help needed with a Apple Mac G5
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to put a wifi card into an Apple Mac Pro G5 so i can connect it (via wireless) to the current network.
Looking inside the case i can't see where this would connect, also the WiFi software needs the OS X to be version 10.3.3 and above. Currently the OS X is 10.2.8, i've tried to update the softwre to 10.4, but i get a message saying that this can't be done.
What on earth do i need to do so that i can get the current OS X 10.2 up to 10.3.3 or above?
thanks
DJ
I'm trying to put a wifi card into an Apple Mac Pro G5 so i can connect it (via wireless) to the current network.
Looking inside the case i can't see where this would connect, also the WiFi software needs the OS X to be version 10.3.3 and above. Currently the OS X is 10.2.8, i've tried to update the softwre to 10.4, but i get a message saying that this can't be done.
What on earth do i need to do so that i can get the current OS X 10.2 up to 10.3.3 or above?
thanks
DJ
_deano said:
blurgh???
Ok all i have is a power mac g5 base unit, no DVDs apart from the installation CD for the Airport Extream Card and a 10.2 OS X operating system.
What do i need to upgrade it to 10.3.3 and above and will it cost anything at all?
thanks
DJ
Ok all i have is a power mac g5 base unit, no DVDs apart from the installation CD for the Airport Extream Card and a 10.2 OS X operating system.
What do i need to upgrade it to 10.3.3 and above and will it cost anything at all?
thanks
DJ
Sorry, thought you were trying to install 10.4.
Yes, you'll need a copy of 10.3 or 10.4. Both are an enormous improvement over 10.2
Airport software is built into the OS, so you shouldn't need the CD.
The airport card goes above the RAM on the left hand side, there's an antenna to plug into it.
aghhh nuts! (not to you)
Thanks for your help magic torch, i've been sitting here for over an hour, trying to update the software thinking that all i was trying to do was update a service pack. Not knowing that i need to pay for it.
Right i will have to go out and buy it then.
Thanks again for your help
DJ
Thanks for your help magic torch, i've been sitting here for over an hour, trying to update the software thinking that all i was trying to do was update a service pack. Not knowing that i need to pay for it.
Right i will have to go out and buy it then.
Thanks again for your help
DJ
Four items
- Right Card?
You should have an Airport Extreme Card (silver square, Extreme written on it), rather than the old, discontinued Airport card (looks like a PCMCIA card). If you bought it from a shop, you will have the correct card.
- Installation Guide
here
Top of the list should be a pdf installation guide, with pictures. Note: it may be important to know exactly which model of G5 you have (ie build date). Try www.lowendmac.com and search under specs (use Apple Mene/About This Mac/More Info to open System Profiler and locate the appropriate details)
- Right OS
As already mentioned options are:
10.3 (Panther): out of date, could get on ebay, but you must get the OSX disks (black) not the system install disks (grey, these are machine specific)
10.4 (Tiger): current, and best bet right now. Try a shop, or ebay (again, Tiger fur disks, not grey). A big step up from 10.2
If you could wait, 10.5 (Leopard) is due - word on the street is an announcement 24th March
If you can't wait, and buy Tiger from a shop, at least ask whether there is a guaranteed discount available on a Leopard upgrade...
There are no Windows-like pack options (Home, Premium, etc.) to worry about. Provided you are using original OS disks, not the grey machine-specific ones, everything you need is on the pack of CDs.
Whichever you buy, make sure you can connect the machine to the net and run Software Update. There are firmware and software updates for the Airport that may not be on the disks. Run it a couple of times until all updates have been installed (some are not available until earlier ones have been installed).
- Wireless Standard
If you have bought a new card, it probably states it does 802.11g standard. But, I believe, the most recent cards are n-standard ready. Browse apple.com for recent news, then the Support Area, as you may be able to dowload something to give you the better range. there may be a small (£2?) charge.
I'm not totally on the ball with this one - which cards have the ability, how it works, or whether this 'patch' is only for Tiger and will be integrated into Leopard. But may be worth looking at.
- Right Card?
You should have an Airport Extreme Card (silver square, Extreme written on it), rather than the old, discontinued Airport card (looks like a PCMCIA card). If you bought it from a shop, you will have the correct card.
- Installation Guide
here
Top of the list should be a pdf installation guide, with pictures. Note: it may be important to know exactly which model of G5 you have (ie build date). Try www.lowendmac.com and search under specs (use Apple Mene/About This Mac/More Info to open System Profiler and locate the appropriate details)
- Right OS
As already mentioned options are:
10.3 (Panther): out of date, could get on ebay, but you must get the OSX disks (black) not the system install disks (grey, these are machine specific)
10.4 (Tiger): current, and best bet right now. Try a shop, or ebay (again, Tiger fur disks, not grey). A big step up from 10.2
If you could wait, 10.5 (Leopard) is due - word on the street is an announcement 24th March
If you can't wait, and buy Tiger from a shop, at least ask whether there is a guaranteed discount available on a Leopard upgrade...
There are no Windows-like pack options (Home, Premium, etc.) to worry about. Provided you are using original OS disks, not the grey machine-specific ones, everything you need is on the pack of CDs.
Whichever you buy, make sure you can connect the machine to the net and run Software Update. There are firmware and software updates for the Airport that may not be on the disks. Run it a couple of times until all updates have been installed (some are not available until earlier ones have been installed).
- Wireless Standard
If you have bought a new card, it probably states it does 802.11g standard. But, I believe, the most recent cards are n-standard ready. Browse apple.com for recent news, then the Support Area, as you may be able to dowload something to give you the better range. there may be a small (£2?) charge.
I'm not totally on the ball with this one - which cards have the ability, how it works, or whether this 'patch' is only for Tiger and will be integrated into Leopard. But may be worth looking at.
HiRich said:
Four items
- Right Card?
You should have an Airport Extreme Card (silver square, Extreme written on it), rather than the old, discontinued Airport card (looks like a PCMCIA card). If you bought it from a shop, you will have the correct card.
- Installation Guide
here
Top of the list should be a pdf installation guide, with pictures. Note: it may be important to know exactly which model of G5 you have (ie build date). Try www.lowendmac.com and search under specs (use Apple Mene/About This Mac/More Info to open System Profiler and locate the appropriate details)
- Right OS
As already mentioned options are:
10.3 (Panther): out of date, could get on ebay, but you must get the OSX disks (black) not the system install disks (grey, these are machine specific)
10.4 (Tiger): current, and best bet right now. Try a shop, or ebay (again, Tiger fur disks, not grey). A big step up from 10.2
If you could wait, 10.5 (Leopard) is due - word on the street is an announcement 24th March
If you can't wait, and buy Tiger from a shop, at least ask whether there is a guaranteed discount available on a Leopard upgrade...
There are no Windows-like pack options (Home, Premium, etc.) to worry about. Provided you are using original OS disks, not the grey machine-specific ones, everything you need is on the pack of CDs.
Whichever you buy, make sure you can connect the machine to the net and run Software Update. There are firmware and software updates for the Airport that may not be on the disks. Run it a couple of times until all updates have been installed (some are not available until earlier ones have been installed).
- Wireless Standard
If you have bought a new card, it probably states it does 802.11g standard. But, I believe, the most recent cards are n-standard ready. Browse apple.com for recent news, then the Support Area, as you may be able to dowload something to give you the better range. there may be a small (£2?) charge.
I'm not totally on the ball with this one - which cards have the ability, how it works, or whether this 'patch' is only for Tiger and will be integrated into Leopard. But may be worth looking at.
- Right Card?
You should have an Airport Extreme Card (silver square, Extreme written on it), rather than the old, discontinued Airport card (looks like a PCMCIA card). If you bought it from a shop, you will have the correct card.
- Installation Guide
here
Top of the list should be a pdf installation guide, with pictures. Note: it may be important to know exactly which model of G5 you have (ie build date). Try www.lowendmac.com and search under specs (use Apple Mene/About This Mac/More Info to open System Profiler and locate the appropriate details)
- Right OS
As already mentioned options are:
10.3 (Panther): out of date, could get on ebay, but you must get the OSX disks (black) not the system install disks (grey, these are machine specific)
10.4 (Tiger): current, and best bet right now. Try a shop, or ebay (again, Tiger fur disks, not grey). A big step up from 10.2
If you could wait, 10.5 (Leopard) is due - word on the street is an announcement 24th March
If you can't wait, and buy Tiger from a shop, at least ask whether there is a guaranteed discount available on a Leopard upgrade...
There are no Windows-like pack options (Home, Premium, etc.) to worry about. Provided you are using original OS disks, not the grey machine-specific ones, everything you need is on the pack of CDs.
Whichever you buy, make sure you can connect the machine to the net and run Software Update. There are firmware and software updates for the Airport that may not be on the disks. Run it a couple of times until all updates have been installed (some are not available until earlier ones have been installed).
- Wireless Standard
If you have bought a new card, it probably states it does 802.11g standard. But, I believe, the most recent cards are n-standard ready. Browse apple.com for recent news, then the Support Area, as you may be able to dowload something to give you the better range. there may be a small (£2?) charge.
I'm not totally on the ball with this one - which cards have the ability, how it works, or whether this 'patch' is only for Tiger and will be integrated into Leopard. But may be worth looking at.
Thanks for this.
I have the extream card and i've found the slot next to the RAM to install it. I'm getting tiger tonight (against my wishes) so that i can run the Extream card (bloody con in you ask me).
By installing Tiger i'm hoping that none of my data is going to be lost. do i need to back up all the data first or will Tiger go on without a fuss?
thanks
dj
I have to admit that I've never had to upgrade an OSX installation, only re-installs, but it should be all fine and dandy, carrying over your account settings and everything. It is highly likely that you'll just type in your admin password, then go make dinner until it asks for the next disk.
The Tiger disks will provide updated versions of the major apps (Safari, Mail, iTunes, iPhoto, etc.). However it is very good practice always to:
- Backup all your data. Remember to include your iTunes folder in Music, as well as Movies and Pictures
- Backup any app installers, and perhaps any key applications (in most cases the app will be able to recreate bits in system support files, on the off chance it goes nasty). Be praticularly wary of any applications where you don't have a source installer.
- Unplug any non-essential peripherals
- Run Disk Utility (Repair Disk and Repair Permissions) before running the installer. To do this, restart the machine on the first installer disk (insert disk, restart machine, hold down the C key until the startup off the CD is well underway). The machine will start up with the installer screen up. Then under the menu "Installer" select "Open Disk Utility". Once you have run it, quit disk utility: you will return to the installer, which you can proceed with without restarting. Allow 30 mins for Disk utility to do its bit.
- Run the installation, following instructions. Check the options partway through. Allow up to an hour.
Once you're back on your new Tiger, I'd suggest:
- Get your Airport card running and on the network.
- Run Software Update as mentioned previously (allow 30 minutes)
- Check all your data is still there.
- Run through all the apps in your Applications folder (at least those that are not Apple apps that came on the Tiger installation), and check they work OK. It is highly likely that a 10.2 compatible app will work OK on 10.4, although there might be patches on the developers' websites.
- There are a lot of apps that only work with 10.3 or 10.4 upwards. So you will have access to a lot of new toys.
- By the way, if you have filed any of the Apple apps in sub-folders (e.g. an "Internet Applications" folder in "Applications", like I have), Tiger will have installed a second version in the correct place. Delete the out of date one.
But perhaps someone who's done it can confirm any special details.
The Tiger disks will provide updated versions of the major apps (Safari, Mail, iTunes, iPhoto, etc.). However it is very good practice always to:
- Backup all your data. Remember to include your iTunes folder in Music, as well as Movies and Pictures
- Backup any app installers, and perhaps any key applications (in most cases the app will be able to recreate bits in system support files, on the off chance it goes nasty). Be praticularly wary of any applications where you don't have a source installer.
- Unplug any non-essential peripherals
- Run Disk Utility (Repair Disk and Repair Permissions) before running the installer. To do this, restart the machine on the first installer disk (insert disk, restart machine, hold down the C key until the startup off the CD is well underway). The machine will start up with the installer screen up. Then under the menu "Installer" select "Open Disk Utility". Once you have run it, quit disk utility: you will return to the installer, which you can proceed with without restarting. Allow 30 mins for Disk utility to do its bit.
- Run the installation, following instructions. Check the options partway through. Allow up to an hour.
Once you're back on your new Tiger, I'd suggest:
- Get your Airport card running and on the network.
- Run Software Update as mentioned previously (allow 30 minutes)
- Check all your data is still there.
- Run through all the apps in your Applications folder (at least those that are not Apple apps that came on the Tiger installation), and check they work OK. It is highly likely that a 10.2 compatible app will work OK on 10.4, although there might be patches on the developers' websites.
- There are a lot of apps that only work with 10.3 or 10.4 upwards. So you will have access to a lot of new toys.
- By the way, if you have filed any of the Apple apps in sub-folders (e.g. an "Internet Applications" folder in "Applications", like I have), Tiger will have installed a second version in the correct place. Delete the out of date one.
But perhaps someone who's done it can confirm any special details.
Done it thousands of times, you shouldn't have any problems. Would recommend using 'Software Update...' from the Apple Menu to see if there's a firmware update first.
Apples' guide here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.ht
Just make sure you don't select 'Erase and Install'.
magic torch said:
Done it thousands of times, you shouldn't have any problems. Would recommend using 'Software Update...' from the Apple Menu to see if there's a firmware update first.
Apples' guide here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.ht
Just make sure you don't select 'Erase and Install'.
Done the updates, and thanks for the tip on the erase and install.
ok,
Tiger is installed and is fully updated and i have now installed the airport extream card into the mac pro. I've plugged in the antenna, but i'm getting a really crappy signal strength. The mac is about 10ft from the wireless router and showing a low signal, but my laptop which is at the other end of the house is showing a full signal.
any ideas why i'm not getting a good signal?
thanks
Tiger is installed and is fully updated and i have now installed the airport extream card into the mac pro. I've plugged in the antenna, but i'm getting a really crappy signal strength. The mac is about 10ft from the wireless router and showing a low signal, but my laptop which is at the other end of the house is showing a full signal.
any ideas why i'm not getting a good signal?
thanks
Have you got the external aerial plugged in. White platic T shape, plugs in the back.
If you have make sure the antenna is really well pushed into the card. It's a common problem we'd encounter, even on those installed by Apple during manufacture.
Won't be as good as a Laptop, as you're trying to pick up a wireless signal from inside a metal box.
There is nothing on the outside of the case, only inside. There are two cables, one has a connection that fits the other cable has a smaller connector which doesn't fit, so i have left this were it originally was. I click the connector into place (only one place it would connect to on the card) and the signal bumped up a bit, but nothing compared to a laptop signal that i am reciving.
I've put the case about 5ft from the netgear router and it's now showing 3 bars for signal strength, what's worse it that i am using a 6db gain aerial on my netgear router, should the mac should have full strength, but by going into the internet connection tool, the strength is about 75%!
What gives?
Am i doing something wrong or is this mac just poorly designed?
thanks
dj
I've put the case about 5ft from the netgear router and it's now showing 3 bars for signal strength, what's worse it that i am using a 6db gain aerial on my netgear router, should the mac should have full strength, but by going into the internet connection tool, the strength is about 75%!
What gives?
Am i doing something wrong or is this mac just poorly designed?
thanks
dj
Other antenna is for bluetooth. There's an external aerial that comes with the G5, sounds like you don't have one.
Mail me your address and I'll post you one (providing I can find it).
ETA: See this http://docs.info.apple.com/article.ht
looks like
Mail me your address and I'll post you one (providing I can find it).
ETA: See this http://docs.info.apple.com/article.ht
looks like
Edited by magic torch on Friday 16th February 20:35
magic torch said:
Other antenna is for bluetooth. There's an external aerial that comes with the G5, sounds like you don't have one.
Mail me your address and I'll post you one (providing I can find it).
Are you sure?
I will have another dig around, what does it look like?
do you have a link to a picture of it?
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