OS X can't recognize the drive?
i am getting a Sawtooth G4 up and running. it only had a dvd/cd reader in it. i rebuild old PC's so i have a stock of dvd writers in the basement. i had go thru 3 or 4 different readers to find one that would recognize DVD's or CD's during boot (for installing software) AND burn DVD's. > * Wireless - this has no Airport card in the little Airport card slot. I > have no idea how to go about finding a solution for this and, probably, won't > bother. I would imagine the expense would be pretty high for a compatible > card. there is a seller on ebay that has several original (802.11b) apple airport cards for sale. http://cgi.ebay.com/802-11b-WiFi-Wireless-Card-Airport-PowerMac-G4-iBook-G3-/250675292969?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5d696b29 > > That's a lot of issues and I haven't even gotten to installing the software I > want to use. In fact I've been thinking about this project on a "grander > scale" and I am wondering if even my Step 1 was a bad choice, and I should > have gone with either 9.2 (and really outdated hardware) or 10.4 (though the > system requirements seem steep). > > I would be willing to go 10.4 if I knew that this hardware would run it > faster than 10.3. Otherwise I don't want to bother. This is one of those > "set it up and let it sit" installations, I want everything perfected the > first time so I don't have to get in and mess around with things later. as with your machine, this one had never had its firmware updated. i installed an old, small HD and installed OS9.1. rather than get it running on ethernet, i downloaded the firmware update to a usb drive then transferred it to the G4. it ran and updated successfully. you didn't mention it specifically, but as for upgrading to leopard: i agree with others that it is slower than tiger, but if you want to install it in order to take advantage of any of leopard's features (eg, time machine), first, install a DVD reader that will recognize a bootable disk when you boot while holding the option key. then you can use LeopardAssist to fake out the macine during boot that it has a fast enough processor to allow the leopard installation. good luck! -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
