Emulator for OS 9 that runs on Tiger?

Since I can't boot up in OS 9 anymore, is there an emulator that will let me do this?
pangabell

emac, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 15, 2006 6:15 PM

Reply
16 replies

Jun 15, 2006 7:05 PM in response to pangabell

Hi, pangabell. No, if your eMac can't boot in OS 9, emulation won't be of any use to you. Any sort of emulator that runs in OS X requires the computer to be booted into OS X before the emulator can run.

You can, however, run many OS 9 applications in Classic mode after booting into OS X. Apps that won't run in Classic, you'll have to do without.

Jun 16, 2006 2:49 PM in response to pangabell

Hi pangbell;

If you must have OS 9, then the simpliest way would be to get an older system that boot into OS 9.

You said; " A lot of my downloads and software only work in OS 9"

I find this confusing can you explain what you mean downloads that only work in OS 9. Also if you will tell us the software that needs OS 9 to run, we might be able to suggest OS X alternatives.

Allan
User uploaded file

If you are interested in donating your spare CPU cycles to science, please try
http://teammacosx.homeunix.com/index.html

Jun 16, 2006 3:37 PM in response to pangabell

pangabell...

Thanks! A second or new eMac was the missing part that I needed for clarification. I could not figure as to why there was this sudden loss of your bootability of OS 9 in an eMac.

+++++++++

"That's why I asked if there was an emulation that would run OS 9 on my eMac. "

The ability to boot directly into Mac OS 9 is at the hardware level, thus cannot be emulated.

So the question, "Emulator for OS 9 that runs on Tiger?", is achieved by the use of Classic, however it cannot directly boot into Mac OS 9 of which is your desired need.

Now, a question like- *Is there a hack that will allow me to boot into Mac OS 9 on my new eMac?* is more likely what you are really asking. I would probably answer, none that I am aware of.

...Ron

Message was edited by: Ron JACKLE many times.

Jun 17, 2006 8:38 AM in response to pangabell

Hi, pangabell -

To summarize -

The Intel-processor Macs are not supported by Apple for OS 9 at all, either for booting or as Classic.

No G5 Mac can boot to OS 9, although they can use it as Classic.

If you need a machine which can boot to OS 9, you will need to get one of the following -

An OS 9-bootable G4 tower. These include those G4 MDD (Mirrored Drive Door) models whose processor speeds are 1.25GHz or slower, and which do not have a Firewire 800 port; or any earlier G4 model.

An iMac that is an original G4 model, or any G3 model.

Any iBook G3 model (none of the iBook G4 models are OS 9 bootable).

A PowerBook G4 which is no newer than an '02 model.

An eMac which did not come with a SuperDrive nor USB 2.0.

***

This Apple KBase article shows which machines and models are supported by Apple for OS 9 booting -
Article #25114 - Mac OS 8, 9: Compatibility With Macs

This Apple KBase article clarifies some of those -
Article #86209 - Some Computers Only Start Up in Mac OS X

***

Judicious shopping on places like eBay can produce a good deal on an older Mac.

For higher prices, but with better warranties and often recourse, some on-line sites offer used Macs. A sampling of possibilities -
Mac Solutions
All Mac
Hardcore Mac - this one is an Apple reseller
Wegener Media

Jul 21, 2006 10:03 AM in response to pangabell

If your eMac was once able to boot into Mac OS 9, it doesn't technically lose this ability. Rather you may have done something to cause it to no longer be able to boot into Mac OS 9, such as erasing the hard drive without installing the Mac OS 9 drivers. My FAQ here explains which eMacs are able to boot into Mac OS 9:

http://www.macmaps.com/macosxnative.html

and links to how to reinstall the Mac OS 9 drivers if yours is one that is able to boot into Mac OS 9.

These eMacs can boot into Mac OS 9:

700 and 800 Mhz will boot Mac OS 9.
1 Ghz eMacs with the model # M8950LL/A
eMac 1 Ghz with no Superdrive released May 2003 and earlier


Here's the link to reinstall the Mac OS 9 drivers:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75275

These eMacs can't boot into Mac OS 9:

1 Ghz eMacs with the model # M8951LL/A, M9252LL/A, and M8951LL/B. 1.25 Ghz eMacs and faster eMacs

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Emulator for OS 9 that runs on Tiger?

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