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Problem with Classic

I'm running OS 10.4.11 on a G4 iBook.

Have also loaded OS 9.2 and the two updaters 9.2.1 and 9.2.2. I see each of these on my desktop. The
OS 9.2 folder appears complete.

PROBLEMS INCLUDE:

When I go to an app that requires Classic, Classic begins to load, the progress bar shows just a bit of blue, and then it appears to hang. In this case I'm using OS 9.2.

When I try to upgrade to OS 9.2.1 Classic always starts, despite how I set the Classic preferences, and the updater app does not function.

Ditto behavior for updated 9.2.2, but I know I must first successfully update to 9.2.1.

The big problem is getting Classic to work correctly. What am I missing?

Thanks

Robert

G4 iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 27, 2009 11:48 AM

Reply
9 replies

Dec 27, 2009 12:19 PM in response to Robert Tanis

Is the Classic OS9 system from the iBook's original software packet
included with the computer when new? - Or, is that from some other
Mac, installed into the iBook by drag and drop?

Various parts in some versions of OS9.1 and later don't play well
as part of the Classic-run of OS 9. And if OS X can't upgrade the
Mac ROM and other Classic files first, that won't work.

Did you download the OS 9.2.2 update file from an Apple page or
a site, such as this? http://www.pure-mac.com/appud.html#macos922
Extensions may not be compatible with Classic; start without them.

Some issues can develop when not using the OS9 system for the
model year of the computer, and in the case of Classic, it may
need to be updated to be seen by the OS X system as Classic.

When you select Classic9 in the System Preferences, and have
it find a suitable system 9 folder for classic to run from, does it?

And, are the actual Classic (OS9) folders you are trying to run
on the desktop in OS X, or are they really in the hard disk drive
and an alias of them on the desktop? - Or are you talking about
the Classic startup window that appears briefly then goes away
on launch of Classic from the OS X System Preferences panel?

Which iBook G4 do you have, btw? The build year and model.
Several shipped with a special OS9.2.2 Classic version on the
second installer DVD that can be installed later, if at all. Mine
never did get installed in my iBook G4 (mid-2005 model.)

The correct version, with installer, does fit the circumstance better.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

{ edited }

Dec 27, 2009 12:46 PM in response to K Shaffer

The iBook was reloaded in April 2009 using original install discs. At that time I had no opportunity
to fix this problem and the iBook was idle for several months.

Downloaded both updaters from Apple (9.2.1 and 9.2.2). These updaters do not
work. Clicking them to launch causes Classic to startup and then hang. This appears to block the updater from working.

When I use Classic preferences it shows it will go into the OS 9 system folder. Opening the OS 9.2
folder shows it contains: Classic update log, Classic (icon), Classic Support and Classic Support UI.

Not a desktop alias as folder is 160 MB.

Unsure of iBook age. It has an upgraded HD (original 30 GB to 60 GB) and 640 MB RAM.

I had previously selected TURN OFF EXTENSIONS and that has shown up in the start-up screen as
Extensions Off.

Want to thank you both for your interest in solving this problem.

Dec 27, 2009 6:13 PM in response to Robert Tanis

So, that is the OS 9 System folder on the desktop?

If so, it should be in the hard disk drive; and the
companion Applications 9 folder, there also.

Does the computer you have support Dual Booting?
If the computer is an older iBook, some of them did.

OS 9 Drivers... need to be installed prior to any OS.

The iBooks which shipped with an OS9.2.2 system
may be unable to use the OS9.2.1 or older software
in an install or update mode in the computer. They
shipped with a newer OS 9.2.2 that was not retail.

Unless yours is a second version first model White G3
and then, it may have shipped with an OS 9.1 restore
disc on CD, along with an older OS X 10.0. These
would be upgraded while running from OS 9.1. If you
only have an OS 9.1 version, the upgrade downloads
may not work. (Somewhere, on disc, I have a tech disc
that will upgrade OS8.6 to 9.2.2; a rarity.)

The RAM amount you say yours has, indicates to me
and the data I've read about iBooks, that it is a G3
model, and there were several in a row using 640MB
RAM as a max, and they could dual-boot with their
original OS9.1 system and the supplied OS X. From
the booted 9.1, you can upgrade to 9.2.1 & 9.2.2.

This may involve a retail OS 9.2.1 install disc; if the
updaters don't work, or if you need a boot CD 9.2.

Did you get your OS 9.2.1 update from a reputable site
such as Apple support, or another OK one, such as:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/6214 ?

You will have to use an 'Identify by serial number' site
(such as I have posted) to tell more about the computer
so other databases can be used to know more about it.

And more about the software set included with it. The
OS9 version, if it can be used to boot the computer,
would require the hard disk drive to have OS9 Drivers.
Those would be installed on a bare, reformatted drive
before OS 9 or OS X were installed. With OS9 boot
restored (if that model supports it) then the OS9 can
be used to upgrade itself.

An external drive, set up as a boot volume, could be
used to update an OS 9 system. However, if the iBook
is a dual-boot computer, without OS9 Drives in it, the
computer won't boot OS9, & can only see it as classic.
That may slow your update to 9.2.2 if not prevent it.
(There is a way to update Classic, but not sure how.
My dual-boot and classic-only Macs have used just
OS 9.2.2.)

See Mactracker's iBook information, from their download
database, read it in another computer: http://mactracker.ca

Apple iBook Specs (all iBook tech specs)
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/index-ibook.html

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

{ edited }

Dec 28, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Robert Tanis

The computer is certainly a 12.1 inch G4 iBook. Made Fall, 2003; Model M9164LL/A.

Checked and there are no OS 9 Drivers.

There is for sure an OS 9 folder on the desktop.

640 MB of RAM is not the max, it is just what I have installed.

All updates came from the Apple site.

Since this iBook has no added files or apps I'm thinking that I
should try again to reinstall the OS using the original discs.

Any advice before I began?

Dec 29, 2009 6:23 AM in response to Robert Tanis

The only way to load Classic on a G4 iBook is from the G4 iBook original installer discs. Applying it from a different Mac OS 9 System folder and applying the updates to bring it to 9.2.2 will not work. The G4 iBook shipped with a special Classic installation program on its discs described by this article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61802

If you are missing the said discs, you'll have to locate them for your particular age iBook G4.

Or buy another Mac that has the original installer discs included that supported Mac OS 9 in some fashion:

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

Naturally, you won't be able to load 9 on the iBook, but you can use the iBook to store the files.

Dec 29, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Robert Tanis

By using information from MacTracker and Everymac.com you can find
out exactly what Mac OS X and OS9.2 versions were included in the
software packet shipped with the computer when new. The info is there.

That new of a computer would have had its own OS 9.2.2 installer on
the second disc in the packet. (The second software install disc; the
first disc has OS X and is bootable.) No OS9 drivers would be needed.

And no other patchwork OS 9.2 versions from previous antiquity would
be able to function in the computer as Classic, from an install/update.

However, if you had a fully working OS9.2.2 system & OS9 Applications
folders on an external drive, you could drag-drop these into another
Mac and then after a restart, (permissions repair for OS X, etc) and the
added Classic bits could be seen by OS X's System Preference> Classic
and then you'd try to launch Classic. The OS X would upgrade that OS9
system by adding correct files so it could be used as Classic. {Or, use the
OS9.2.2 on the external drive, as Classic. It would be slow, but the OS X
could see (and would modify for use as) an OS 9.2 as Classic. If you
have a FireWire externally enclosed hard disk drive, that'd be best...}

Of course, the OS 9.2.2 as Classic files installed by the iBook's software
set are limited compared to a full OS 9.2.2 as used by a Mac running 9.2
native. If you need OS9.2.2 and have specialized applications, get an older
Mac that can run up the OS 9.2.2 as a separate work station. They're cheap.
Note the G4 towers that could dual boot have system-specific software, too.

PS: My mid-2005 iBook G4 12" 1.33GHz mac shipped without Classic installed,
but it was on the second installer disc. MacTracker does not show this OS9.2.2
version in its specifications, but the disc is there, so is the special version. I did
install this Classic on a second iMac G4 that I had a curiosity about; so I know
I can use Pacifist to extract and install this OS9.2.2 Classic version. I was able
to boot a dual-boot iMac G4 800 from this extracted (limited) installed OS9.2.2.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

{ edited }

Problem with Classic

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