Can OS 10.1.4 be "downgraded" to OS 9?

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Can OS 10.1.4 be "downgraded" to OS 9?

I'm pretty new to the world of Mac operating systems, and recently purchased a used PowerMac G4 that has OS X 10.1.4 installed. In order for me to run some specific software, the Mac requires operating systems such as 9.0, 9.0.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.2.1, or 9.2.2 which are obviously not installed. Is it possible to downgrade the operating system as such? If I find installation discs for sale (such as Software Install 9.0.4 or Software Restore 9.0.4 or a 9.2.1 update CD), can I use any of them, or do I have to start at 9.0.0 and work my way up with upgrades? Once this is accomplished (if possible), will the original OS 10.1.4 be gone forever, or is it salvagable? The Mac unfortunately did not come with any OS discs whatsoever.

PowerMac G4, Mac OS X (10.1.x)

Posted on Feb 6, 2008 8:47 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Feb 6, 2008 11:22 AM in response to cjgump

Depends on exactly which G4 your talking about. All G4s can run Classic, but not all can boot into OS9...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25517

You need to find your exact G4 model, some can only use the original OS9 discs that came with it, some can use the OS9 Retail.

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Answer 2

Feb 6, 2008 11:35 AM in response to cjgump

cjgump, welcome to Apple Discussions & the Mac community.

Look at these links to determine which G4 you have.

Power Mac G4: How to Differentiate Between Models
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58418

Power Mac G4: How to Differentiate Between Models (Part 2)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42739

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Feb 6, 2008 11:40 AM in response to cjgump

Also, which ones boot only OSX...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86209

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Answer 4

cjgump Author

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Feb 6, 2008 12:56 PM in response to cjgump

Thanks for the responses thusfar. I know the model number is M5183, which I could not find on the "How to differentiate between models" list. Its sound ports are aligned vertically, which would lead me to believe that it has AGP Graphics. It has an ATI Rage 128 graphics card, and 448MB SDRAM, with a 500MHz microprocessor. It also has a 20gig hard drive, a DVD-RAM combo drive, and a ZIP 100 drive. It seems to have the OS 9 Classic click through, yet it does not find anything to launch 9, and I can't seem to install the software that operates using 9...probably due to the absence of OS 9. I don't know if this sheds any more light on the subject. My guess is that I'll invest in a software install and software restore (9.0.4) disc set and see if that takes. If anyone has any further info to share, I'd appreciate it.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

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Feb 6, 2008 1:13 PM in response to cjgump

Yep, you have the last AGP/Sawtooth made.

http://eshop.macsales.com/Descriptions/specs/Framework.cfm?page=g4agp.html&title =Power%20Macintosh%20G4%20AGP

And it will work with the Retail 9.0.4 Disc.

Have you gone to System Preferences>Classic, and see if anything shows up to use as OS9 System Folder?

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Answer 6

Feb 6, 2008 3:31 PM in response to cjgump

Hi, cjgump -

My guess is that I'll invest in a software install and software restore (9.0.4) disc set....

Such disk sets are model-specific; it may be difficult to find one such specific to your G4 (AGP) model.

You would probably do better to look for a retail (white label, gold 9) OS 9.x Install CD. Those are much easier to find; the retail disks have a universal installer, and are able to install that OS version on any machine supported by Apple for it. For several reasons, the optimum ones would be for OS 9.1 or OS 9.2.1.

You can get either of those from sites like -
http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/index.html

You can also get the retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD direct from Apple, but only by phone.

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Answer 7

cjgump Author

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Feb 11, 2008 5:53 AM in response to Don Archibald

If I purchase say a 9.1 OS retail disc, and install it, will it wipe out my current OS 10.1.4? Or, will it have both operating systems available?

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Answer 8

Feb 11, 2008 6:44 AM in response to cjgump

Hi, cjgump -

Installing OS 9.1 (or 9.2.1) will not wipe out OSX. The two OS's are designed to cohabit the same volume - neither can replace the other via installer action.

When installing OS 9 (any version) onto a drive which already has OSX on it, OSX has an internal folder which can confuse the OS 9 installer. The OS 9 installer can mistake that folder as being an existing OS 9 install, but one of unknown version - the result is that the OS 9 installer will refuse to install.

The solution for that is to do a Clean Install of OS 9. In the context of OS 9, a Clean Install removes nothing - the action installs a brand new, 'clean' OS 9 System Folder, a fresh set of standard OS 9 utilities, and little else. By doing a Clean Install, the OS 9 installer will ignore that OSX folder.
Article #58176 - Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: Performing a Clean Installation

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