can't get OS X 10.3 disc to boot as my startup disc

am trying to update from OS 9.1 to Panther 10.3. I have tried every possible way to get OX install disc 1 to boot as startup (selected it in 9.1 startup control panel, restarted holding keys down) get a ? for a few seconds then it finds 9.1 startup and uses it.The first couple of times I would get a message to type mac-boot and hit the return key, which I did but 9.1 still loaded as the startup disc (now It doesn't even ask me to type anything it just finds 9.1 and boots from it no matter what I do). After startup the OX 10 Install disc icon shows on desk top but when I hit the"install" icon it tells me application can't be opened because of a disk error. I verified both my internal hd, and install disc with "disc first aid " and both are ok. I tried dragging the startup disc utility from utilities folder on OX disc 1 to my control panels folder in 9.1, after I agreed to replace an existing folder with same name the copy status bar appeared for a second and then stopped because of " disc error occurred" then I was asked if I would like to continue and I hit yes. Now the "startup disc" control panel that was originally on 9.1 isn't there anymore. Anyone have any suggestions?

Power Mac G4, Mac OS 9.1.x

Posted on Dec 26, 2005 12:40 AM

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14 replies

Dec 27, 2005 5:01 PM in response to macjack

updated both firmware and system.Tried it again by using control panel and then holding down keys got a request to type boot-mac + return key still winds up loading 9.2.2 and when I try to open 10.3 installer icon it still tells me "can't open because of a disc error". So then I figured that I would try to update my ClarisWorks application so that I can run it on OSX and therefore can do a clean install onto a blank hd. The only reason I needed to have classic capabilities is that I have all my customer info from the past 15 years in my ClarisWorks database that came with my first Mac.So I started downloading updates to bring me up to speed and was able to find all versions up to 4.0.6 but can't find a download for 5.0v1, found 5.0v2 and up which should bring me into 0SX ability but I'm dead in the water with out 5.0v1. Any suggestions?

Dec 30, 2005 9:35 PM in response to treemanic

treemanic...

RE: ClarisWorks

First of all ClarisWorks was renamed AppleWorks in the process of upgrading the 5.x versions. CW to AW v5.0.4 Updater link (last one listed to download)

Secondly the AW 5.0.4 - Mac OS 9 patch didn't work all that well in 9.0.x (x = 0-4) let alone OS9.1. I was urged to purchase AW 6 if I was intended on running Mac OS 9.1 or greater. AW 6.0 will need updated as well as it didn't include the DataViz translaters.

...Ron

Message was edited by: Ron JACKLE

Any additional updates are available below.

http://www.info.apple.com/support/oldersoftwarelist.html#claris

Jan 1, 2006 7:02 PM in response to treemanic

plugged keyboard directly into G4 and tried booting from OSX10.3 install disc.It started to load, I got the Apple icon w/spinning wheel under it, it kept spinning + spinning, + spinning with nothing happening so I hit power button. Tried again holding "c" key w/same result. Let machine load w/OS9.2. Installed 10.3 disc into cd, set it as startup in "startup disc" control panel, restarted and this time after getting apple icon, after about 30 seconds, a black screen with white lettering overlaying another screen which asked me to hit restart or hold power button for several seconds. The black screen had rows of diagnostic codes with a bunch of technical stuff with the final line being," panic we are hung up".

Jan 1, 2006 11:00 PM in response to treemanic

treemanic...

"The black screen had rows of diagnostic codes with a bunch of technical stuff with the final line being," panic we are hung up"."

I am getting to suspect some flaky memory is showing up at that point. Mac OS 10 is noted to display Kernal Panics anytime it comes across dodgy memory modules.

If you can pull some memory and stay within the 128MB minimums you may find the dodgy one. If not getting either new or known good modules is almost a must to see if KPs can be eliminated.

...Ron

Jan 2, 2006 4:59 AM in response to treemanic

You need to check to see what the minimum version number is for your Mac. For instance, for my PowerBook, I had to use 10.3.5-which came with the machine. I could not start my Mac from the standard 10.3 retail version, no matter what I did.

Apple used to have a database that listed the minimum OS for all its computers. I don't know if that is being maintained, or how to access it if it is. Maybe someone else here can help with that.

Jan 2, 2006 9:07 PM in response to treemanic

Was reading a OSX book and it gave instructions on doing a verbose startup, so I did one while booting OSX10.3 install disc #1 it loaded a whole bunch of code, and than it hung up on this line :
disc Os1s9: I/O error
SAM Multimedia: Read or Write failed, Asc=OX11,ASCQ=OXOO

it kept repeating this line over + over as it scrolled down screen until I hit restart button on front of machine.
Does this mean anything to anyone?

Jan 3, 2006 5:24 PM in response to treemanic

Hello Again! A read/write error means it's not reading or writing correctly. I'd suspect bad memory could be causing it or a defective or dirty cd/dvd drive. I ran onto an error the other day while installing a Win 2000 system and traced it to a bad stick of memory. Once I removed it everything went fine. I might also point out that a hardware test said the memory was ok. Tom

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can't get OS X 10.3 disc to boot as my startup disc

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