How to Perform a Clean Install of Panther 10.3

Hi Ali. I have the full retail version, exactly the same discs. This way of installing is insane. I ought to just be able to erase/install Panther on my existing Jaguar installation. This along with the Mac Pro mouse (I am using a usb Logitech "click" PC mouse, can scroll, right click etc) are the lousiest parts of my Mac experience. Thanks, Ken.

Cornelius, I got the prompt to update the firmware, then Panther won't let me go any further. So I will have to go through the hoops. Once I erase and clean install OS 9.0.4, where is the update access located in OS 9, is it sort of like updating in OSX. I gather that I only have to update to 9.1 not 9.2.2, then I can install the 4.1.9 firmware (can I get the 4.1.9 firmware from the same source as the 9.1 update?). I know I will not have any use for OS 9. Once I install Panther, I never want to see OS 9 again. I can connect to my ISP with Jaguar but to use iMail, my ISP requires Panther. The initial use of my iMac will be as a backup to my P3 600 PC running Win98SE in case something mechanical happens to it (not worth fixing) or I can no longer run some of the software I want. I am not anxious to buy another machine, then have to run either XP or Vista. At that point I will have to see if I want to change to Mac permanently, in which case I will be on the lookout for a PPC G5. In the meantime I can play extensively with this iMac, see if its for me. I am also exploring Linux. I am not of the computer generation, self taught, trial + error, so learning this computer stuff is an intellectual challenge, keeps my brain functioning at a fairly high level. I appreciate this forum, I know I am not alone. Thanks again, Ken.

Thanks Cornelius, but my question is, once I install OS 9, can I get these updates (including the firmware) from some link within OS 9, which will then automatically install them like updating in Jaguar or do I have to get them, put them on a usb key, then transfer them to the OS 9 desktop, then install them from there? Ken.

Thanks Cornelius, that's exactly the info I require, I put the 9.1 update + the firmware 4.1.9 on a usb flash. I won't be able to get to this until next week, will report when successful. Thanks again for all your help, Ken.

Cornelius + others. Happy to report a successful but somewhat "nightmarish" (took 5 hours) install of Panther 10.3. I installed OS 9.0.4 as what I thought was a clean install but somehow all my Jaguar stuff was still there. OS 9 was not going to let me eject the installation cd, so I took a pin to get it out. Now with access to the OS 9 desktop, I set about to install 9.1 then the 4.1.9 firmware. OS 9 was not seeing my flash drive with the updates on it so I got online with my dsl modem using Internet Explorer, got the updates that way, installed them from my desktop, even the firmware went perfectly. Then I began the Panther 10.3 "erase + install" process with disk #1, which went great for the first 40 per cent, then without notice, the installer ejected disk #1 without explanation or further instruction so I began the Panther install again. This time the disk #1 install went perfectly, asking me to install disk #2, but ejecting same disk immediately. I just stuck it in again, this time it works perfectly. Disc #3 went perfectly (my custom install was BSD, the iApps, X11), then came about 17 updates, I was set to go. Now I am installing Firefox with about 20 great extensions + my Logitech Click usb mouse which is far superior to the Mac Pro Mouse which came with the computer, then some other software, system configuring. Well worth the effort, am very happy with the result. Thanks again for all your help, without which I might still be using Jaguar.