Install OS 9 with OS x 10.4.11

The only thing I can think of is that when you installed OS X on your G3 you reformatted the drive and did not opt to install the OS 9 drivers. I believe you now might need to do that. When you boot from the OS 9.x disk there is a Disk Utility on the disk. It's been a long while so I may not be remembering this correctly but see if you can just install the driver without reformatting the entire drive again.

tomacandback:

I concur with sig in that you did not install OS 9 drivers on your HDD when you formatted.

There are a couple of ways to do this:
A. Whichever way you choose, backup your computer, preferably clone to an external HDD.
B. Method i: Tiger from OS 9

1. Boot from your OS 9 install CD holding down C key.
2. Go to Drive Setup and reformat your drive as Mac OS Extended (HFS+)
2. Reinstall OS 9
3. Update to 9.2.2: Mac OS 9: Available Updates
4. Upgrade your firmware
5. Boot from the 10.4.x install disk
6. Go to Utilities Menu and open Disk Utility
7. Go to File menu and Repair OS 9 Permissions
8. Install Mac OS X 10.4.x
9. Restart and Repair permissions (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility)!
10. Download and apply Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo update (PPC)
11. Restart and Repair permissions!
12. Run Software Update and apply all updates available.

B. Method ii. Formatting, Partitioning Zeroing a Hard Disk Drive in OS X
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.

Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
Go to the Utilities menu (Tiger) Installer menu (Panther & earlier) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create a single partition volume.)
Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volume diagram.
Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Check box to Install OS 9 Drivers.
Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
Select Erase tab
Select the sub-volume (indented) under Manufacturer ID (usually Macintosh HD).
Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
Click Erase button
Quit Disk Utility.
Open installer and begin installation process.
Install OS X and update.
Install OS 9 and update as directed earlier.

Please do post back with further questions and comments.

Cheers 🙂

cornelius

I have a similar problem, but it's future tense, so I don't mean to derail this thread, but hope I get some answers.

I am soon upgrading my operating system from 10.3.9 (panther) to 10.4 (tiger) and am concerned that I might not be able to run in "classic" mode any longer. Unlike many at Apple would expect, I can't afford to upgrade my computer every 2 months and am trying to keep up but want to keep my classic Adobe software array running as long as possible before the expensive upgrade that I know is inevitable.

Will Classic Mode still work in 10.4 Tiger? Are there any safety steps I should take to ensure this?

Thanks for any help you can offer out there....

itsallart:

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Will Classic Mode still work in 10.4 Tiger? Are there any safety steps I should take to ensure this?
If you have OS 9 installed on your computer you can safely install Tiger (OS X 10.4x) and still have OS 9 and Classic Environment available.
However,
1. when you install Tiger I suggest that you make a backup/clone of your entire computer. You probably do that routinely, anyway, but it is especially important before any major procedure like installation.
2. Do not choose the Erase and Install option. Archive and Install or Upgrade will be your best alternatives. (See About installation options)

Questions? Please post back.

Cheers 🙂

cornelius

Now the question is this: In order to install 10.4 (which comes on DVD only) I have to install a DVD drive. Will the DVD drive work with the amount of RAM I have currently? I have 256 meg of SDRAM.

Thanks for the help!

itsallart:

I have to install a DVD drive.
The article Installing Tiger without a DVD drive describes options available for installing Tiger on DVD without a DVD drive. Note, however, that the Apple Media Exchange Program is no longer available.

Tiger can be purchased at The Apple Store. You can also find the Full Retail Version, if you shop carefully, at online outlets like FastMac, HardcoreMac, AllMac, etc.

Will the DVD drive work with the amount of RAM I have currently? I have 256 meg of SDRAM.
Although 256 MB of RAM will meet the minimum system requirements for Tiger, it will just barely do so. I am not sure what G4 computer you have, but I recommend that you boost your RAM to at least 512 MB or 1 GB. You will like how Tiger works a lot better.

Cornelius:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You've really helped. And thanks for the great links, I had no idea about those stores.

Now, the only question left is: how do I install a Mac-smart brain like your's into my Mac-stupid head?

My least expensive option: I'm going to opt to have a mac-reseller install the DVD drive and he's going to include loading 10.4 onto my harddrive for the service fee, since it's older software (he doesn't mind the sales loss and he's a friend). I'm also going to see if he sells memory and have it put on as well (512MB PC-133 DIMM for Apple PowerMac G4 w/133MHz FSB) while he's at it or buy it myself and do so later, as I've found it here:

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/store/productdetails.aspx?product_id=2680

This will get me through the next year or so before I shell out the big bucks for a completely new system with all new adobe suite, etc... Gee, I can't wait to do that. :-/ Just didn't want to upgrade too much on this one when it's basically throw-away in a year or so.


Thanks again!

itsallart:

how do I install a Mac-smart brain like your's into my Mac-stupid head?
The same way I did. Spend some time in Apple Discussions learning from other folk who have more experience and expertise. Before long you will know a great deal about Mac computers and Mac OS. Really. That is how I learned most of my Mac knowledge.

Keep us posted on how things go for you.

Cheers 🙂

cornelius

I'm a newbie with my first Mac G4 tower I got for $50. Thanks for you posts. The unit had Linux on it and it wasn't a simple "boot from CD to install" procedure. I'm a PC guy who has all the answers to PC's - it's nice to be on the receiving end when I feel stupid. Looking forward to learning the world of Mac:)

02befree:

Welcome to Apple Discussions, and congratulations on your first Mac. I am glad that you were able to get the assistance you needed to get you on the road. Please be sure to come to the forums to browse, or with questions. Just click the link to post a new topic on the top left of the list of topics page and ask your question. There are a lot of very knowledgeable and helpful folk around here.

Good luck.

cornelius