Re: Cannot boot installer on PowerMac G5

Hello Cedar,
I also have a G5 here (although the PSU died and I need to re-cap it or find a new one.

My gut feeling is that the massive lag time you are experiencing is due to the SMT code on the kernel that works pretty miserably on the G5 for some reason. If you force the kernel to use only one core, it should actually work fine. 
If I remember correctly, this happens only on the multicore G5, the multiprocessor versions actually work fine.
I'll try to see if I manage to revive my PSU and I can bring mine from limbo.

Regards,
Javi.

On July 31, 2025 8:10:07 PM UTC, Cedar Maxwell <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hey Justin,
>
>I've been struggling to get past the installer.  Using your command
>from Open Firmware it'll boot, but the installer is very slow.  It
>takes a long time to respond to keystrokes, ranging from a few minutes
>to 30 minutes or hours.  Any advice?
>
>Thanks,
>Cedar
>
>On Tue, 2025-07-29 at 09:52 -0400, Justin Hibbits wrote:
>> On Sat, 26 Jul 2025 21: 48: 32 -0500 Cedar Maxwell <cedar@ tamu. edu>
>> wrote: > Hello, > > When attempting to boot the installer I
>> downloaded >
>> ([https: //urldefense. com/v3/__https: //download. freebsd. org/relea
>> ses/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/14. 3/FreeBSD-14. 3-RELEASE-powerpc-
>> powerpc64-
>> disc1. iso*5D(https: /*download. freebsd. org/releases/powerpc/powerp
>> c64/ISO-IMAGES/14. 3/FreeBSD-14. 3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64-
>> disc1. iso)__;JS8!!KwNVnqRv!Bqvwnr6AS-vVJnqujxvs2jXPQmKZ-
>> dkPRUfboQtKhWAz4px_pmAD0ygMTJzwWDozHgLf1_9EZhaxWwPA$)
>>  
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>> On Sat, 26 Jul 2025 21:48:32 -0500
>> Cedar Maxwell <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> > Hello,
>> > 
>> > When attempting to boot the installer I downloaded  
>> > ([
>> > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://download.freebsd.org/releases/p
>> > owerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-
>> > powerpc64-
>> > disc1.iso*5D(https:/*download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/powerpc6
>> > 4/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64-
>> > disc1.iso)__;JS8!!KwNVnqRv!Bqvwnr6AS-vVJnqujxvs2jXPQmKZ-
>> > dkPRUfboQtKhWAz4px_pmAD0ygMTJzwWDozHgLf1_9EZhaxWwPA$)
>> > 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://urldefense.com/v3/__https://download.freebsd.org/releases/po
>> > werpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-
>> > powerpc64le-
>> > bootonly.iso*5D(https:/*download.freebsd.org/releases/powerpc/power
>> > pc64le/ISO-IMAGES/14.3/FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE-powerpc-powerpc64le-
>> > bootonly.iso)__;JS8!!KwNVnqRv!Bqvwnr6AS-vVJnqujxvs2jXPQmKZ-
>> > dkPRUfboQtKhWAz4px_pmAD0ygMTJzwWDozHgLf1_9EZimjtW9I$
>> > 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
>