How to install OS 9.1 or later?

Question

How to install OS 9.1 or later?

I have a PPC G4 (that one with the silver loudspeaker) with Mac OS 10.4.11 and the original (German) MacOS 9.0 CD. The Mac won't boot from the CD, so I can't install MacOS 9. When I copy the system folder from the CD to my hard disc the startup manager in the preferences let me select this folder as a startup volume (I can select the CD, too). But the Mac ignores the setting at the restart and doesn't boot into MacOS 9. Maybe it is because the icon of the copied system folder indicates that the folder is not a blessed system folder.

The Classic environment requires at least MacOS 9.1. I have all the update installers but how can I run them without being able to boot up MacOS 9 at all? Why can't I boot from the CD (neither via startup manager in the preferences nor by holding down ALT or C at startup)?

Posted on Apr 24, 2012 12:36 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 24, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Steffen Bendix

Copying the OS (System Folder) from an OS 9 Install CD will not work, neither for booting nor as Classic. Such System Folders are designed to be usable only when on the original media, the CD.

Since you are running OS X 10.4 on that machine, it is probable that the machine has had a firmware update. Many users have indicated that after updating the firmware on such models, the original OS 9 version would no longer boot; this seemed to be the case when the original OS 9 version was older than OS 9.1, and applied to using the original install CD.

You will probably need to acquire a retail (white label) OS 9.1 or 9.2.1 Install CD. YOu can get one at places like HardcoreMac, but their prices are quite high. Better prices can sometimes be found on sites like EBay, but be sure you get a retail one (white label) and not a model-specific one (gray or gray-blue label).

You may be able to get one, or borrow one, from an Apple User Group near you. Most large cities and universities have one -

Apple - User Groups

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Answer 2

Apr 24, 2012 6:03 AM in response to Steffen Bendix

Not sure which G4 you have. What is the processor speed?

It may be that the version of OS 9 originally installed what higher than OS 9.0, therefore, it won't boot to the OS 9 CD. Also, to boot OS 9, you need the OS 9 drivers installed on your hard drive. You can check this in the system profiler.

If you just want to run classic mode, copy the System Folder from another Mac that has OS 9.1 (or better with 9.2.1 or 9.2.2) installed. A USB thumb dive works great for this. Transfer the folder to your Mac. It won't interfere with your OS X system which is in a folder titled System.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 3

Apr 24, 2012 11:09 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, I don't have an old Mac with OS 9.1 installed. The PPC Mac IS my old Mac 😐

I tried to copy the system folder from the CD but you may right that 9.0 is too old for the Mac. Any other tips?

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