Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I am trying to install mac os 9.2.1 on my powerbook g4 17 inch in classic of coarse. The problem is when i try to boot into it it gives me an error saying " Classic cannot update the files in "system Folder" on "Mac OS 9.2.1" because the disk is read only". If anyone wants more information just ask. Also if you want to recomend a program just link it. i have many programs i need to run and im hopeing my powerbook will do the trick.
PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Apple-Retail-OS-9-2-1-Install-Cd-Classic-Manual-etc-/310 318490539?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48406c63ab -------------that is exactly what my install disk looks like and has the same os (in the bottom left you will see Version 9.2.1 on it)
ill ask my friend if he has them because i fixed this powerbook because its display was broken so i replaced it and he let me keep it
With respect, I think those are the discs you need. Install discs that come with Macs have for as long as I recall (I think since they stopped being floppies!) been plain grey and machine-specific. As far as I know any aluminium PowerBook only ever ran Classic - which is not quite the same thing as OS9. That's why they were never dual-bootable, Classic was only intended to run legacy applications left over after the move to OSX. If you can get hold of the original discs I think you might get somewhere.
Well when i get back i will try to get a hold of them and i will probly get my macbook pro back also so thank you.
Sorry about my post above — I mistakenly posted it after accidentally cutting all the new content out. Here's what it was supposed to say:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Apple-Retail-OS-9-2-1-Install-Cd-Classic-Manual-etc-/310 318490539?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48406c63ab -------------that is exactly what my install disk looks like and has the same os (in the bottom left you will see Version 9.2.1 on it).
That disk can't be used at all on any 17" Powerbook, because to use the installer on the disc, the computer must start up from the disc — and no 17" Powerbook can start up in any version of OS 9. That disc can only be used on computers that can start up in OS 9 without OS X installed. Yours can't.
You must install support for Classic mode — that is, install a non-bootable configuration of OS 9.2.1 or 9.2.2, I'm not sure which it was — from one of the discs that were originally shipped with your Powerbook. There is no other way to do it, and no other source CD from which to install Classic support on your machine. A while back, it was still possible to order duplicates of the discs that were shipped with your Powerbook by calling Apple Customer Relations at 1-800-767-2775 (in the USA), but Apple hasn't had any stock of those discs for computers as old as yours for years now.
If you don't have your original discs, the last resort for you will be to find another Mac that already has Classic support installed, and copy the System Folderfrom that machine onto the root level of your Powerbook's hard drive. After doing that, the first time you try to start a Classic application, you'll see a message that Classic support files need to be updated, and if you're connected to the internet, you can click OK and the update will be carried out through OS X. (This is exactly where you got stymied before, because the System Folder you had copied from the OS 9 installer CD didn't contain everything necessary to support Classic.) Then your Classic app will open. If I remember correctly, four files will be added by the update, but I don't recall what they are. They are essential to Classic operation, and without them you can't run any Classic app, even in Tiger (OS X 10.4.x).
In Leopard, even if you have Classic support installed as a leftover from when you were running Tiger, you won't be able to use Classic mode or run any Classic application, period.
thank you for telling me i can use a different system folder. As for another mac google is my friend if i cannot find the install disks. i will wait till i get back to anchorage before i try because i dont have the os 9 disk here. All i can say about your post is that it has been very helpful and i will probly be able to handle it from here. Thank you very much.
Help please Programs to run
