Updating G4 2x500 from 10.1.5 to 10.3.9
using a Mac Mini and the Firewire

I took advantage of some recent OWC specials mentioned on xlr8yourmac and the following arrived around one o'clock on a Friday afternoon (September 2006 and it is currently Tuesday Afternoon.):

500GB NewerTech miniStack v2 7200RPM HD + Powered USB2/FireWire Hub

Logitech RF USB Wireless 'Click' 3-Button+ Scrollwheel Optical Mouse

Panther DVD set (3.0.3) and a XLR8YourMac T-Shirt

On another page in this section I wrote, "I use a 2x500 G4 running OS X 10.1.5 and Final Cut Pro 3.0.2 because it works." and that has changed, but not by choice.

When I say not by choice, I mean 'most' "FREE" development for OSX 10.1.5 has stopped (for example, Camino), Apple stopped releasing critical updates, and Nobody will give a 'straight answer' when the question, "Is OSX 10.1.5 vulnerable?", is asked.

(fwiw) The usual reply is, "You will be much happier with the latest [Insert Name of Big Pussy Cat] release," and sometimes the following is included, "that version had problems."; at which point I smile, grind my teeth softly, and slowly back away.

That being said, plus 'a bunch of other reasons', I installed the miniStack, new mouse, and Panther.

(btw) The mouse worked on versions OS 9.2.2 thru OS X 10.3.9 (G4) and (Mac Mini) OS X 10.4.7 (I have.) and the supplied software was NOT installed.

The miniStack installed with ease, was recognized on all systems, and I will probably get another one...oh, and just so you know, if one installs the miniStack on a system running 10.4.x, "Spotlight" will scan for new data and there will be considerable activity from the drive, until it is done.

Preparation for install

Used Disk Warrior to clean and optimize G4 target disk

Fixed Permissions on G4

Backed-up G4 to miniStack

Mounted Mac Mini in "Target Disk Mode"

How to use FireWire target disk mode

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583

Booted G4 into 9.2.2 (Mini appears)

Booted 10.4.7 from Mini

[See http://www.FlyingSnail.com/Mac/bootminitigerfrom922g4.html]

Inserted Panther DVD install disk into Mac Mini [A Stock G4 DVD will not read Panther DVD disks.]

Used "Disk Utility" on Panther DVD to "Repair" and "Fix Permissions" on target G4 disk

Used "Upgrade" install. [Install took 52 minutes.] and Rebooted

As 10.3.3 started to appear on the screen, I shut off access to 'the outside world' (Internet), because I did not want "Automatic Update" to begin.

Started install again, except this time, used "Archive and Install" [Install took 31 minutes until Reboot]

I have dial-up access and the Software Updates took 29 hours and 9 minutes to download before "About this Mac": OS X Version 10.3.9 appeared.

At the time of this writing (Sunday night), I now have 46 hours 17 minutes invested in downloads.

Repaired permissions and immediately noticed Eject and Volume Control now, once again, work from the Keyboard.

Verification of Software

Too many things to mention so, what follows were problems and how I fixed them.

I did a quick check of Final Cut Pro and the FireWire digital video deck was no longer recognized, so I set it aside for the moment.

Contour ShuttlePRO required new drivers. Downloaded, installed, = worked.

CanoScan 8400F was unable to locate TWAIN DEVICE. Downloaded, installed Driver Uninstall utility (Ver. 1.30X) and ran it. Downloaded, installed current ScanGear (10.2.2.0X) and Toolbox (4.9.3.2X) = worked.

I had a problem with one of my Animation programs that was caused by me. Fix is included, in case this happens to you.

When I attempted to run LightWave, the famous "Unable to locate Eve3.framework" error message appeared.

It was at this point I remembered, 'install Lightwave first' and then 'install Eve3.framework', which requires removing and reinserting the Dongle.

I have to assume if I had removed the Dongle before the first Upgrade, I would NOT have had this problem.

Panther's Archive and Install placed a copy of 'Eve3.framework' in:

/Previous Systems/Previous System 1/System/Library/Frameworks/

Dragged a copy of Eve3.framework to Desktop and then dragged it to:

/System/Library/Frameworks/

where it asked for my password.

Ran 'Permission Repair' from 'Disk Utility' and rebooted the machine = LightWave works.

Final Cut Pro (FCP) 3.0.2 to 3.0.4

[Note: FCP 3.x.x will not work on OS X 4.x.x. == OS X 4 requires a FCP upgrade.]

iMovie and FCP no longer recognized the GV-D800 digital deck after the original Panther 3.0.3 installation, so I updated to FCP 3.0.4 and still no FireWire device.

I keep a copy of FCP 1.2.5 on the 9.2.2 system and it worked.

On re-reading documentation, I started to wonder if I should have updated 9.2.2 with Panther's installer ( I never use 9.2.2 (Classic) from OS X) and remembered something I read on Apple's Final Cut Pro page:

Final Cut Pro: Restoring a DV device connection in QuickTime 7

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

followed the instructions = FCP & iMovie work and I decided NOT to use Panther's 9.2.2 installer.

After the above process was complete, there were ??? two QuickTime programs available. The following are screenshots of 'About Quicktime" (Please note: Player Version 6.5 vs. 7.1.3 ):

.

Everything else, after updating drivers/etc., installed without problem ;-) except for the xlr8yourmac T-Shirt, which will be installed later (-; ------ Total Time for Dial-Up Install = 73 hours 42 minutes.