Toolbox executes a memory test, enumerates Mac OS devices it knows about (this varies from model to model), and either starts the on-board video (if present) or the option ROM on a NuBus or PCI video card.

On all Old World ROM machines, once Toolbox is loaded, the boot procedure is the same. Once Toolbox is running, PPC machines can boot into Mac OS directly. The Open Firmware environment can be entered by holding the key combination ⌘ Cmd+ ⌥ Option+ O+ F while booting.Īll Power Macs emulate a 68LC040 CPU inside a nanokernel this emulator is then used to boot the predominantly 68k-based Toolbox, and is also used to support applications written for the 68k processor. This can be changed, just as on New World ROM Macs, but with limitations placed on what devices and formats can be used on these machines, particularly the early machines like the Power Macintosh 9500, the Open Firmware implementation was just enough to enumerate PCI devices and load the Toolbox ROM, and these Open Firmware revisions have several bugs which must be worked around by boot loaders or nvramrc patches. These machines are set to boot from this device by default, thus starting the normal Macintosh startup procedure. PCI Power Macs with an Old World ROM contain an Open Firmware implementation, and a copy of the Macintosh Toolbox as an Open Firmware device. In common use, the 'Old World' designation usually applies to the early generations of PCI-based 'beige' Power Macs (and sometimes the first NuBus-equipped models), but not the older Motorola 68000-based Macs however, the Toolbox runs the same way on all three types of machines. In particular, the Beige Power Mac G3 and all other beige and platinum-colored Power Macs are Old World ROM machines. All Macs prior to the iMac, the iBook, the Blue and White Power Mac G3 and the Bronze Keyboard (Lombard) PowerBook G3 use Old World ROM, while said models, as well as all subsequent models until the introduction of the Intel-based EFI Models, are New World ROM machines.

Old World ROM computers are the Macintosh (Mac) models that use a Macintosh Toolbox read-only memory (ROM) chip, usually in a socket (but soldered to the motherboard in some models). Showing all three icons of the OldWorld ROM (from left to right: Missing OS, Happy Mac (Found OS), and Sad Mac (Macintosh 128k/Plus) logos)

Apple macintosh roms