Documentation/GuestOperatingSystems/MacOS10.4

Mac OS 10.4 (PowerPC) in QEMU

Now that Apple has ended supporting PowerPC applications having Mac OS 10.4 around can be a life saver. With it you can continue to use your favorite PowerPC applications.

Suggested command-line:

 qemu-system-ppc -hda <HD image file> -boot c -netdev user,id=mynet0 -device rtl8139,netdev=mynet0
 -m 512 -device usb-kbd -device usb-mouse -M mac99 -localtime

To boot in verbose mode add this:

 -prom-env boot-args=-v

This makes sound work, but it doesn't work on Mac OS 10.4.11. It does work with Mac OS 10.4.3:

 -device ich9-usb-uhci1,id=newusb -device usb-audio,bus=newusb.0

Software:

TenFourFox

Notes:

To prevent the guest from freezing turn off all setting in the Energy Saver pane in System Preferences. Set the sleep and display sliders to Never. Uncheck the "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible" checkbox.

It is also suggested to turn off the screen saver. Open the the 'Desktop & Screen Saver' pane in System Preferences and slide the 'Start screen saver:' slider to Never.

Issues:

Sound currently doesn't work very well. It might have static to it like playing a vinyl record.

Pictures:

Links:

PowerPC software archive
Low End Mac article on Mac OS 10.4

Contact:

email me