iMac (17 inch, Flat Panel) G4, S/N: xxxx2500xxxx
Can’t load Mac OS 9 no matter what I try (but pretty sure I have the right disk).
Hey guys,
I’ve been working hard to get this iMac G4 I just got with a bunch of disks on eBay with Mac OS 9.2 and I’ve about had it.
The closest instructions I’ve found is in the Topic: How to Install Mac OS 9 if you already have OS X Installed
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,305.0.html, but I don't want OS X with classic, I just want 9.
(I started trying to put on 9.2.2? Because those are the disks I have).
Here’s my pack:
It WAS 10.2 fine with no problems. I obtained the following disks:
GREY (603-0425-A Software Pack)
- Mac OS 9.2.2 “iMac Mac OS 9 Install” 691-3314-A
- LOADS 20% AND THEN STOPS (never gets to Apple Installer)
- Mac OS Version 10.1.2 “iMac Mac OS X Install” 2Z691-3491-A
- LOADS TO AN ALL-GREY SCREEN
- Mac OS versions 10.1.2, 9.2.2 “iMac Software Restore 1 of 4” 691-3523-A
- LOADS 20% AND THEN STOPS (never gets to Apple Installer)
- Mac OS versions 10.1.2, 9.2.2 “iMac Software Restore 2 of 4” 691-3524-A
- Mac OS versions 10.1.2, 9.2.2 “iMac Software Restore 3 of 4” 691-3525-A
- Mac OS versions 10.1.2, 9.2.2 “iMac Software Restore 4 of 4” 691-3526-A
- iMac Applications 691-3316-A
GREY W/ WHITE OUTER-RING
- Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 Applications “iMac Software Restore 1 of 3” Mac OS version 9.2.2 691-4066-A
- LOADS TO A FLASHING “?/FACE” FOLDER
- Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 Applications “iMac Software Restore 2 of 3” Mac OS version 9.2.2 691-4068-A
- Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 Applications “iMac Software Restore 2 of 3” Mac OS version 9.2.2 2Z691-4067-A
- “iMac Mac OS X Install Disc 1” Mac OS version 10.2 2Z691-4024-A
- LOADS TO THE APPLE INSTALLER!!!!!
- “iMac Mac OS X Install Disc 2” Mac OS version 10.2 2Z691-4025-A
SILVER
- Apple Hardware Test “SW version 1.2” 691-3317-A
- LOADS TO “Apple Hardware Test does not support this machine.”
In summary, two out of my three 10.2 install disks work fine. None of my Mac OS 9.2.2 disks work… well, one gets me a 20% load, the other is invisible.
My theory, of course, was that Mac wasn’t formatted right. This seemed to be confirmed by that post I found:
“CRITICAL - INSTALL MAC OS 9 DRIVERS FIRST !
It is important that the disk drive containing the partition you are installing Mac OS 9 onto has been formatted with the option for "Mac OS 9 Drivers" checked... otherwise, ANYTHING ON THAT DISK WONT BE VIEWABLE TO OS9. This is the biggest cause for problems when trying to install Mac OS 9 from OS X; The Mac OS 9 drivers are basically a few bytes of info. at the beginning of the drive that are read by Mac OS 9 (and ignored by Mac OS X). The only way to install these drivers is when you initially partition a drive from scratch…”
Great, so I loaded to the Apple Installer using the white CD w/ Jaguar “X”. Opened Disk Utility, erased a partition someone had made, and then reformatted the whole thing, top-level, to Mac OS Extended, making sure to select Install Mac OS 9 Drivers. Completes fine, builds the sub-level, and I see the boot-drive-to-be also have “Install Mac OS 9 Drivers” greyed-out-and-checked.
Try all the disks again. Same issues. Best I can get from a 9.2.2 Install CD is a 20% load from the CD and then it hangs.
So if I have the wrong CDs, that's fine. Can someone please tell me the fastest and cheapest way to get a CD or pack of CDs that will load Mac OS 9.whatever.whatever with all basic included software?
If the answer is the "Mac OS 9.2.2 Universal Install - ISO CD Image G3s & G4s (Most Popular)", how?