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Classic install

I've just got hold of a G4 Mini in order to run Classic in Tiger. It came with Leopard installed and the original install discs which I intended to use to install it all from scratch. But when it tries to boot from the Install disc it crashes with a Panic almost as soon as it starts loading up from the CD. In all the crap that gets written all over the screen it looks like it's complaining about a driver missing, which is odd as they are the original install discs and can be inserted and mounted in the Finder without problem (and on other Macs) - it just won't boot from the Install disc.

I then installed Tiger from a generic 10.4 DVD and it all went perfectly, but of course no Classic. So I'm now trying to install that but can find no way to do so. In theory it ought to installable from the original discs, but when I run 'Install Bundled Software only" from that disc, it tells me it cannot install and I should check the spec of the machine. Well it's a G4 Mini and that's what the disc is for, so what is the problem here?

In the manual that comes with the machine, it says to install Classic, "insert the Install Disc 2 and run the Classic install program" (can't remember the exact name), but when I open Install Disc 2, there's no such program, just a single app that tells you to install everything from Install Disc 1. Great. So I had a look using Terminal and there is a hidden Packages folder. Aha I thought, it'll be in there. Nope. It's just iMove. iDVD, GarageBand etc.

On here I have read that Classic should be installed from a third install disc which doesn't seem to exist for this machine and the only Apple docs I can find say to use the Software restore discs, which of course this Mac never had.

So, I have 2 problems here.

1. How can I install Classic from my installer discs? Where is it? I have searched both discs and cannot find ANY reference to Classic. Is it possible some Minis were shipped without Classic on their install discs?

2. From where else can I obtain an installable Classic? Haven't Apple ever provided a downloadable Classic installer, 'cos I can't find it?

BTW, mine is a 1.5 GHz G4 Mini, the very last and fastest of the G4s, in fact a silent update from the 1.42 that even Apple don't mention in their Tech Specs.

MacPro, MacBook Pro, XServe, iPhone 3G, Mac OS X (10.6), 30" HD display,

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 11:02 AM

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8 replies

Nov 12, 2009 3:58 AM in response to UKenGB

Early Mini's were supplied with Classic along with OS X, up until somewhere around 10.3 being released, after 10.4 I think they stopped providing it. So it's likely you've got the manual from an earlier computer as 10.4 was already out when the 1.5 Ghz Mini's came out, in other words, it never came with it to start with, but someone subsequently installed it, also, Classic isn't supported on Leopard so you would have to continue using Tiger.

If you particularly want Classic, you could probably just go and buy a Copy of OS 9 pretty cheaply off eBay or try and obtain an early Mac Mini install disc bundle, again eBay would probably be the easiest place to get hold of them.

Nov 12, 2009 4:39 AM in response to jamesholden

According to Apple's Tech Specs, the Mini G4 was supplied with 10.4, i.e. Tiger and that is what my User's Guide states and that is what is on the install disc. But the manual also states that Classic install can be done from Install Disc 2, which is impossible since there is no such installer (or ANY installer in fact) and the (hidden) packages folder does not contain anything to do with Classic.

I have OS9 CDs, but I've not found a way to install from there since a Mini will not boot into OS9 in order to install from the CD and in any case, there's more to Classic than just the OS itself. There's the Classic Pref Pane for example, but I'll bet there kernel extensions etc as well.

I also have Pacifist, but I'm not sure which package to look in as none of them give any indication of containing Classic. I'll have a search around now and see what I can find.

Other advice more than welcome.

Nov 12, 2009 9:20 AM in response to Boece

Boece wrote:
I suspect the "original install discs" that came with your second-hand Mini, are not in fact the discs that originally shipped with the Mini when it was new.


Except the ones that came with my Mini are definitely Apple discs and they are printed "Mac Mini".

I'm wondering if this last version of the G4 Mini actually shipped WITHOUT Classic on the Install discs?

I think Pacifist is going to be your only option.


The problem being there are no packages that look like they contain Classic/OS9 and I've looked.

Nov 12, 2009 9:28 AM in response to UKenGB

OK, sorted.

I had a look at a PowerBook G4 install disc and hidden in .images are various .dmg files, including OS9General.dmg which looked promising. In fact it is the System Folder, Applications (OS9), Desktop and Trash folders for a Classic install. Copied these to the Mini, tried to run a Classic app and Classic fired up. So it all works and I have what I need.

But I am still puzzled by the install disc problem. Firstly it causes a panic when booting and secondly, I don't think it actually has Classic on there. Only someone else with the same model can confirm either way.

Anyone?

Classic install

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