Will OS 9.2.1 and iMac (Flat Panel) 17' 800mHz run natively or Classic?

Hi, Fastdude -

For booting purposes, only the OS 9.2.2 version that originally came with your 17" 800MHz iMac is usable. Getting a replacement original disk can be difficult. You may be able to get one from Apple's Customer Support -
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/phone_contacts.html

For Classic purposes, you can use OS 9.2.1. The problem with that is that you will not be able to use any OS 9.2.1 Install CD to install it - the installers on all stand-alone OS 9 install CDs will work only when the machine is booted to OS 9; they are not usable when the machine is booted to OSX. The solution is to copy a working (bootable) OS 9.2.1 System Folder from another Mac. Note that you do not need to use a cloning utility in order to copy an OS 9 System Folder - a simple drag-and-drop copy process is sufficient.

There are two iMac 800MHz models. One can boot using OS 9.x, run classic, & boot using OS X. The other can only operate using OS X. Which do you have? See specs below.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac800_17fp.html
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac800_fpmacosx.html

As noted in the specs for the first iMac, it came with OS 9.2.2 preinstalled. Generally, a Mac can't operate on an OS lower than that originally installed. You can copy the OS 9.2.2 System Folder from another Mac & install the folder on your iMac so it can run in classic mode.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

With my iMac G4 17" 800MHz with superdrive, 80GB HDD, and 1024MB RAM,
I was able to install the OS 9.2.2 version not used as classic that shipped with
my iBook G4 on its second disc (never installed in iBook) via Pacifist. It can &
does boot the iMac G4 800MHz 17" computer. So, it has OS 9.2.2 (build 9.5)
and many things work in boot OS 9.2.2. It also works as Classic under 10.4.11.

In reference to the initial title question, an OS 9.2.1 system won't work, since
both it and the OS 9.2.2 update file are both older than the OS 9.2.2 system
these computers shipped with as a bootable/installed volume, in a restore disc.

{The Early 2003 version 15" iMac G4 800MHz model does not boot OS 9.2.2.
and shipped with that version as Classic; included on backup restore disc.}

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

You should remove the OS9 system from the computer.
It is a matter of dragging the System9 folder and Apps 9
folder to the Trash (in OS X) and restarting the Mac.

And if your model of computer is not capable of dual-boot
then the best you could hope for is to install (by one of a
few means) an OS 9.2.2 system + Applications 9 folders.
You do not need OS9 drivers for Classic to work in OS X.

Then, later on, you can drag a complete OS 9.2.2 system
and an Applications 9 folder into the computer; this can
be a copy from a different computer's software & if the
other computer is not working or in use, it may be OK.

{This system would have to be installed on a capable
computer in order to get a bootable copy. The most
likely way to use an official OS 9.2.2 disc, if not in
use by some other computer, and if the disc is from
a packet of software intended for one model, is to
use the option to the issue with that OS 9.2.2 install
disc, would be to get and use Pacifist to extricate &
install the OS 9.2.2 from the disc via the Desktop. If
it shipped with a specific computer model, it won't
install normally; but you can do it with Pacifist.}

The answer in that running computer, to boot OS 9, is
to get the correct OS 9.2.2 installer it shipped with, or
if a drag/drop installation, a complete OS 9.2.2 system
and OS9's Application folders. For dual-boot in supported
Macs, the OS9 Drivers need to be installed. If the hard
disk drive was formatted incorrectly, OS9 drivers may not
work or be available from an OS X 10.4 installer setup.

If you have a way to install an OS 9.2.2 system to another
hard disk drive (perhaps a friends computer) you could
probably use a USB flash drive to drag/drop copy a working
OS 9.2.2 system & Applications 9 folder into a capable Mac.

So, the best trial way to see if the disc you have can be
used, would be to try Pacifist. The Installer on the disc
probably won't allow the system there to go into that Mac.
However, the drive needs OS9 Drivers before it could boot
if the computer it is going into, is supposed to boot OS9.2.2.

Check the specs on your computer, to see if it supports
dual booting; and what system(s) it shipped with.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

{ edited }

Fastdude,
I am going through the same problem as you. I bought the G4 17" 800mhz without the install disks in order to run OS 9 natively. All the vendors are selling disks and advertising them as compatible when they are not. You are very lucky in finding the correct one (build 9.5). Would you kindly tell me the disk number and the store you got it from? I would very much like to see if they have another copy.