How do I format / install Mac OS X on an IDE HD in a Power Mac G4?

Question

I purchased what appears to be a Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) computer at a government surplus sale. There was no keyboard, no mouse, no software, no hard drive and no monitor. Someone at some point installed a PCI ATI Video card with a VGA and DVI-like output. Since there wasn't a monitor and since I couldn't tell whether the computer worked I offered $10 for the computer. The surplus staff were more than happy to sell it to me at that price.
The interior of the desktop appears to be "intact". Much to my (pleasant) surprise the computer powered up although a Folder with a question mark appeared and alternated between a question mark and Mac-Computer face. I powered down the computer, installed an 80GB IDE IBM Desktar Hard Drive, inserted the boot disk for a Mac OS X G4 Laptop and rebooted the computer. I didn't actually expect the computer to boot but I thought I make an attempt anyway.
So my question is ... what do I need to do to format the hard drive I put in this G4 Desktop computer and then install Mac OS X?
I'm thinking I'll need to get a Mac keyboard and a Mac Mouse as well or will straight-up USB mice and keyboards work?
Thanks for any assistance.

Answer 1

On the Apple site the two cheapest Apple Keyboards are $49 for the extended 10 key and for the keyboard without the 10 key (what's up with that??)
The extended keyboard is nice, but you need to have OS X 10.4.1 or later installed and have the keyboard software update installed before you can use it.
The "short" keyboard is a USB version of the wireless, which is also sans 10 key. Apparently there is a demand, but I don't care for it.
The short board requires Leopard 10.5.6+.
A white or black Pro keyboard is a good board, usually from $10.
How does the PowerMac G4 BIOS recognize the connected hardware?
By virtue of the firmware in the ROM of the connected device.
All devices must have Mac specific ROM, or, in the case of an optical drive, be from the same era (or earlier) as the OS.
OS X, unlike Windows, is loaded with drivers. If a device is Mac compatible, and compatible with the OS version, it will be plug and play.
Also, there is a lot of "generic" device support built in.
In the case of late model optical drives in OS X, with Tiger previous to 10.4.11, using Patchburn utility will provide profiles for OS X to fully utilize the burn capabilities of late model drives.
DVD-ROM functions should require no additional effort/patches/modification.
most or all of this hardware is not or does not appear to be manufactured by Apple.
As with most manufacturers, components are third party.
A big difference is the ROM and drivers.
ROM is Mac specific, and in the majority of cases, only Mac ROM containing devices are compatible.
Drivers are very tightly controlled by Apple, and typically, unlike Windows machines, manufacturer firmware updates often times cannot be applied, or require hacks to perform.
Generally speaking, if Apple hasn't issued a firmware update for a device, there may not be one.
Of course, there are exceptions to this "rule of thumb" for aftermarket third party devices.
Once I have an Apple Keyboard, how do I access the "BIOS" on the PowerMac?
Unlike a Windows machine, this is not a necessary measure to use the Unix based OS X.
The only thing close to BIOS is Open Firmware.
Accessing OF is typically unnecessary.
Since it appears that the PowerMac recognizes the CD-DVD player should I still get the OS X CD's or am I okay with getting the OS X DVD's?
I'd get DVD, unless the CD set is a real buy.
I have some extra SDRAM I can scavenge if it's the right kind of SDRAM.
Biggest issue, besides SPD in the EEPROM is density. Macs need low density RAM, and will usually not recognize high density RAM.
Firmware parameters are strict, and OS parameters for RAM tighten with each later version. RAM must be of the proper specification, or it will be incompatible.
There is no user controlled timing adjustment, etc. done in a BIOS. It is all set "in stone" and a user is always best to use only RAM that is "Guaranteed Mac Compatible".