Installing 9.0.4

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Installing 9.0.4

I have the retail version of OS 9.0.4. When I boot from my disk, and then try to run the Mac OS Install program on the disk, I get a message saying that my firmware is out of date and I need to install an update that's on the CD. So, when I try to install firmware update for G3, I get another message saying that it cannot move the neccessary files to the current system folder because the volume is locked. Well, I can't restart from an unlocked volume because there's nothing on it. I tried copying the entire disk onto my blank hard drive and restarting and I get a message that I can only run this version of Mac OS from the original source....
Help!

B & W G3 Yosemite, Mac OS 9.0.x

Posted on Jul 10, 2006 6:42 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 10, 2006 6:51 AM in response to OldSkoolMac

Hi, OldSkoolIMac -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

In order to install the firmware update, the machine must be booted to a writeable drive, usually the hard drive, and the firmware updater run from the same drive.

The firmware update must be installed before the machine will accept the OS 9.0.4 install.

You will need to re-install OS 8.5.1 from your original disks for that machine, or OS 8.6 from a retail OS 8.6 Install CD. Then copy the firmware update folder (just the specific one for the B&W) from the OS 9 Install CD to the hard drive.

Once booted to the hard drive, you should be able to install the firmware update without problem - it's a good idea to print out the instructions before starting.

Once the firmware has been updated, if you wish you can erase the hard drive before installing OS 9.0.4. If you leave OS 8.5.1/8.6 on the drive, do a Clean Install of OS 9.0.4 to avoid any problems with leftover OS 8 files.
Article #58176 - Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: Performing a Clean Installation

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Answer 2

OldSkoolMac Author

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Jul 10, 2006 12:42 PM in response to OldSkoolMac

Wow, thanks a lot. I was scrambling my brain trying to figure it out. I guess I'll have to buy 8.6 because I got the computer off ebay and it didn't come with any software.

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