PC formated HD in PowerMac G4 AGP

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PC formated HD in PowerMac G4 AGP

Question:

Do I need to re-format the pulled used HD [with the E-machine Win XP Home image on it] for Macs before trying to install Mac OS X or Linux on it?

Details: I pulled a HD where I restored an E-machine Windows XP Home image as the master drive from an E machine.
[I had determined replacing the origianl fried HD with a brand new HD was workable -- after doing the test install onto thus used HD I had laying around.]

I then moved my used HD (with the e-machine image now on it) to an AGP G4 450 Powermac.

I then tried to install Linux from cd onto that HD ... No luck.
I then tried installing Mac OS X from the original CD ... No Luck. [I tried simply replacing the AGP HD with this one, inserting the install cd, and pressing C at boot. However Mac OS X would not recognize the HD to proceed with install.]

I suspect I need to re-format the used HD in an enclosure for Macs first, then place it as the only HD in the AGP, and go on.

Just wanting to confirm as much ... if someone could confirm that for me.

Thank You.

David

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yes, you will need to format

yes, you will need to format it using OS X's disk utility, built right into the installer. the formatter gives options as to what FS you want to use. I used HFT extended and journaled, as if something happens, it is easier to diagnose.

windows uses FAT and NTFS file systems, which are totally diffrent. formatting erases everything on the drive, so make sure you back it up first.

linux also has it's own formats, but if you are going to be using OS X, you don't need to worry about that.

hope you get it working. sawtooths are awesome tiger machines (so I have heard).

-digital Wink

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Linux format

Digital:

I want to end up with Linux on the HD, then make linux a slave drive tobe able to boot from. That would give me dual boot like someone else reported in the Linux on Mac thread I started.

I thought I would install OS X as a temp os, then overwrite with the Linux install from CD on to that [now recognizable] HD.

BTW: Tiger on AGP 450 w/ 1 GB so far: OK. However this particular AGP (but not all, maybe) will handle dual CPU mod fine. Tiger on this machine after upgrading to maybe dual 800 ... or better yet dual 1 GHZ + CPUs: that should be Awesome!

... Have not come across a dual upgrade over 1 GHZ each for very little $$$ ... [I know: Pipe dream!] The 450 works fine for me. Especially since I paid only $86.00 for the tower [no OS], I will not complain a bit!

David

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When you boot the OS CD just

When you boot the OS CD just look for Disk Utility in one of the pull-down menus at the top of the screen.

The drive should show up in the disk utility if the jumpers are set correctly and the drive is working. Just select the drive and hit the initialize or erase button (can't remember which it is called)

Then quit the disk utility and the drive should now show up in the OS installer. Install OS and you are ready to go.

You could partition it in two partitions at this time for future install of Linux too. Though I personally prefer a second drive for a second OS. It's easier in my experience, and I'm all about doing it the easy way.

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the linux installer usually d

the linux installer usually does the formatting and paritioning for you, so you don't need to worry about that. just insert the CD, boot off it, and run though the installer, and it will run the partitioner, the default options work best, unless you really know what you are doing.

good luck.

-digital Wink

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freespace

you can always partition it with freespace and go from there. That's probably the best thing to do, since you can just add the partitions in Linux

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Just be aware that the standa

Just be aware that the standard format from a Linux or Mac OS X disk utility is a high level format. If you suspect that there are bad blocks on the hard disk, you need to perform a low level format. For many hard disks, the simplest way to do this is in a PC booting from a DOS floppy. The disk manufacturer will have a tool to build the DOS floppy disk.

If the hard disk is faulty, you'll probably have noticed strange behaviour already. However, it is still worth looking in the Windows event logs for disk related problems (SMART errors or delayed writes). Not easy if you are not a Windows expert, I'm afraid.

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i hate to tell u this but i j

i hate to tell u this but i just bought a sawtooth yesterday for $50 with tiger on it, 30gb hd, 2 video cards, and 256mb ram

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