Re: Cannot boot installer on PowerMac G5

On Sat, 26 Jul 2025 21:48:32 -0500
Cedar Maxwell <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> When attempting to boot the installer I downloaded  
> ([https://download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64-disc1.iso](https://download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64-disc1.iso))
> the disc is detected in the Option boot menu, but once selected  
> graphical issues appear (increased black outlines on the cursor and  
> buttons) and the machine hangs at a white screen until returning to
> the Option menu.
> 
> I tried this ISO  
> [https://download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64le-bootonly.iso](https://download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64le-bootonly.iso)
> but the same behavior was exhibited.  I also tried making a bootable  
> USB installer with sudo dd bs=4M if=FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-  
> powerpc64-disc1.iso of=/dev/sdd status=progress , but no change.
> 
> Please advise.
> 
> Thanks,  
> Cedar Maxwell
> 
> 

Unfortunately it appears FreeBSD on the G5 has rotted, due to lack of
resources.  My G5 died 7 years ago, so the only PowerMac hardware I
have remaining that can run FreeBSD is a bunch of G4s, and last I tried
those, they ran pretty well (13.x, IIRC).  My primary powerpc hardware
are a Talos II (POWER9), and an AmigaOne X5000, and recent FreeBSD works
fine on both of these,  but there are PRs filed of problems with G5s,
particularly the dual core G5s, that we haven't managed to fix due to
lack of hardware.

If you can drop down to Open Firmware, please try:

boot cd:,\\:tbxi

and see if there are any errors with that.

- Justin