Mac OS 9 Lives
Mac OS 9 Discussion => Mac OS 9, Hacks & Upgrades => Mac OS 9 on Unsupported Hardware => Topic started by: Doctorkillbydeath87 on March 10, 2026, 08:01:08 PM
-
I've been pulling my hair out for the last three nights trying to install OS 9 on my Emac. I've left a 120GB partition for OS9 & installed OSX 10.4 on the remaining space of a 2TB HDD. OSX 10.4 installs and boots absolutely fine. However, I can't seem to get OS9 to take. I have tried a couple different methods (https://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4361.msg35823#msg35823 (https://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4361.msg35823#msg35823) & https://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4361.msg48487#msg48487) and both end in failure: the OS9 disk utility will not recognize the partition and I am left only with the option to initialize the drive.
I think I may have narrowed down the issue: missing OS9 drivers which should be added when formatting the drive. However, If I format through OS9 I can only utilize 128 GB of the drive total. When I format through OSX disk utility, there is no option when formatting/partitioning to include OS9 drivers.(https://web.archive.org/web/20090621110555/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA20774 (https://web.archive.org/web/20090621110555/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA20774))
I have tried using disk utility on 10.3 & 10.4 install media (I can't get previous versions of OSX boot install media to boot). I'm at a standstill right now and hoping someone may have some advice!
-
Are you using the Mac OS 9 Lives universal install image? The eMac 1.25 doesn't natively support Mac OS 9 so you need to used the hacked version. I assume since you're posting here that you are though... just a shot in the dark.
You may want to have Tech Tool Pro or Silverlining take a look at the drive. They have their own disk drivers they can install.
-
Yes, I am using the "Mac OS 9.2.2 For Previously Unsupported G4s" image from this post (https://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4366.msg30505#msg30505). Thank you, I'll take a look at those tools. The only problem with that may be, I only have one physical HDD; I'm not sure if I will be able to reformat the drive I booted from. Seems like my only option is to install OS9 drivers from Disk Utility during setup but again, I am not given that option!