Want to install OS9 with an external CD drive

Question

Level 2

232 points

Want to install OS9 with an external CD drive

I have an eMac OSX10.4.11

They internal CD drive has died and I'm using an external drive connect by firewire.

I want to install OS9 but the computer doesn't recognise the external CD drive when I hold c and restart.

Any suggestions please

eMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Apr 4, 2010 3:10 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

411,223 points

Apr 4, 2010 3:13 PM in response to Stephen Kirk

What if you hold down the option key while starting up?

I seem to remember that just because a drive is Firewire it does not guarantee it is bootable. Chipsets can vary and most go for Oxford chipsets in FW devices because of full compatibility.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

239,225 points

Apr 4, 2010 3:24 PM in response to Stephen Kirk

Besides the great advice from Limnos so far...

Is your eMac capable of booting OS9? One of the 1GHz models couldn't, any after that couldn't, and the ones that could need the special Install Disc that came with them.

At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac.

Then click on More Info>Hardware and report this upto *but not including the Serial#*...

Hardware Overview:

Machine Name: Power Mac G5 Quad
Machine Model: PowerMac11,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 4
CPU Speed: 2.5 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
Memory: 10 GB
Bus Speed: 1.25 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.7f1

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Answer 3

Stephen Kirk Author

Level 2

232 points

Apr 4, 2010 4:09 PM in response to BDAqua

Tried starting with Option key
Tried CMD-OPT-SHIFT-DEL

Tried CD Drive using firewire and USB
Tried copying to external HD...but computer doesn't see the HD in System Startup

Hardware Overview:

Machine Name: eMac
Machine Model: PowerMac4,4
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (3.3)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 133 MHz

The main problem is that the eMac doesn't "see" the external devices on start-up...looks like I'll need to keep the old iMac for a while.

Thanks for help

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Answer 4

Stephen Kirk Author

Level 2

232 points

Apr 4, 2010 4:26 PM in response to Stephen Kirk

aarggghhh

This reminds me of the time many years ago when my father and I tried to assemble my twin sons' Christmas tricycles after a few drinks...didn't use the manual...at midnight we looked at the manual!!!

Used the original eMac System Install and Restore disk to restore Classic Support...naturally it worked!

Thanks for the help anyway, guys!

(I'm still smacking my forehead with my hand!)

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,225 points

Apr 4, 2010 4:36 PM in response to Stephen Kirk

LOL, good work Stephen, thanks for the report! 🙂

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