multiple OS9 per partition

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multiple OS9 per partition

I know 9.22 supports multiple system folders per volume, eg. HD partition.

But this wasn't always the case with the 'old' OS -- before arrival of that feature, when you wanted several system folders on your system, you needed to partition your drive first and then put 1 system per partition.

Finally, the question: Anybody remember pretty sure starting which version OS9 supported multiple systems per partition. Was that maybe 9.1, or even 9.04?

TNX!

Posted on Oct 8, 2006 7:46 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 8, 2006 11:48 AM in response to b21280

b21280,

I don't think any version of OS9 supported more than one System Folder per mounted volume.

I do remember support for what you describe many, many years ago in System 5, and perhaps System 7 with the System Switcher DA.

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Answer 2

Oct 8, 2006 2:16 PM in response to Simon Teale

I have had more than one Mac OS 9 System Folder on a volume an it works. The reason I had that situation was because, at the time, I had one System Folder for direct Mac OS 9 booting, and a separate System Folder optimized for use with Classic under Mac OS X.

I believe the capability came along with Mac OS 9.1, when the Startup Disk control panel began showing not only the name of volumes but also the valid System Folders on the volumes (including Mac OS X). So you could pick a particular System Folder on a volume, instead of just picking the volume.

Just to make sure I was remembering things correctly, I just did an experiment on my Mac OS 9 Mac. I copied my small "Utility Disk" volume as a folder onto my usual start up volume. In the Startup Disk control panel, I selected that new System Folder (which was itself in a folder and not at the root level). It restarted from that System Folder with no problem. I was able to switch back to the normal System Folder with no problem. This Mac has Mac OS 9.1.

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Answer 3

Oct 8, 2006 2:42 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

...but also the valid System Folders on the volumes (including Mac OS X).

That first appeared natively with the Startup Disk control panel that came with OS 9.2 (it may have been available in the one that came with the model-specific version OS 9.1.1 that came with G4 DA models, I don't recall for sure).

The Startup Disk control panel that came with the original release of OS 9.1 and earlier OS versions could not 'see' OSX; the fix for that, other than to update the OS, is to download and install just a new control panel -
Startup Disk 9.2.1 Document and Software

BTW, that control panel also works to make OSX selectable in OS's as early as OS 8.6.

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Answer 4

b21280 Author

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Oct 9, 2006 6:27 AM in response to Don Archibald

BTW, that control panel also works to make OSX
selectable in OS's as early as OS 8.6.

Hello and Thank you for all the answers, esp. to Don for that really valuable information bit and to Kenichi Watanabe for taking the time and testing.
In the meantime, while bringing the client's system back to a working state, I did a fresh install of 9.1, and the installed startup cp shows those two different OS9 systems on one of that system's volume, and OS-X on an attached FireWire drive, without further updating the cp. I'd assume that 9.1 cp would see OS-X anywhere. ie no matter where installed. I figure, there may have been different 9.1 installation cds produced, some of them installing an updated and more capable startup cp.
Whereas the startup cp of the OS 904 also present on that system would only see 1 system per volume (-> would only see itself), and no FireWire disk at all. Updated its startup cp and now all is just like in newer systems.
TNX again! -Martin

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