how boot Morphos on USB key on Mac Mini
  • Just looking around
    number-one
    Posts: 17 from 2005/8/25
    Hello

    I want to boot MorphOS on USB key on Mac Mini (boot.img + system files)
    What are the command for boot on usb in open firmware ?
  • »09.11.09 - 20:36
    Profile
  • Moderator
    Golem
    Posts: 766 from 2003/2/28
    From: Denmark
    The mini does not support booting from usb.
  • »09.11.09 - 21:42
    Profile Visit Website
  • Just looking around
    number-one
    Posts: 17 from 2005/8/25
    I removed the hard drive.

    I bringed off to boot completely from the usb key (partitions Boot and MOS on the key), typing a command line in the OF.

    http://infodecalee.monforum.net/N1/Mac.Mini.MorphOS.boot.on.USB.key.without.HD/

    [ Edited by number-one on 2009/11/11 8:58 ]
  • »11.11.09 - 08:57
    Profile
  • Moderator
    Golem
    Posts: 766 from 2003/2/28
    From: Denmark
    Oh nice, guess that shows what I know :) Happy it's working for you, so why did you remove the harddrive?
  • »11.11.09 - 11:29
    Profile Visit Website
  • MorphOS Developer
    geit
    Posts: 1030 from 2004/9/23
    AFAIK you cannot boot completly from usb, but as on Pegasos you simply need a working installation or a boot.img on harddrive and a bootable usb stick with RDB, with e.g. SFS partition, bootflag set and boot priority higher than harddrives boot partition.

    If there is a morphos installation on harddrive just plug in the drive and it boots from it.

    If there is only an OSX installation, then you need to boot up OSX once and copy the boot.img located in mac_ppc32 drawer to the root of your OSX partition, plug in the stick, reboot, enter the OF and type

    boot hd:,\boot.img

    Now MorphOS should boot from usb stick.

    This works for me, as I boot test installations on Pegasos2 in exact the same way, just using a MicroSD card in a card reader. It should work on Mac, too.

    [EDIT] Just saw that video, so it should even work without removing/changing the harddrive.

    Geit



    [ Edited by geit on 2009/11/11 14:24 ]
  • »11.11.09 - 13:18
    Profile
  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    boot_wb
    Posts: 874 from 2007/4/9
    From: Kingston upon ...
    I love this! Good work, whoever worked this one out.

    This would make the "trial" version a lot easier for existing MAC users if a base installation archive were made (rather than a installation ISO), along with a simple batch file to store exisitng NVram parameters, copy the boot.img over and set some NVram parameters to allow MorphOS booting:

    Mac user downloads archive then:
    1) Decompresses installation archive to USB device.
    2) Runs batch file under existing OSX installation to:
    ----a) Copy existing NVram parameters into "uninstall" script.
    ----b) Copy boot.img to HFS+ partition
    ----c) Set NVram parameters to boot from boot.img
    3) Reboots into MorphOS

    This would allow then to test MorphOS easily without messing around with partition resizing.

    Ideally (imho) an "uninstallation" script capable of running under MorphOS would also be required to allow the user to easily restore the previous settings, allowing default booting from OSX again.

    [ Edited by boot_wb on 2009/11/11 14:56 ]
    www.hullchimneyservices.co.uk

    UI: Powerbook 5,6 (1.67GHz, 128MB VRam): OS3.1, OSX 10.5.8
    HTPC: Mac Mini G4 (1,5GHz, 64MB VRam): OS3.1 (ZVNC)
    Audiophile: Efika 5200b (SB Audigy): OS3.1 (VNC + Virtual Monitor)

    Windows free since 2011!
  • »11.11.09 - 14:55
    Profile Visit Website