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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Help With Os9 / Os X

Virtual Warrior - Jul 7, 2005 - 2:37 am

I have a G3 that I was trying to upgrade from OS 9.2 to OS X 3 (Panther). Everytime I put the Install CD in, I got an error message that the "startup disk was unable to select the install cd as the startup disk (-2)"

I tried to point the control panel startup disk to the cd, but although I could see it, it wouldn't let me highlight it.

Online, I got advice to "create a "System Disk2" folder and copy OS X Install CD tp it. Then, alledgelly, I could switch from OS 9 to OS X

Well, did that. Now machine boots to "Apple" screen and stays there.

How can I correct this, either by installing OSX or going back? Don't have my original OS 9 disk, but even with it, will machine "see" it?

HELP!!

Thanks!

kcartesius - Jul 7, 2005 - 3:23 am

A G3 running OS 9 will obviously have no idea what OS X is, so it's a tough choice for the Startup Disk control panel.

Let's run some differential diagnostics on this one:

1) Insert Panther disk 1 (assuming you can still operate the CD drive manually). Then restart the Mac (power/reset switch) holding down the C letter on the keyboard. This should boot your Mac from the CD into the OS X installer.

Simply copying stuff from the Panther installer will not give you a bootable, "blessed" System & now your Mac is utterly confused about what to do on startup.

Try this first and let me know how it goes. There are several other things that need consideration here, but let's try to keep it simple ;-) As soon as you can, BACK UP all important data files if you haven't done so already.

Klaus C

Virtual Warrior - Jul 7, 2005 - 4:07 am

No luck! It still boots to the screen with the apple Logo (Panther version) and stays there.

Im using a non apple keyboard (usb).

kcartesius - Jul 7, 2005 - 9:23 am

Try the following:

1) Reset PRAM; reboot while holding Command-Alt(Option)-P-R. You should hear the startup chime - keep holding the keys pressed and let it chime at least 5 times.

2) Have you tried booting with the option key pressed? Ideally, this should give you a list of all bootable volumes.

3) If the keyboard sends (and it should) the C letter, there is a possibility that your Open Firmware is not OK. You can easily reset this by physically changing the amount of RAM, reboot the machine once and then change it back again. There are further details available on this matter if needed.

What I would do is swap boot disks physically, put the original boot disk in a FireWire box and diagnose & fix it there... But if you have only one disk, that's not an option.

wrote this in a hurry - will be back later...

Klaus
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ichat jazzfixer

Virtual Warrior - Jul 7, 2005 - 9:34 am

Klaus,

Thanks for your assistance. Still stuck but some changes. I also own a Mac Mini that came with Panther. On a whim, I tried that DVD and held the C key while rebooting.

It found that disk, went to select language and then started to load, only to give me the message "bundled software can not be loaded on this machine". The only option was Close.

So regular "Panther" install cd won't load at reboot/C, but this one will. Don't know if that helps in diagnosing problem or not.

kcartesius - Jul 9, 2005 - 5:24 am

While you're at it; try to (just) boot the Mini with the Panther disk - this way we'll be pretty sure the CD is OK.

K
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ichat jazzfixer

kcartesius - Jul 9, 2005 - 5:25 am

While you're at it; try to (just) boot the Mini with the Panther disk - this way we'll be pretty sure the CD is OK.

K
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ichat jazzfixer