Best way to get OS 9 on iMac

[rpschultz13]

Hi, new to the forum, Mac guy since 1994!

I've got an old game I want to run. Oldest computer I have is an iMac from about 2007 or so, running 10.5 (doh!). Can I install 9.2.2 on an external drive? Or do I need to install 10.4 and then boot into classic?

[darthnVader]

A 2007 iMac would be a Intel CPU, no joy for Classic, it won't work.

May want to try SheepShaver......

What is the game?

[rpschultz13]

Yeah I seem to remember using Sheepshaver back in the day. The game is Pathways Into Darkness, by Bungie.

[rpschultz13]

So a Mac Mini A1103 w/ PowerPC G4 would work? There are a few on eBay for ~$50. And the images here would install? What about a monitor, would a more recent flatscreen hook up?

[Astroman]

yes, the PPC Mini G4 works with OS9 native. I've got one hooked to an Eizo CG243W in full resolution, 1920x1600. Only onboard sound doesn't work (as stated with the disk images), but any OS9 compatible USB Interface like an M-Audio Transit or the original MBox-1 will do.

[rpschultz13]

Why doesn't the onboard sound work?

[IIO]

What about a monitor, would a more recent flatscreen hook up?

you need the CD with that OS9 specifically modified for the mac mini from this forum.

any modern flatscreen with VGA will be okay; unlike the later core2duos which fail in this task, the G4 mini has a proper geforce grapics which makes quite a good image on 1920x1200 (and possibly more), i.e. even with a cheap cable.

[refinery]

you could always check craigslist or ebay for a local seller with an older machine... i just got a quicksilver G4 off ebay from a local guy who was ok with pickup for $35.

also... Pathways into Darkness. <3 love that game. played that a whole lot back in the day.

[Astroman]

Why doesn't the onboard sound work?

details are in the thread about the respective disk image (there's no OS-9 driver for the onboard sound). The Transit is known to work and about $20, some of the tiny $5 USB soundsticks have been mentioned to work, too.
Check the pictures, but these noname brands can have whatever inside so may fail in OS-9 (and sound like crap anyway).

[rpschultz13]

But if I buy from someone who has the original software on it, then the sound will work, right?

[rvense]

The Mac Mini G4 did not run OS 9 originally, it was made for OS X. It needs a modified OS 9 to run, which does not have a driver for the sound.

[macStuff]

re:mac mini native audio support
if only some guru programmer who wrote the drivers back in the day would show up someday and show us how to write driver support for hardware devices - that would be a game changer
i keep hoping someone would at least point us in the right direction; the way that blitter hooked us up with the firmware flash trick for osx only g4's

its like being in a dark room; noone can find the doorknob
but the door is there; waiting for someone to find it and turn and open the door;

steve jobs is laughing at us from wherever he is

[rpschultz13]

So looks like the Sabrent USB thing on Amazon ($8) can cover the sound. If I buy a PPC Mac Mini G4 off of eBay, will the images here boot natively into OS 9?

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2408.msg33218.html#msg33218
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SdSTBbD8T28YY

[rpschultz13]

There is an ad on eBay for an Apple software lot, dozens of install disks for $15 or so. Someone on this forum should snatch that up and make images for everyone👍

[Jakl]

It probably is someone on this forum virtually giving it away because
everything they could possibly need is already here. 

[rpschultz13]

Just picked up a Dual 867 MDD on eBay for $150.
It's got 10.5.5 on it, so I'll have to figure out how to downgrade I think... or can I still boot to OS 9?

[refinery]

that model should have no issue with installing OS9.