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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Installing Classic On Tiger

Chiwiz - Jul 2, 2005 - 6:41 pm

I've read the other queries about this but it still doesn't work for me. There IS no option to choose system 9 for the startup disk in the system preferences, only OSX 10.4. My powerbook will not start up from a 9.x disk. I even tried linking the laptop to my old G3 iMac via firewire.

I started up the imac from the "9.2 Install" CD and the laptop hard drive appeared on the desk top AND in the window of the install program.

I thought I was home Free but then the install window said my OS would NOT allow 9.2.2 to be installed on top of the current OS. I would have to perform a clean install which I did not do because I did not want to wipe Tiger offf my computer.

I have several beloved Applications that run on 9.0 and am considering reinstalling Panther if I can't fix this problem. HELP!!

skapp - Jul 2, 2005 - 6:52 pm

On which model computer are you trying to install OS 9? I'm not sure if it's the iMac or the Powerbook. Can the computer on which you want to install OS 9 capable of booting into OS 9 or is it a later model that cannot boot OS 9?

If you can boot the computer on which you want to install OS 9 from the OS 9 Installer CD, then do so. Select Clean install (assuming you don't have OS 9 already installed on the computer.) Carefully observe instructions and options before continuing from one stage to the next. In one stage you will be informed that the installer wants to repair/check the hard drive. You will have an option to skip the disk repair/check. You want to skip the repair/check. Also keep an eye for an Option button here. Click on the Option button to look for the option to format the hard drive before installing. You want to uncheck that option and not reformat the hard drive.

It's been so long since I installed OS 9 that I do not remember the precise step in the installation process where the above occurs. It's quite early on and may be just before or just after you select a destination disk. Just go slowly and carefully examine any options, Option buttons, etc. that become available. If you turn off the disk check/repair and reformat option, then OS 9 will install cleanly on your hard drive without distrubing OS X.

Chiwiz - Jul 2, 2005 - 7:18 pm

I want to install it on my G4 laptop. I was trying to use my imac as an intermediary because the G4 would not boot from the OS9 Install disk.

So, if I understand you correctly; once I have the "Install CD" booted as the startup on my imac, with my G4 connected to the imac via firewire (the g4's HD appearing as an icon on the imac's desktop); I should be able to install OS9 on the G4 without disturbing OS10.4 even though the Install program says I have to do a clean install for the installation to work?

BTW, Thank you so much for your quick reply to my previous question.
-David

skapp - Jul 2, 2005 - 7:33 pm

David,

You don't need to connect your iMac to the Powerbook. You can boot the Powerbook directly from the OS 9 Installer CD, unless the Powerbook is not capable of booting OS 9. In that case you should have an OS 9 system you can install from the Software Restore disks. See the following:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107383
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106294

Chiwiz - Jul 3, 2005 - 1:35 pm

I think the problem is that I do not have a system9.x installed on the laptop in the first place. I think I would have to go all the way back, erase my drive, install system 9.2 and then do progressive upgrades of OSX until I reach 10.4 so that each time I upgrade the insstaller would recognize 9.2 and put it into the classic application. Does this sound corrrect or do you think there is someway I could retroactively install 9.2 without disturbing Tiger? So far, nothing suggested has worked.

skapp - Jul 3, 2005 - 1:57 pm

David,

Before you proceed we need to know if your Powerbook can boot OS 9. Can you tell me the specific model you have? You can list out that info using System Profiler. The specific info is by the label: Machine Model. Also tell me what Boot ROM version is reported.

There is no real need to erase the drive and start from scratch. However, exactly how to install OS 9 will be determined by the Powerbook model you have.

Chiwiz - Jul 3, 2005 - 2:35 pm

Hi steven,
i have an aluminum 12" powerbook g4; 1ghz cpu, with 768 mb memory.
-david

skapp - Jul 3, 2005 - 2:47 pm

David,

OK. According to specs that computer cannot boot into OS 9, so you cannot install OS 9 using the installer CD. You need install OS 9 from the Software Restore disks.

Follow the instructions provided the the TECH COMMENT in an earlier reply to you.

Here are some helpful references:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107383
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106294

Chiwiz - Jul 3, 2005 - 3:36 pm

Yeah, I tried that way back and it doesn't work because there is no system 9 folder to change permission for. it just doesn't exist on my computer .

Am I missing something here? It seems, from the instructions I get, when I go to the pages you refer me to in your previous email, that there is a supposition that I have a System 9 folder somewhere on my laptop: Verbatim copy of steps 1 & 2 from that page:

"1. For Mac OS X 10.3 or later, open Disk Utility, then, from the File menu, choose Fix OS 9 Permissions.
2. Open the Mac OS 9 System Folder, create a new empty folder, and drag the Finder into it."

I can choose "Fix Permissions" but not for OS 9, just general "Fix Permissions."

That's why I suspect I have to start all over. How can I install system 9 on a computer that has no place to put it?
-David

skapp - Jul 3, 2005 - 4:08 pm

Read the second reference. It's specifically intended for computers that cannot boot OS 9. Also, read the reply you received earlier from Dale:

[TECH COMMENT] The PowerBook ships with restore disks, probably DVD. If you insert the DVD, and open that disk, you'll see the install package for Other Software, run that and choose to install Classic. That's all that is needed. Hooking up to other systems, so you can boot to the OS 9 install CD is a waste of time.

Chiwiz - Jul 4, 2005 - 1:51 pm

Ok, so here's what happened when I followed those instructions: I put in the restore disk, chose "Install Applications & Classic Support", Clicked "Upgrade", The computer did its thing and said the software was successfully installed. I clicked "Close" and then the wierdness started: A screen came up that read, "Welcome To Mac OS X, Follow these Instructions to restore software on your computer" THEN a warning box appeared saying "That disk is not supported on this model of computer" and it ejected the disk. I clicked "Continue" anyway and the computer asked me to insert the disk "labled with this illustration" (It showed a DVD with the number "1" on it with a circle around the number, That was the one it had just ejected. I put it back in and went around the same loop again with the computer rejecting the disk.

What next?

Chiwiz - Jul 4, 2005 - 1:56 pm

Just an addendum here: The disk the computer said was not supported on my model is the same disk I put in originally that took me through the "Install Classic Support" procedure, telling me that the software was successfully restored. BTW, there is nothing on my hard dricve to indicate any changes, certainly no system 9 folder.

skapp - Jul 4, 2005 - 2:17 pm

David,

I can only suggest at this point that you go to an Apple service center and have them sort this out for you.

Chiwiz - Jul 4, 2005 - 3:12 pm

Thanks for all your help. Guess what? I solved the problem by connecting my son's laptop to mine with a firwire cable, using his as an external drive on mine. Then I just copied his Clasic and OS9 Applications folders to my hard drive. I rebooted and tried to install MS Word for OS9. It worked!!!! Can also now install my Pagemaker 7.00 program and I suppose all of my old pre-OSX programs. At first the System 9 folder wasn't labled that way, just said, "System Folder" with no 'blessed' "9" icon on it. I restarted the computer again, after installing my system 9 programs, and now the folder is 'blessed' with the "9" icon on it. Go figure!

skapp - Jul 4, 2005 - 3:19 pm

David,

Congratulations! Looks like you did better alone than with help. Go figure. Glad it's sorted out. Have a great Fourth!