How do I install OS 9 on an eMac?

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Level 1

4 points

How do I install OS 9 on an eMac?

I've got an eMac, 1 ghz, ComboDrive, 40gb hard drive. As far as I know this was the last Mac model capable of booting into OS 9. I would like to make use of this capability as I have a old program that does not run properly in Classic Environment.

I have tried every method I can think of and I cannot get this computer to boot into OS 9.

The eMac originally came with Panther installed. It has been upgraded and restored a few times since then. I thought that I would be ablet to install OS 9 from the Restore disc but there doesn't seem to be any option to do that.

It will not boot from an OS 9 install CD.

I have also tried making a partition in the hard drive and installing OS 9 onto there, but that is not recognized at a bootable disk either.

I'm just about at my wit's end. How do I properly install OS 9 on this computer?

eMac 1.0 GHz ComboDrive-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Apr 13, 2013 12:48 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Apr 13, 2013 1:46 PM in response to §wordfish

Hi,

eMacs had special OS9 on original Install Discs.

In System Prefs>Startup Disk... OS9 doesn't show as an option?

Funny thing though, I ordered that exact eMac with Combo drive so I could boot OS9, but it never worked for OS9, years later I used the Original Install Disc from my eMac 800MHz, OS9 installed & boots, but only to a tiny 320 * 240 screen in the middle.

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Answer 2

§wordfish Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 13, 2013 2:31 PM in response to BDAqua

Neither the OS 9 partition I made nor my OS 9 install disc show up in the Startup Disk pane, nor when I hold option on startup.

I'll see if I have any other CDs laying around.

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Answer 3

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,696 points

Apr 14, 2013 4:00 AM in response to §wordfish

As far as I know this was the last Mac model capable of booting into OS 9.

The distinction between those eMac families that can boot OS9 and those that can't are frustratingly subtle. The MacTracker database indicates some "eMac (ATI graphics)" computers with 1.0Ghz processors were OS9-bootable, but but others were not.

It appears that the only way to tell is to find the Order numbers stenciled on the computer case. Mactracker has these differences:

OS9 bootable: M9150LL/A (800 MHz), M8950LL/A (1.0 GHz) both without SuperDrive

Not OS9 bootable: M8951LL/A

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Answer 4

§wordfish Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 18, 2013 7:02 AM in response to Allan Jones

Where is this order number located on the case?

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Answer 5

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,696 points

Apr 18, 2013 9:13 AM in response to §wordfish

I'm guessing on the bottom near the RAM door but our eMac that's at home has a tilt/swivel stand that takes a while to remove.

However, this site:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/emac/index-emac.html

says the M8951LL/A has a SuperDrive so, if yours has the Combo drive as you show, it should be OS9 bootable. Unless you got one that's liek BDAqua's.

You can try calling Apple at 1-800-MY-APPLE. Ask for a system software specialist. Give them the serial number of your Mac and they can use that to see if they can find or make replacement disks. Normally they burn these so, as long as the original disk images are on their servers, they should be able to get you the disk set that has the special version of OS9 needed. The charge is light, usually like US$16/disk including shipping.

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Apr 18, 2013 10:17 AM in response to §wordfish

Just to add...

How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349

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Answer 7

§wordfish Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 18, 2013 6:30 PM in response to Allan Jones

Hrm, according to EveryMac,

"Order Numbers can be found in many places -- on receipts, invoices, packaging, shipping information, product information sheets, brochures and other assorted documentation. Unfortunately, Order Numbers cannot be found on the hardware itself nor can they be found in the "About This Mac" section of Mac OS X, and this is the primary limitation of this identifier."

The order number seems to be the only way of differentiating between the 1GHz/ComboDrive models that can and can't boot OS 9. Unfortunately all I have are the computer and discs— all the packaging and documentation has long since been discarded.

The eMac's restore CDs install Panther, but I found some Jaguar install discs. Should the eMac be able to boot off of those as well? Because it doesn't seem to want to do that, either.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Apr 18, 2013 9:28 PM in response to §wordfish

Says it can hhere, but requires special 10.2.5 Discs, what is the 2z691-***-A number on it?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/emac/specs/emac_1.0.html

If you don't know the model, find the Serial# & use it on one of these sites, but don't post the Serial# here...

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php

How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349

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Answer 9

§wordfish Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 19, 2013 8:58 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for those links, BDAqua. I searched the serial number on Chipmunk and it said that my eMac was made in November 2003, making it an M9252LL/A, and therefore not capable of booting OS 9. I am disappoint. 😟

Does anyone know what Apple changed in this model that made it unable to boot 9? Is there something that can be modified to make it do so?

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Answer 10

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Apr 19, 2013 9:48 AM in response to §wordfish

Hmmm, does it have USB2 ports then?

Apple icon>About thid Mac>more Info>Hardware>USB

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Answer 11

§wordfish Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 20, 2013 12:04 AM in response to BDAqua

Vendor Name: Apple Computer, In.

Product ID: 32773 ($8005)

Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec

Bus Power (mA): 500

I assume by the speed that it's just 1.0?

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Answer 12

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Apr 20, 2013 10:11 AM in response to §wordfish

Yes, that is, but might that be the Keyboard your'e looking at, or the bus? Does it mention USB High Speed bus there?

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Answer 13

§wordfish Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 20, 2013 10:55 AM in response to BDAqua

No, there's no USB High-Speed Bus.

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Answer 14

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Apr 20, 2013 4:28 PM in response to §wordfish

I don't remember if 10.3 reported that, but I'd suspect so, likely USB1.1 then.

Only thing I can think of, like on mine, is that near the end of production they swapped some parts between the 2 models, or maybe more likely Flashed the NVRAM with the wrong code.

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