Re: Prepping a G4/10.5.8 for sale
On Thursday, January 31, 2013 9:45:58 AM UTC-5, Valter Viglietti wrote: > Il giorno 31/01/13 05.04, kimtoufectis ha scritto: > > > I got to a command prompt by holding CMD-S while booting, but my > keyboard > > entries didn't register at all. > > I always got my keyboard working when in single-user (CMD+S) mode, and I > was > using a non-Apple keyboard (both in 10.4 and 10.6). > Have you got a "weird", unusual keyboard? > > How is your keyboard connected to the Mac? I know it should be connected > directly to the Mac's USB port, NOT through an USB hub. > > No, it's the same Ice White iMac keyboard I've been using on the machine. Works fine when I boot normally, just not when I boot into single user mode. Thinking that it might be a keyboard problem I switched it with a 2006 flat aluminum keyboard I've used on another iMac--still couldn't type anything at the single user mode command prompt... After booting normally, I went back to Disk Utility for clues. I see both my OS X partition (105 GB, 93 GB free) and the Rescue partition (15 GB). A difference I noted in the two partitions: it reports that OS X mounts at "/", and it reports Rescue as mounting at /Volumes/Rescue. No idea whether this is the way things should be or not... -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "G-Group" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to g3-5-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Prepping a G4/10.5.8 for sale
I used DaleH and Bruce's instructions to clean off my stuff, and made sure the machine boots to the main partition again, then tried the instructions below and hit a wall. I got to a command prompt by holding CMD-S while booting, but my keyboard entries didn't register at all. Here are the last few lines before the prompt: BSD root: disk0s3, major 14, minor 2 Singleuser boot -- fsck not done Root device is mounted read-only If you want to make modifications to files: /sbin/fsck -fy /sbin/mound -uw / If you wish to boot the system: exit :/ root# ...so I'm stuck?!? On Monday, January 28, 2013 2:36:02 PM UTC-5, PH wrote: > > > > Questions: > > 1. Can I do this from Disk Utility or do I need other software to > proceed? > > 2. What are the steps I need to follow to proceed? > > Should you want to prepare the machine for a new user, so s/he has to go > through the process of adding a user and password, the following process > may be used (this also works should you forget your own password): > > 1) boot the machine into single user mode using CMD-s, > > 2) enter the command fsck -fy > > 3) enter the command mount -uw / > > 4) enter the command rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone > > 5) enter the command shutdown -h now > > The machine will power itself off. > > The next time the machine is powered on, OS X will enter the user and > password setup process, through the usual Willkommen dialog. > > > > -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "G-Group" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to g3-5-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Prepping a G4/10.5.8 for sale
Each of you filled in a part of the puzzle for me. Thanks much! On Monday, January 28, 2013 3:04:04 PM UTC-5, joh...@pharmacy.arizona.edu wrote: > > > On Jan 28, 2013, at 12:24 PM, kimtoufectis > > wrote: > > > I'm getting a G4 iMac ready to sell (I'm not willing to give up the G4 > "Sunflower" form factor so I found a faster one with a larger display). > You'd think a 10-year old mac user would know what to do, but no dice; as a > non-techie I need some step-by-step guidance. > > > > I bought it used 18 months ago with 10.5.8 installed. The prior user > swept it pretty clean beforehand and set up a 15 GB bootable "Recovery" > partition on the hard drive in addition to the 105 GB "OS X" partition from > which it boots. I imagine this is the key to putting the machine back the > way I got it. I think what I want to do is boot from the Recovery > partition, then overwrite the current main partition with another version > of the recovery partition. Questions: > > 1. Can I do this from Disk Utility or do I need other software to > proceed? > > 2. What are the steps I need to follow to proceed? > > You're on the right track: > > 1) Boot from your recovery partition by holding down the Option key while > starting up. > 2) Start Disk Utility and erase the larger partition. > 3) Presuming that the "recovery" disk was set up with the OS X installers, > install OS X on the freshly erased "drive". > 4) To leave it ready for the next users, just quit the new user dialog > like Dale says.. > > > To install the Ralink drivers and have them work 'Out of the box' is a > little more complex, maybe. > > First thing to try is run the installer and see if it will let you select > the new Main drive as the place to install them; if it does, then just > install and go. > > If it does not, then you'll have to actually boot from the new drive, > create an admin user, install the drivers, then delete the user as > described in this hint: < > http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20071030151739791> > > The warning here about being careful with dscl is correct, and all those > dots and spaces in the command are important. > > It may well be far simpler to save the installer on the newly formatted > disk after installing OS X and give the new person a note saying "Run this > thing first!" to install the drivers. > > -- > Bruce Johnson > University of Arizona > College of Pharmacy > Information Technology Group > > Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs > > > -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "G-Group" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to g3-5-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Prepping a G4/10.5.8 for sale
Good tips; thanks! On Monday, January 28, 2013 2:51:01 PM UTC-5, DaleH wrote: > > Check this site. > The step for giving the next user the "new mac feel" with their very own > Welcome Screen is quite simple. > > http://hivelogic.com/articles/how-to-prepare-a-mac-for-sale > > > "If you’ve installed Mac OS X before, you may recall that after the > installation is complete and the Welcome video is finished playing, you’ll > be prompted to create a new user account, and it seems that there’s no > other choice but to continue the process and create a user. You’d then have > to jot this information down for the recipient of the new system. That’s a > bit of a tacky solution, and there’s a better way. > > > > After installation, when you’re prompted to create a new user, just > press Command-Q." > > DaleH > > On Jan 28, 2013, at 2:24 PM, kimtoufectis wrote: > > > I'm getting a G4 iMac ready to sell (I'm not willing to give up the G4 > "Sunflower" form factor so I found a faster one with a larger display). > You'd think a 10-year old mac user would know what to do, but no dice; as a > non-techie I need some step-by-step guidance. > > > > > -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "G-Group" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to g3-5-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Prepping a G4/10.5.8 for sale
Much obliged, thanks! On Monday, January 28, 2013 2:36:02 PM UTC-5, PH wrote: > > > > Questions: > > 1. Can I do this from Disk Utility or do I need other software to > proceed? > > 2. What are the steps I need to follow to proceed? > > Should you want to prepare the machine for a new user, so s/he has to go > through the process of adding a user and password, the following process > may be used (this also works should you forget your own password): > > 1) boot the machine into single user mode using CMD-s, > > 2) enter the command fsck -fy > > 3) enter the command mount -uw / > > 4) enter the command rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone > > 5) enter the command shutdown -h now > > The machine will power itself off. > > The next time the machine is powered on, OS X will enter the user and > password setup process, through the usual Willkommen dialog. > > > > -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "G-Group" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to g3-5-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Prepping a G4/10.5.8 for sale
I'm getting a G4 iMac ready to sell (I'm not willing to give up the G4 "Sunflower" form factor so I found a faster one with a larger display). You'd think a 10-year old mac user would know what to do, but no dice; as a non-techie I need some step-by-step guidance. I bought it used 18 months ago with 10.5.8 installed. The prior user swept it pretty clean beforehand and set up a 15 GB bootable "Recovery" partition on the hard drive in addition to the 105 GB "OS X" partition from which it boots. I imagine this is the key to putting the machine back the way I got it. I think what I want to do is boot from the Recovery partition, then overwrite the current main partition with another version of the recovery partition. Questions: 1. Can I do this from Disk Utility or do I need other software to proceed? 2. What are the steps I need to follow to proceed? I added wifi via a RALink micro-USB device, and installed drivers (currently there's a RALink folder in my Utilities folder). RALink was acquired by another company so I'd rather the drivers convey. 3. Even if so, I'd like wifi to work from buyer boot-up. Is there a way I can put those drivers into the recovery partition so they're available to the buyer? Thanks in advance for helping a relative newbie... -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "G-Group" group. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to g3-5-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Why are you (still) using PowerPC-based Macs?Winblowz connection
I share many of the views expressed in this thread about using a computer that is a great value and does what we need it to do. In most cases the need is expressed in software terms, since software is generally what we are referring to when we say we "use" a computer. I'd like to add that my clamshell iBook (300 Mhz, 544 MB RAM, 2 GB ROM) is a sustainable computing hardware project for me. That I found it on eBay for $79 and have kept total project cost for software and hardware to $150 or so adds to the value proposition, but I use it in part BECAUSE it is over ten years old and still works. Decent keyboard, decent screen, decent software. I considered the new- netbook alternative, and one day I might acquire one of those as well, but as long as this serves, why introduce yet another computer to the wild and have reason to believe that my cast-off may well be in a landfill somewhere? Besides, the iBook has panache, it never crashes, and I can use browsers as recent as the last incarnation of Opera 9. Yes, out-of- date browsers pose some risk, but perhaps we're just not much of a market for the malwarers...do you suppose there are many Nash Ramblers carved up in chopshops to feed the repair parts market these days? -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Which G?
On Jan 1, 11:59 pm, kimtoufectis wrote: > I'd like help in choosing an older Mac... Wow. What a day and a posting can teach...your responses were exactly what I needed. You made me recognize many things, including: (1) A tower model will often outperform a laptop or an all-in-one desktop model, or said the other way the same money will buy more tower compared with these other choices; (2) While there are many fans of the G processors (me and my clamshell iBook G3 included), Apple has moved on those who write software are increasingly doing likewise; (3) Linux can extend a useful Mac lifespan for those technically oriented and willing to get some of the computational equivalent of axle grease under our fingers. At the end of this day I am clearer about what elegant low-cost sustainable computing means for me: (1) Elegant: compact, ideally with only a power cord leading away from my glass tabletop (thus wifi); (2) Low cost: usable without further expense for a great while, perhaps for the life of the computer; (3) Sustainable: maximizing the time I can keep up with software (mainly browser) advances and security fixes. I want to thank the impressive number of you who responded to my query, from "here's my quick opinion" to item-by-item responses. It was great to get several recommendations for additional places online to go for information, support, and purchase. So what to do? Since virtually all my computer usage is web browsing, future-proofing means staying as close to the current standards. An all-in-one with wifi seems to fit my "elegant" standard best. I was pleased to find a 20" (early '06) polycarbonate 2.0GHz Intel iMac seems a good craigslist deal at $575 in good shape, running OS X 10.6. [17" and 10.5 would have served; this was what was available locally.] I offered the full price (over my $500 plan, but avoiding shipping softens that); hopefully it is still available and lives up to its billing... Gratefully-- --Kim -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Which G?
Thanks, Jonas...it occurs to me that perhaps I don't see post- clamshell iBooks for resale on eBay is that they have not survived to the present day in similar proportions to their more robust predecessors... As for your model G4, it sounds like a pretty rare bird, I have not seen one like it for sale in a week of looking...that was a dual processor G4? --Kim On Jan 2, 1:57 am, Jonas Ulrich wrote: > I completely agree with John! My MDD DP 1GHZ is fantastic! I wouldn't go > with a G3 ibook any newer than the clamshell. After that they had bad video > chips and all sorts of stuff that will go wrong. I've had two G3 iBooks go > bad: a G3/700MHZ 14" and a G3/800 12". Both went with Motherboard and video > issues, and eventually DEATH. > -Jonas > > On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 9:40 PM, JOHN CARMONNE wrote: > > > > On Jan 1, 2010, at 9:59 PM, kimtoufectis wrote: > > > >> I'd like help in choosing an older Mac... -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Which G?
I'd like help in choosing an older Mac. I entered Macdom six months ago via an original blueberry clamshell iBook G3. Beyond an iconic product design, I've appreciated the simplicity and reliability of freedom from Micro$oft (I use a PC at work). I've enjoyed stretching it about as far as a 300 MHz processor can go (maxed out RAM and upgraded to OS X 10.2.8) but I'd like to be able to streaming low-fi video and use current web browser features; seems like time for something more. A bit about my computer usage: I am fairly non-tech; when my work Wintel machine fails an expert comes to fix it. At home I'm on my own; I like simple. My iBook serves mainly as a netbook: I use Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Reader for productivity and news, and Pandora, GrooveShark, LaLa, and Playlist to stream music. I don't make much use of social media, and real-time isn't a trend I have not had much interest in or need for (so far). I've tried Chrome with extensions on a Windows machine and think it could meet virtually all my routine computing needs. I even contemplate getting a netbook and migrating it to ChromeOS as a next step (maybe using JoliCloud and EyeOS until that's easy to do). Searching online showed me that for the $250-500 cost of a netbook I could step well forward in power with a used iMac (functioning MacBooks seem out of that pricerange). The architect in me appreciates the compact, elegant designs of both the G4 and G5 iMacs, and depending on age and screen size I find both in a tolerable $250-500 price range. Whatever I buy, I'd like to use it for a long, long time (this iBook turned 10 recently, and as a complement to a more capable desktop I want to continue to use it for light browsing for more years). With that as background: (1) What should I expect as the performance delta between the G4 and G5 in light usage, and does it justify the extra cost? Is the G4 advanced enough to serve me for several years, or will I soon need to step up again soon to keep up with internet trends? (2) I find OS X 10.4 on most G4s and 10.5 on more G5s; any guidance on which OS is most useable with each processor? (3) I'll need wifi but it isn't always installed; is it hard for a non- technical end user to install? Is a USB wifi router worth considering instead? (4) Given that I'm mostly okay with the 12 inch iBook screen, a 17 inch screen seems adequate; any great reason to go larger? (5) Wikipedia tells me there's variation in processor speed and features even within the G4 and G5 lines; faster and newer generally cost more. How important are the upgrades (700 v. 800 v. 1250 v. 1600 v 1800 v 2000 MHz? webcam? ambient light sensor? iSight?) and are they significant in choosing a machine I can use for the next several years? (6) Are there other Macs I should consider, (I don't want a CRT eMac, but maybe a Mini?) and if so why? I'm eager for your feedback-- -- -- 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 g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
