Installing OS 9 on PowerBook G4 - 867MHz

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Level 1

6 points

Installing OS 9 on PowerBook G4 - 867MHz

I want to run OS 9 Native and OS X.5 Leopard on my PowerBook G4 - 867 MHz, 1.12 Gb ram, 80 Gb hard drive (Thresher).

Leopard doesn't support classic so I must install OS 9 to boot native.

I need OS 9 to run my Apple Printer Utility so I can print using my Snow Leopard machines on my Apple 12/640 LaserPrinter. Snow Leopard drops AppleTalk so I need to set the IP address on the printer. I also want to run QuarkXpress 5.

I tried OS 9.0.4 retail and OS 9.2.1 retail disks but cannot get the disks to boot on the G4. I tried a pram reset ... twice. I tried to start up holding down the C key. The OS 9 disks do not show up in the Startup menu, but do mount on the desk top.

My check on Apple History lists the minimum os for this PowerBook as 10.2.3 ...

I have a two disk install set for the PowerBook G4. Now I'm thinking my options are to install 10.4 with OS 9 Classic and also Leopard in one partition.

How do you downgrade OS 9 native on a G4 PowerBook?

Newton, BeigeMT, 6400,PowerBook, Mirror Door, Imac C2D, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 600/27 Scanner, 12/640 Printer, iPhone 3GS

Posted on Jan 30, 2011 4:21 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

411,217 points

Jan 30, 2011 6:40 PM in response to KenZakreski

The bottom line is a Mac will only boot to its original system version or whatever is higher and supported. You can run Classic inside of Tiger, but you can't boot to OS9 natively. To do Classic you will need to install it using your original discs.

More information about your computer at: [http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook g4/stats/powerbook_g4_86712.html] In particular read the section on MacOS9 support.

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Answer 2

KenZakreski Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 30, 2011 6:41 PM in response to Limnos

what is the best practise?

Should I partition the hard drive to have tiger (with clasic) and leopard separate?

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,217 points

Jan 30, 2011 7:34 PM in response to KenZakreski

If you want Classic you will have to have Tiger.

I had a similar question recently on another board where I was asking about having Leopard, Tiger, and OS9 native. Things to bear in mind:

You can't have two OSX versions on the same volume. Leopard and Tiger will have to be on different volumes. Either different drives or different partitions on one drive.

Using two versions of OSX will introduce complications due to permissions on files. If you have one account in Tiger and another in Leopard you may find it difficult to gain access to files in one account while in the other. One way around is to have a third volume with just data and set ignore ownership on that volume. Keep files you need to share between the two on that volume. Obviously this starts getting a bit messy, with 3 volumes, and in my case split across 2 drives.

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Answer 4

KenZakreski Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 30, 2011 9:51 PM in response to Limnos

I'm thinking now I'll just use OS X.4 Tiger (with classic) and forget about Leopard.

Thanks,

Ken

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Answer 5

KenZakreski Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 30, 2011 9:53 PM in response to KenZakreski

I give up, no elegant solution.

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Answer 6

romko23

Level 2

408 points

Feb 2, 2011 3:35 PM in response to KenZakreski

If you want OS 9, Get a G3 Pismo.. they will allow you to install just OS 9, as thats the extent of how useful they are.. I have a G4 upgraded Pismo and it works rather well, esp for OS 9. Even with the G4 550 upgrade, Tiger is still very slow due to the 8MB video memory.

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Answer 7

KenZakreski Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 2, 2011 3:50 PM in response to romko23

I'm on that . I pulled down the Lombards I have left in various conditions and find one that works and will put it together for this job. I do have a 500 MHz Pismo but it has a bad processor.

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Answer 8

romko23

Level 2

408 points

Feb 10, 2011 4:56 AM in response to KenZakreski

Are you interested in a G3 500 pismo? I might have an extra one.

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Answer 9

KenZakreski Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 10, 2011 9:09 AM in response to romko23

Thanks but I'm thinking I might use my Clamshell for this job. I have like 5 G3 bronze keyboards here I need to put together before I buy anything else. What do you want for it, plus shipping?Ken

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Answer 10

romko23

Level 2

408 points

Feb 10, 2011 12:37 PM in response to KenZakreski

Ken, email me if you are interested.. apparently apple mods removed the post I sent to you.. You can find my email in my profiler.

Thanks.

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