how do i install OS 9 onto my OS X (G3 mac)?

well. i just read this entire thread - as well as i could.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=837329&tstart=30

not sure i got any answer that helps. perhaps my firmware was updated at some point...

sure would love to be able to run OS 9...

hi Don, thank-you for your input.

That indicates that you probably did not boot the machine to the OS 9 Install CD, and tried to run the installer on the CD while the machine was booted to OSX.

here is the situation:

i am trying to boot the computer from the OS 9 original iMac Software Install CD from an external CD drive.

will this work?

the reason is, the built-in CD slot drive on the machine has a CD stuck in it, and the computer is not able to eject it. (i have tried everything, including the paperclip-in-the-hole, etc etc).

should i be able to boot the computer from the OS 9 CD from an external CD drive?

thank-you for your help.




G3 Mac OS X (10.4.3)


G3 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Don, not sure exactly which aspect you are asking about, but i believe the original machine is THIS one (from the list you linked me to...):

1999-10
Mac OS 9.0
Blueberry
350 MHz
Slot loading CD-ROM drive
6 GB hard drive

it was purchased in 2000, but the lit says copyright 1999.
memory chips have been upgraded, and the motherboard was replaced.

this is what "About my Mac" now says:

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: PowerMac2,1
CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (2.2)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 350 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.1.9f1

thanks

oh, the external drive is connected by USB.

btw, there is also an external HD connected by USB, because i thnk i need it for the OS 9 system. it has been partitioned.

Don,

With . . . the OS 9 Install CD in the drive and mounted on the desktop, see if you can select it in Startup Disk control panel.

when i click on the OS 9 icon ("Classic Startup") in the control panel, i get the message "Cannot find a Mac OS 9 system folder on the startup disk to use." (actually, first i have to double-click the Mac OS Install icon from the Install CD to get that OS 9 icon in the control panel - and i first get that message then as well.)

when i installed Tiger, the reason i did not opt for the installation method that included - (that kept) - Classic was that there was not enough room on my computer. hence, the external HD.

is there any benefit to copying the OS 9 installation Disk onto my computer in solving this problem?

thanks.

hi Don -

well, thanks for clarifying he difference between the terms "OS 9" and "Classic", and for straightening me out on where to find the Startup Disk.

however, i think i really screwed myself now. i'm answering on my Dell PC now.

i went to the Startup Disk in the System Preferences, and then found the OS 9 Startup from USB(?) icon (or something like that), and tried clicking it. nothing happened, after several minutes. so, i tried clicking the icon that said "Startup from OS 9 on Hard Drive" (or something like that.) well, i know - at least i thoughti knew - there was no current OS 9 on my Hard Drive, but i thought i'd just see what happened.

so, the computer re-booted, and the OS 9-style icon comes up - the little computer with the face on it - and then the Mac OS 9 opening graphic pops up. after that, an error box pops up that says "The system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media, not if copied to another drive". my only option now is a "restart" button.

so i click "restart", and the same dead-end cycle occurs - the OS 9 graphics come up, and i get the error box with the same message. i try to retart my agan) and the same thing happens - a failed OS 9 boot. i try to eject my OS 9 CD from the external iomega drive (thinking maybe getting rid of that OS 9 CD will force the computer to boot in Tiger again), but i have no way of ejecting the OS 9 CD. any way that i try to restart the computer, it now makes a failed attempt at OS 9, with no option to reboot another way.

let me guess - since i cannot get the Tiger CD into the front loading slot to reboot, i am screwed until i get that other stuck CD out of there. is this correct?

how can i now get my computer back to reboot in OS X - (or <either>, so i can get out of this dead-end loop)?

defeated,

korgy

Don, thanks for your help.

i tried rebooting my computer with the "x" down (several times) with no success - same failed OS 9 attempt.

i also tried using the command configuration you suggested. here is what happens: i get a flashing folder-with-questionmark icon, for as long as i hold those keys down. when i release the keys, it goes back to the failed OS 9 boot attempt (described previously).


there was some success - somehow during all this, i was able to eject the OS 9 System startup CD from the external drive. (was not able to eject the built-in slot CD that has been stuck there).

i have removed all externals now, and have the keyboard plugged directly into the Mac.

do you suggest trying to boot the computer from the external drive with my Tiger in it now - to get back to the operable Tiger system?

thank-you.

HI Don -

wow.

well, here's the update:

if you had had the keyboard connected through a hub, that could have interfered with the Mac receiving proper startup commands.

yes, i had tried previously to use those commands with the keyboard hooked directly into the Mac, getting the results listed above. (the keyboard is new - 1 week. the previous keyboard was a Macally. not sure if that ties in...)

anyway, so i tried to startup the computer with the OSX Tiger installation disk #1 using the external Iomega drive, holding down the "C" command - getting the same failed OS 9 attempt.

then, i tried using the command/option/shift/delete command you mentioned before.

first, the OS X Tiger Apple logo appeared. good news! i thought. then, after a while, the rotating gear icon (the OS X "please wait" icon) came up and was spinning. i waited and waited. i finally let go of the keyboard. waited and waited. the external drive was gearing up and then gearing down.

then, the entire computer went dead. like someone shut it down.

now, it's dead. cannot even turn on. neither the front power button, or the side restart button.

i guess that's it till i take it to a shop...(?)

any ideas?

thanks.

Hi, korgy -

do you suggest trying to boot the computer from
the external drive with my Tiger in it now - to get
back to the operable Tiger system?

Yes, if it will.

A thought - if you had had the keyboard connected
through a hub, that could have interfered with the
Mac receiving proper startup commands. And, if the
keyboard is a non-Apple one, some of those do not
fully conform to Mac startup commands.

G3 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

G3 Mac OS X (10.4.3)