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nick fuller
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Q: Pismo refuses to boot/install os9 from install disk[s]

hi all,

i hope someone might be able to help with an issue me and my pismo have had for a while now.

currently i'm running osx.4.9 but i would like to go back to using os9 aswell (make a dual boot) because i have some software that runs much better in the earler system (final cut, super collider). i'm reluctant to trade in the pismo for a newer machine - it still has plenty of use value for me.

the problem is, i have not been able to boot up (and install the system) from an os9 disk. i've tried several different disks from friends and family, always with the same result. while holding down c on restart or boot up, a grey screen appears as though os9 is on its way, but only for a moment. it seems to ignore the cd drive and boots from the hard disk instead. (osx mounts the os9 disks fine on the desktop).

i've tried resetting the pram, disconnecting everything and leaving it for some time with no effect.

i guess the problem could be one of three things but i'm really not sure!? --

- a bootstrap issue or

- something to do with a firmware update or

- a result of having once reformatted the drive writing all to zeros (this because i think it coincided with the first time i was unable to boot from an os9 disk)...

boot rom version is 4.1.8f5.

when i first got the machine (a couple of years ago second-hand) os9 was installed on it, and it had no problems running it. i upgraded after a while and installed a dual-boot of osx and 9 (at one point even a third debian system too).

i have looked around on many forums including this one for some similar experiences from other mac users but haven't found anything so far. any help or ideas would be greatly welcomed.

thanks,

nick


Powerbook Pismo Firewire 500Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.9) trying to revert to dual boot [os9/X]

Powerbook Pismo Firewire 500Mhz, Mac OS X (10.4.9), trying to revert to dual boot [os9/X]

Posted on May 30, 2007 5:27 AM

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nick fuller

Q: Pismo refuses to boot/install os9 from install disk[s]

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Texas Mac Man,Helpful

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man May 30, 2007 6:14 AM in response to nick fuller
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    May 30, 2007 6:14 AM in response to nick fuller
    If the OS 9 discs (grey) are from another model Mac, they won't work. You need universal/retail discs that are white with an orange 9.

     Cheers, Tom

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder May 30, 2007 9:07 AM in response to nick fuller
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    May 30, 2007 9:07 AM in response to nick fuller
    Insert the CD and double click on it, and make sure you can see the files on it to know that it is being read correctly.

    Then use System Preferences > Startup Disk
    to select the OS 9 System on the CD as the Startup Disk. Then restart and it will look extra hard for that CD and its System.

  • by nick fuller,

    nick fuller nick fuller May 30, 2007 9:32 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 30, 2007 9:32 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    thank you for the replies.

    grant,
    pointing the startup disk to the install disk did progress things a little farther. this time the small computer face appeared and the cd spun for a while, but the grey apple kicked in again after a bit, back into ten.

    tom,
    i tried grey install disks for a g4 and orange ones for an imac, both failed. i will look into finding a retail disk with the orange nine. these are sold independently of ten, no...?

    cheers again for the help.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder May 30, 2007 1:39 PM in response to nick fuller
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    May 30, 2007 1:39 PM in response to nick fuller
    The small smiling Mac [SE] is smiling because it found valid boot blocks on a Boot Device. That means you are reading the "special place" on the CD with the boot-up info in it, and finding it valid. The Hardware seems to be working.

    Unless the CD is damaged in some way, those CDs must be special installers for specific Macs other than yours.

    This dealer in the Massachusetts/New York area seems to have reasonable prices and good service. I have bought from him before and was satisfied:

    http://www.applerescue.com/

  • by nick fuller,

    nick fuller nick fuller May 31, 2007 9:31 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 31, 2007 9:31 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    yep, sounds like it could well be the install disc that's the problem - guess i need to get myself a universal install cd.

    still, i'm curious to know why the install disk (for a g4) that came with the machine stopped working after a while...

    anyway i'll look into finding a local supplier for a disc before i buy from the states, shipping might be costly. thanks for the link though.

    cheers,

    nick

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder May 31, 2007 10:30 AM in response to nick fuller
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    May 31, 2007 10:30 AM in response to nick fuller
    There is a legend that some of the later versions of the Mac OS manage to "pull up the ladder" they used to get up to those higher version numbers. This activity seems to preclude loading an earlier version of Mac OS later.

    There are several places this could be taking place:

    The PRAM and NVRAM.
    The Hard Disk driver.
    The "Mac OS ROM" file.

    Resetting the PRAM sometimes will allow an older version to be installed.

    If you were to try to run an older version of Drive Setup, you may find that it will report "This software cannot be run on this Macintosh", even though you may distinctly remember running it before with no issue.

  • by nick fuller,

    nick fuller nick fuller Jun 1, 2007 9:34 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2007 9:34 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    very interesting info, thanks for sharing it.

    i'm going to go ahead and get myself a universal install disk regardless, but now i'm thinking the possibility exists that the ladder will remain pulled-up even when using the official universal installer?

    in which case i'd need to read up on the hard disk driver and os rom and hope for the best.

    cheers.

  • by jpl,

    jpl jpl Jun 1, 2007 10:40 PM in response to nick fuller
    Level 7 (28,285 points)
    Jun 1, 2007 10:40 PM in response to nick fuller
    nick,

    A correct install CD or DVD will boot regardless of what is on the HD...empty, corrupted data, MS-DOS formatting, etc...or even with the HD removed.

    A few potential causes for failure...

    - The Pismo has a known issue of failing DVD-ROM drives; it may manifest first as a failure to boot CDs but DVDs still boot, or vice versa. If you have access to a Norton Utilities or DiskWarrior or TechTool CD with a 9.0.2 System Folder or newer, you can test the CD-side of the drive; OSX 10.0 and up on CDs will also work. If you have access to another Pismo or Lombard, you can try its drive.

    - Some machine-specific G3 and G4 CDs installing MacOS 9.1 > 9.2.2 will boot other computers. If your drive is bad, then you won't know if the 9.x CDs you tried will not boot.

    - Open your Tiger System Profiler > Hardware > ATA > your named HD and see if it reports "OS9 Drivers: Yes". If this is not the case, you will have to initialize your HD to install the MacOS 9 HD Driver so the Pismo can boot to 9.x. Setting up the HD with 9.x's Drive Setup will automatically install the driver; 10.x's Disk Utility requires you to check the option to install.

  • by nick fuller,

    nick fuller nick fuller Jun 17, 2007 4:20 AM in response to Texas Mac Man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 17, 2007 4:20 AM in response to Texas Mac Man
    after ordering a universal install disc from macrescue which arrived last week, i've been able to install os9 with no problems at all.
    thanks again to all the helpful comments and suggestions here.
    cheers