QEMU doesn't boot into Mac OS at all after giving weird error message

About Qemu-system-ppc, a PPC Mac emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux that can run Mac OS 9.0 up to Mac OS X 10.5

Moderators: Cat_7, Ronald P. Regensburg

Post Reply
User avatar
CorporalPig22
Inquisitive Elf
Posts: 39
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:37 am

QEMU doesn't boot into Mac OS at all after giving weird error message

Post by CorporalPig22 »

Hi,
So I'm trying to install Mac OS 9 in QEMU, but whenever I load the emulator, this shows up:

Code: Select all

Welcome to OpenBIOS v1.1 built on Dec 9 2021 08:00
Trying cd:,\\:tbxi...
MacOS: unable to find a usable NVRAM partition - using offset 0x1400
call-method get-key-map exception -21
and refuses to boot. I have my qemu.bat file set up like this:

Code: Select all

qemu-system-ppc-screamer-60hz-fpu.exe ^
-L pc-bios ^
-cpu "g4" ^
-M mac99,via=pmu ^
-m 512 ^
-hda macos9.img ^
-cdrom macos9.iso ^
-boot d ^
-g 800x600x32 ^
-device usb-kbd ^
-device usb-mouse
I'm using the current screamer build for Windows. Am I doing something wrong?
User avatar
adespoton
Forum All-Star
Posts: 4227
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:11 am
Location: Emaculation.com
Contact:

Re: QEMU doesn't boot into Mac OS at all after giving weird error message

Post by adespoton »

I'd guess based on all that that your macos9.iso file is damaged in some way, or is not one that can boot in QEMU.

QEMU can boot from the universal Mac OS 9.1 CD, the universal Mac OS 9.2 CD, and pretty much any 9.2.1 or 9.2.2 CD. The only 9.0 CD it can boot from is the G4 Cube 9.0.4 install CD.
User avatar
Cat_7
Expert User
Posts: 6145
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:59 am
Location: Sittard, The Netherlands

Re: QEMU doesn't boot into Mac OS at all after giving weird error message

Post by Cat_7 »

Hi,

There is some redundancy in your command line for running Mac OS 9.2:

qemu-system-ppc-screamer-60hz-fpu.exe ^
-L pc-bios ^
-cpu "g4" ^ =====> This is default for the mac99 machine, so can be omitted
-M mac99,via=pmu ^
-m 512 ^
-hda macos9.img ^
-cdrom macos9.iso ^
-boot d ^
-g 800x600x32 ^
-device usb-kbd ^ ====> this is implied when using ,via=pmu so can be omitted
-device usb-mouse ====> this is implied when using ,via=pmu so can be omitted

However, when emulating 9.0.4 or 9.1 with sound, best to use -M mac99 without the ,via=pmu and with -cpu G3.
Qemu running 9.0.4 does not handle two usb devices. 9.0.4 requires Mac OS ROM version 5.6 or above. As said The Cube installer contains version 5.6

Best,
Cat_7
Post Reply