Upgrading Mac os 9 to Mac os X
Does anyone know what I need to do to upgrade a mac os 9 to mac os x. I was told something about firmware. I have the mac os x software but it wont install.
imac, Mac OS 9.0.x
Hi, dangswang -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
Very, especially with regard to installing the original OS version(s). An original disk set from a later model, for OS 9 or OSX, will also not be usable.
Your 450MHz iMac is designated as an iMac (Summer 2000) model.
That machine should run OSX 10.2 comfortably, probably OSX 10.3 with little lagging. OSX 10.4 might be somewhat sluggish on that machine because of the CPU speed.
Since that model did not originally come with any version of OSX, there are no original disks for it that will install any version of OSX. You will need to get a retail OSX disk set in the version you want (10.2, 10.3, etc.) and install using that.
As far as OS 9 and Classic go, that machine originally came with a model-specific version of OS 9.0.4; it can probably not use a retail OS 9.0.4 Install CD, nor use any original Software Install CD from a different model, even from a different model iMac.
In order to use OS 9 as Classic it must be at least OS 9.1; OS 9.2.x provides better compatibility as Classic.
That model can use a retail OS 9.1 or a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD. If you need OS 9 either as a boot OS or for use as Classic, I would suggest getting the retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD for a couple of reasons -
• using that version will eliminate the need for one large (about 83MB) download updater needed to bring OS 9.1 up to OS 9.2.1.
• you can still get the retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD for a reasonable price from Apple, via a purchase by telephone through Apple's Customer Service (not from the Apple Store).
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
...wondering just how model-specific the disks have to be?
Very, especially with regard to installing the original OS version(s). An original disk set from a later model, for OS 9 or OSX, will also not be usable.
Your 450MHz iMac is designated as an iMac (Summer 2000) model.
That machine should run OSX 10.2 comfortably, probably OSX 10.3 with little lagging. OSX 10.4 might be somewhat sluggish on that machine because of the CPU speed.
Since that model did not originally come with any version of OSX, there are no original disks for it that will install any version of OSX. You will need to get a retail OSX disk set in the version you want (10.2, 10.3, etc.) and install using that.
As far as OS 9 and Classic go, that machine originally came with a model-specific version of OS 9.0.4; it can probably not use a retail OS 9.0.4 Install CD, nor use any original Software Install CD from a different model, even from a different model iMac.
In order to use OS 9 as Classic it must be at least OS 9.1; OS 9.2.x provides better compatibility as Classic.
That model can use a retail OS 9.1 or a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD. If you need OS 9 either as a boot OS or for use as Classic, I would suggest getting the retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD for a couple of reasons -
• using that version will eliminate the need for one large (about 83MB) download updater needed to bring OS 9.1 up to OS 9.2.1.
• you can still get the retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD for a reasonable price from Apple, via a purchase by telephone through Apple's Customer Service (not from the Apple Store).