Can't get OS9 to boot on iMac G4

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Can't get OS9 to boot on iMac G4

I just got this iMac g4 800mhz 17" off ebay (scary). It came with no restore disks. I didn't realize it would be such a problem to get OS9 up and running.

I had a copy of OS9 retail that I thought I could use to install, but that would not even be recognized and I could not boot using it. So what I did was copy over my System Folder (with os9 updated to 9.2.2 i think) from a working computer (beige g3). I'm trying to boot into OS9, but the computer just won't even try. It does work in OSX "classic" though. I tried blessing it from the terminal and did not get any errors, but still the computer will not even try booting it. The folder blinks question mark for just a moment and then boots into OS X.

I thought maybe I could boot from my PB G4's os 9 install disk, but if freezes during startup--progress bar gets about 1/5 and freezes before any extensions show. I don't know what to do. I bought this purely for running OS9 and I can't even get that going.

Any ideas to get this working? Thanks

Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jul 8, 2010 9:21 AM

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Answer 1

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Texas Mac Man

Level 8

46,857 points

Jul 8, 2010 10:03 AM in response to Isolder

Here's the spec sheet on your iMac http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac800_17fp.html

It came with a special version of OS 9.2.2, so you'll need the install disc. What you did (copy OS 9.x) is OK to run classic mode, but not sufficient to boot the iMac.

There's a slight chance that Apple may have the install discs. You can call Apple Customer Support 1-800-767-2775, provide the Serial Number and specifications of the Mac, and for a fee, a replacement set of system discs (if available), can be ordered. However, the discs will be for the original version of OS, that was pre-installed, when the Mac was manufactured.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

Also, look at this link http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2496245&tstart=0

Message was edited by: Texas Mac Man

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Answer 2

Isolder Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 8, 2010 10:46 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

Thanks, I will give them a phone call.

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Answer 3

Isolder Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 8, 2010 11:16 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

Well, I called them but unfortunately they don't carry that set of restore disks anymore. Guess that leads me to searching the web for some place that might sell some. Thanks for the help, it was a good try.

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Answer 4

Jul 8, 2010 11:47 AM in response to Isolder

This came up last week at the Macintosh Garden: http://macintoshgarden.org/forum/imac-g4-disks

Someone there may be able to help with ideas to get you going again.

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Answer 5

Jul 8, 2010 12:40 PM in response to Simon Teale

OS 9 isnt abandonware yet, it wont get upped to the garden, I used this to boot my G4 after going through a **** of a time with a install disc, I also used this on my iBook too and worked great, it has the 3.5 version of the Nvidia drivers(thanks Don) which was the ticket for me, good luck

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4955192/MacOS_9.2.2_ibook_G3_PowerbookG4

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Answer 6

Jul 8, 2010 12:46 PM in response to Dr. Daniel Jackson

And before someone says it, No I dont feel bad about using the bay to get a system folder when I own a legit retail disc for os 9

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Answer 7

Jul 8, 2010 12:51 PM in response to Dr. Daniel Jackson

Actually I was wrong Wikipedia says OS 9 is abandonware, my bad.

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Answer 8

Jul 8, 2010 2:11 PM in response to Dr. Daniel Jackson

well even if you didn't, maybe the original poster will take the time to read the discussion thread at the Mac Garden forum.

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Answer 9

Jul 8, 2010 2:55 PM in response to Simon Teale

Yeah I totally missed that, sorry, thats 2 my bad's that would have been helpful to me a couple days ago, I have been on the mac garden a lot lately grabbing games, never really checked out the app stuff,
there is some good stuff there, my shoe doesn't taste that great so i'll go away now.

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Answer 10

Isolder Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 9, 2010 8:57 AM in response to Dr. Daniel Jackson

Well, I've got those disks now but this introduces a new problem. I try to boot from the first disk and it starts loading the startup screen progress bar.. and suddenly goes to a black screen. No extensions show and it black screens. This is similar to what happened when I first got the iMac (which had the software preinstalled).

It's been so long since I did any troubleshooting on an old mac, I can't imagine why this black screen is happening.

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Answer 11

Jul 9, 2010 1:33 PM in response to Isolder

This is a hard one. If it's definitely a 17" 800MHz iMac, you should be good for OS9.2.2.
There was an 800MHz 15", which came after, which doesn't boot into OS9. And an 800MHz 15" that came before it, which did boot OS9.

They all used the same video cards, so it should not be a driver issue.

Maybe it's a Mac OS ROM file version issue. Maybe the Mac Garden help is just slightly earlier than your iMac.

Getting the OS9.2.2 System Folder off the iMac Restore discs might be possible while booted in OSX on the iMacs internal hard disk. Even more helpful would be if you could run a software restore, or a part restore while booted from the iMac internal HD in OSX. Don't know what's on those discs, but when you put the first disc in (while booted in OSX from internal hard disk) what are your options ?
Apple Software Restore would be a good one.

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Answer 12

Isolder Author

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90 points

Jul 9, 2010 2:37 PM in response to Simon Teale

According to www.appleserialnumberinfo.com:

I realized that I may have omitted an important part: This is a 17" Flat Panel iMac (one of the lamp style..).

iMac 800mhz 17" M6498/(M8812LL/A) which should be OS9 Boot Capable according to: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac800_17fp.html
Introduction: - July 2002
Discontinued: - February 2003

This is a weird restore disk, on the first restore disk what I see is:

/
/about software store.pdf
/configurations
....imac hd disc 1.dmg
....imac hd disc 1.notice
....imac hd disc 1.readme
/desktop folder
/system folder
..../apple menu items/
..../control panels/
....Finder
....ImageBoot 9.2.2
....Mac OS ROM
....Restore Image.img
....System
/Z-Prefs

Hopefully that makes sense.. the iMac HD thing is weird.. looks like that's part of the image that requires the other disks 2-6, and there is no actual "Apple Software Restore" application or application for Software Restore. I'm not familiar with Z-prefs either. When opening "Restore Image" it warns me it might be damaged (not what I wanted to hear), but what I can see inside is a more standard System Folder. There's extensions and a Mac OS ROM and an "ASR" application.

The rest of the disks simply contain Configurations folders with imac hd disc2-6.dmgpart

Message was edited by: Isolder

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Answer 13

Jul 10, 2010 12:50 AM in response to Isolder

The best news here is that you're handy with Terminal or some other command line app.
What would be ideal would be to load all those "imac hd disc x.dmg" files onto the iMac HD while booted in OSX. Then mount them and get your full OS9.2.2 System Folder - this is the one that would be restored rather than anything pre-made on CD 1 to run the installer.

I still have one worry, the Mac OS ROM.

What are the versions of these in the three system folders we've identified (the System Folder on disc 1, used to boot from the CD, the one in the System Folder you found in the "Restore Image", and the one we're going to find in the "iMac HD" when we put the six parts together). Just concerned that it might be just too early a version for your iMac.

If all else fails we can source one from an OS9 booting Mac that came after your iMac - like my MDD. It's only a tiny file so email, or the Mac Garden would be a good place to get it. I think there's an MDD OS9.2.2 System Folder already hidden at the site somewhere. Just a well there's a search bar.

The "ASR" is the Apple Software Restore we've been looking for, but I'm not sure how we could use it, or what it would restore.

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Answer 14

Isolder Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 10, 2010 6:04 AM in response to Simon Teale

All 3 of the Mac OS ROM's are 9.1.1, Mac OS CPU Software Z-4.8.

According to this page which may be out of date?: http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22055?viewlocale=en_US my ROM file should be 9.5.1

Interesting also that the 9.1.1 ROM isn't anywhere on that list.

Do you know what the deal is with this "Z-" stuff added to some of the files?

Thanks for all your help so far, by the way, everyone.

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Answer 15

Jul 10, 2010 7:30 AM in response to Isolder

Apple often uses a "Z" prefix to indicate that software is the International English version (England, Ausatralia, etc.); no prfeix indicates the North American English version; other prefixes are used for other language versions. This was done because OS 9 and earlier came in single-language versions, as opposed to OSX which is multi-language.

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