Info-Mac

Hello.

I've been searching all day and I've seen a lot of people posting similar problems, but I couldn't find a single answer that actually resolves this problem.

I have a Power Mac G4 450 mhz (AGP Graphics) that I bought used with OS X 10.2.8 already installed. I don't have the system disks. I have a Classic application I desperately need to use. When I try to run Classic it says there is no Classic system folder, and suggests installing OS 9.1 or newer.

So I bought an OS 9.2.2 installation disk. Under OS X, the OS 9 installer won't run because, well, it's a Classic application - and my computer won't run Classic. Duh.

So I boot up from the OS 9 cd, but it doesn't see my hard disk, so the installer has no volume to install to.

Please help! This is very frustrating.

The simple answer is you can't without erasing your hard drive and installing Mac OS 9 first.

The complex answer is you can, in a very convoluted and frustrating fashion, get Mac OS 9 installed so that Classic Mode can work, but it won't boot the computer (if that's what you wanted to do).

Here are the steps:

• You will need to temporarily make all folders visible -- this can be accomplished with a utility like TinkerTool or via the Terminal command:

  Code: Select all

  defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE

  (You will need to re-launch the Finder after toggling this option by logging out and back in)
• Next, insert your Mac OS 9 restore CD. You will see a folder called ".images" on it. Open that folder.
• Double-click on the file "OS9General.dmg." This will mount a Mac OS 9 system disk image.
• Inside of this disk image will be a folder titled "System Folder." Copy this folder to the root level of your Mac OS X startup drive.
• Re-launch TinkerTool and make hidden folders invisible again, or use this Terminal command: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool FALSE
• Log out then back in again. You should now be able to start Classic from its pane in System Preferences.

Taken from http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?sto ... 1071707921

I saw this article online and tried it already - the only problem is my 9.2.2 CD isn't a Restore CD, it's an original installation CD... there are no files called ".images" or "OS9General.dmg" on it. :-/

I don't think you're going to be able to then, without first erasing your hard drive.

However, if you have an external hard drive you can spare, you can try installing Mac OS 9 to that, then booting back into Mac OS X and copying the System Folder to your system drive.

In order to boot into OS 9, you need to have OS 9 drivers installed on the hard drive when it is first formatted. If you are freshly formating for an install of OS X, it will be an option and you can see the option if you look at erase or format in the OS X Disk Utility application.

If those drivers have not been installed when the drive is formatted, then you will be unable to start your system with OS 9. However even without having the OS 9 drivers installed, you should still be able to install OS 9 to use as the "Classic" environment in OS X.

Of course if you do a fresh format and install from an OS 9 installer CD, then the drivers will be available. If you boot from the CD and your hard drive is not showing up it is a good sign that the OS 9 drivers are not available. If you wish to proceed with an OS 9 install, you will need to open the Disk Utility on the OS 9 CD. It should see your existing hard drive and provide you the option to format the hard drive.

bill

Ah yes, I've forgotten about the "Mac OS 9 Drivers" - my Mac OS 9 memory must be getting hazy.

Also I think it depends on your hard drive's partition scheme. I don't think OS 9 will work with a case-sensitive drive, for example.