Force Boot Powerbook 17" into OS9?

[4C4Blessed]

Just an update for you guys, I was able to REPLACE System and Finder in my AHT test CDR with a copy of "real" System 9.2 and Finder 9.2. The AHT CD still boots and works properly into the AHD application!

In other words, the "special" system and finder are gone now on my test boot CD-R. Replaced by a "normal" System and Finder copied from an ancient scsi hard drive from a 'real' installaiton of OS9.

At least we know now that we don't need a "special" System and Finder to boot the AHT test CDR. The problem remains tho, we are only booting into the AHT application once System has finished loading.... also, some unusual support files appear to be needed still at root of the CD, have not "weeded through" which ones can be deleted or not, such as diags and main.sc and so on.

To recap, the iBook 800MHz G4 is now booting to a CD which contains no *nix, and contains no "special" system and finder any more, they have been deleted entirely. It does contain now an authentic 'normal' system and finder taken from an old classic mac, along with the mystery support files. Still the Finder doesn't get the hook from system yet.... Only AHT app is getting the hook after system loading... suggestions?

Leaves me at this point thinking, there must be something in those handfull of oddball files in root which tell System not to load Finder but to load AHT after boot.. clues anyone? this is 'normal' system 9 (but not finder 9) now booting on the iBook!

[4C4Blessed]

By the way, if anyone wants to help tinker, I can post step by step instructions of exactly what I have done so far, what has worked and was has not. Let me know!

[sinclair_tm]

of course your ibook is booting the os 9 disk, all the 800mhz ibooks support os 9! but when you started this post, you asked about a 17'' 1ghz powerbook! now which mac laptop are you trying to get os 9 to run on? the os 9 supported g4/800 ibook, or the unsupported 17'' 1ghz powerbook? please get your story straight.

[DeltaMac]

Originally Posted by sinclair_tm

of course your ibook is booting the os 9 disk, all the 800mhz ibooks support os 9! but when you started this post, you asked about a 17'' 1ghz powerbook! now which mac laptop are you trying to get os 9 to run on? the os 9 supported g4/800 ibook, or the unsupported 17'' 1ghz powerbook? please get your story straight.

The G4 iBook (as 4C4Blessed seems to be using) also does not support OS 9 booting. iBooks (G3) do support OS 9, but not G4s. Gets confusing when iBooks come with 800 MHz, either G3 or G4

[4C4Blessed]

The iBook G4 800MHz does not in fact boot into OS9. Plz check yourself. I'm simply working with both machines. (Which ever one gets there first wins, I suppose). Neither the iBook G4 800MHz nor the Powerbook 17" 1GHz (USB 1.0) do not allow you to choose an OS9 volume in the Startud Disk control pane.

Sinclair, the iBook 800MHz G4 I gaurantee you officially does not boot classic.

DeltaMac, the computer is not "booting into open firmware", it is in fact booting into a copy os System v9.2 after open firmware finished its job. I have the box now booting onto NOTHING BUT authentic real System v9.2 and some proprietary support files sitting around it, which are not in fact *nix related, but what appear to be non compiled C header files (one is compiled, the rest are not, but I am not an expert in C).

Again, 800MHz iBook G4s DO NOT book into OS9 officially. That's what I am trying to accomplish, same story goes for the 17" PB.

Please from now on, only people with actual helpful, verified input need respond. At the very least, insert the phrase "I think..." where appropriate, instead of trying to pass along facts which turn out not to be facts after all. I have no problem using "I think" where necessary, so should you =) I am getting tired of having to prove myself here, that's not why I am here.
Check yourself first please!

[DeltaMac]

My goal, in this case, is not to help you with a useless cause, but to save you some time by pointing out (again) that your iBook G4, and your PowerBook 17, will not boot into OS 9 (which has no basis in *nix, BTW). So, according to the facts as I know them, I believe you are on a wild goose chase.

The problem that you would have to solve? How to turn over control of the computer to the OS. The minimal software used with the Apple Hardware Test does not do this. It's one of the functions of the Mac OS ROM file (one of those strange support files in the System Folder). Apple probably has some internal OS 9 that completely functions on many newer Macs (but Apple has no reason to provide that)

[fryke]

how much do you cost per hour? how much time to you intend to spend on this little project? how much does an old blue&white G3 tower cost, which runs OS 9 in all its beauty?

[nixgeek]

To add to what fryke said, an older Mac with a G3 would run OS 9 quite fast. And a PowerMac G4 would do it even faster. Both can easily be found for very cheap prices. Check this link for vendors.

http://www.lowendmac.com/dealers/index.shtml

Heck, I have an old Motorola StarMax 4000 MT that runs 9.1 quite decently. Would probably be better served with 8.6 also.....and that Mac has a PPC604e running at 160 MHz!