kmosx: Before installing Mac OS X 10.2 or later, check firmware
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1395 explains which Macs may have difficulty upgrading to 10.2 or later without the proper firmware installed first. This is part of a series of tips for updating PowerPC Macs to Mac OS X 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5. Newer OSes are mentioned on the Tiger tip, as Tiger is the first OS that can upgrade past Leopard.
I have not written a tip on Puma Mac OS X 10.1 or 10.0, however, if you have reasons to keep those systems, this thread is an excellent place to check for resources:Can't download updates on Mac OS X Puma (10.1)
This is part of a series of tips from 10.2 through 10.11 (10.6 through 10.11 not mentioned above links as 10.5.8 is the end of the line for all Macs with 10.2 that support up to 10.5.8), which all refer to Mac OS X Client. The server version of Mac OS X may have different requirements in which the Server forum is better able to answer.How to find the download links for these firmware updates are mentioned on this tip.Beige G3 PowerMacs maxed at Mac OS X 10.2.8Powerbook G3 233-300 Mhz that were not of the Kanga model also maxed at Mac OS X 10.2.8iMacs and iBooks, Powerbooks without Firewire but with USB maxed at Mac OS X 10.3.9 (except some Powerbooks which had a problematic CPU).Firewire based iMacs G3s, iBooks, Powerbooks with Firewire, G4s with less than 867 Mhz on a single processor, Blue and White G3s Maxed at Mac OS X 10.4.11.Starting with Mac OS X 10.5, you had no Classic support, but this article explains which Macs could dual boot Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X 10.5:http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1757All PowerPC 867 Mhz and above on a single processor could run up to Mac OS X 10.5.8, and sync with iOS 5.1.1 and earlier. The Intel CPU was required to run a newer Mac OS X. Note: Mac OS X versions beta, 10.0.0, 10.0.1, 10.0.2, 10.0.3, 10.0.4, 10.1, 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.3, 10.1.4, and 10.1.5 are not covered by my series of tips. Very few Mac OS X titles were only developed for these operating systems. All Macs that support Mac OS X, support a minimum of 10.2 as long as the firmware is updated, except those Macs that are newer than its release on August 24, 2002. Retail releases of December 19, 2002 of 10.2.3, also supported Macs that were older. Retail discs of 10.2 and 10.2.3 had this label, and did not say Upgrade or Dropin or OEM on them. System specific discs for 10.2 were required for newer Macs that needed to run 10.2, that were older than 10.3's release of October 24, 2003. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2191 to determine which Mac OS 9 can be installed first, and then install the retail version newer than what shipped with the Mac. Use the guides below to compare with the HT2191 to accurately determine which 9 may be needed. Note: Mac OS 9 retail shipped in the sequence of versions 9.0, 9.0.4, 9.1, 9.2.1, and has an orange 9 logo on a white CD, not saying Update, Dropin, or OEM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1362 - how to identify your iMac
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3065 - how to identify your Powerbook G4
- note the only Powerbook G3 that needed a firmware update has a firewire port, which looks like this on the rear panel:
, and as you can see all shipped with 9.0.2, meaning either 9.0.4, 9.1, or 9.2.1 retail will work with them.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1772 - how to identify your iBook
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3082 and http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25585 - how to identify your PowerMac G4
Sometimes 'C' key booting will fail with these 9 CDs, and instead the startup manager described in this article lets you boot the 9 CD.However, instead of selecting the hardware test, you select the 9 CD icon that shows up. Lastly if a Mac was formerly formatted for Mac OS X, it may not be able to have 9 bootable installed without first erasing and reformatting the Mac, following these instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/TA26834
Naturally you must backup your data first before erasing the machine, if you have any hope of recovery. Once you have upgraded the firmware, see if your Mac is compatible with 10.3 or later, as this tip gives you your possible upgrade paths: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2139