Q: Dead pismo now working...... now what?

Frances,

Good work! It can be confusing and trying at times, but you seem to be in good shape.

Tiger should also install with no problems, but I am wondering if the lack of sufficient RAM is the roadblock. Could you describe where the difficulty arises? Any specific info may help.

- Does your 10.4.2 refuse to install on the Pismo's HD?
- Does it install but will not restart to the Pismo's HD.

You do have another alternative if you wish to try, and it's called SuperDuper!. It will make an exact, bootable clone of your iBook's volume running 10.4.x onto the Pismo's HD (again using FireWire Target Disk Mode). The downside to this is it will copy all your personal files, data, passwords, everything. It will be just like giving your friend your iBook. This is a good option for you, however, if you have a FireWire HD. You can backup your iBook's HD to another volume for safety and in the event something goes wrong with your iBook.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22126

You mentioned zeroing the HD...this was a good idea regardless if you had problems or not. However, when you used OSX's Disk Utility to erase/initialize the HD, you also erased the OS 9 HD driver; you can still run Classic under OSX, but without the this driver, you will be unable to boot OS9. Your iBook G4 will refuse to install a MacOS 9 HD driver since your iBook cannot boot 9.x but only run Classic under 10.x.

First, let's see if the OS9 HD is installed:

- When booted to 10.3.x on the Pismo, open the About This Mac under the Apple menu > More Info > Hardware > ATA > highlight the Pismo's HD > see if it says "OS9 Drivers: Yes".

- If the driver IS present, you can install OS9 directly on the Pismo's HD while booting the Pismo to your 9.x CD ...this will not disturb OSX. Be sure to use the 'Clean Install' option. Boot to your 9.x CD > clean install 9.x > after restarting to the new 9.x, install the 9.x Updates to 9.2.2 from the CD you made.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106294

- If the OS9 driver is NOT present, I am afraid you will have to erase and reinstall; OSX does not leave enough room on the HD to install the driver post-OSX. If this is the case, boot the Pismo to the 9.x CD and perform an Easy Install. There are options available before the installation starts that allow you to erase the HD (you want to do this) and also update the HD driver (this will install the MacOS 9 HD driver). Once 9.x is installed, you will automatically restart to 9.x. If it does not boot, you may have somehow missed the HD driver installation. No problem...just boot to the 9.x CD again > open the Utilities folder on the CD > launch Drive Setup > select your HD > check the option to Update the HD Driver > restart. You can then update to 9.2.2.

Setting up the HD is the same whether you use 9.x's Drive Setup or 10.x's Disk Utility.

You can then reconnect the Pismo to the iBook and reinstall 10.3.x right on top of 9.x...it works both ways (just don't erase 9.x).

You mentioned needing to print in Classic...do you only need Classic to be running when booted to 10.x to print, or do you actually need to boot to 9.x to run the printer?

- If you have no OS9 HD driver installed, AND you can print in Classic, you can leave your 10.3.x in place, and just install 9.x as described above (don't erase anything). OS9 will install but you just will not be able to boot 9.x.

- Check the website of the manufacturer of the printer. Depending on its age, you may find a 10.x printer driver for it and have no need for 9.x. Also, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4 install a load of printer drivers...check to see if you don't already have it.