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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Upgrade old B&W Power Mac G3 to OS 9.2.2

alfred_bowman - Oct 22, 2007 - 11:35 pm

I am in the process of upgrading an old B&W Power Mac G3 for a graphic artist friend. While I intend to get a Mac for myself next year, all of my experience is with the PC.

A major task is to update the OS from 9.1 to 9.2.1 and then to 9.2.2. I have downloaded the six files of each update to my PC's hard drive. I intended to burn each set of files to its own CD. However, I noticed that every one of the 12 files is a Stuffit archive.

Accordingly, I downloaded the latest version of Stuffit for Windows and Stuffit Classic for OS 8.5-9.2, which is itself a Stuffit archive,or so it said. Now I'm wondering what to do next. I could expand the OS 9.X Stuffit archives on my PC, burn them to two CD's and transfer the expanded files to the Mac. Or I could load Stuffit Classic on the Mac somehow, burn the compressed files to two CD's on the PC, transfer them to the Mac and expand them there.

Of course, I have never loaded software on a Mac before.

I really could use some advice.

DeltaMac - Oct 23, 2007 - 7:51 am

this process will be _much_ simpler if you do it all from that PowerMac....
You will continue to be frustrated with the Mac updates, and trying to burn from your PC.
Go back to that download site and download the full update, and not that multi-part download.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120030
You'll find that full download in the column to the left of the multi-parts.

The 9.2.2 update would be about the same from its respective page.

The only reason that you would need either of those would be better support with OS X.
If you don't have OS X installed - better to stay with OS 9.1

alfred_bowman - Oct 24, 2007 - 1:10 pm

Thanks for your reply. I'll do the unstuffing on the Mac.
I have downloaded the files you indicated. I already have Stuffit Classic. I will burn each to its own CD.

I have followed Apple and the Mac for over 20 years. When I starting this update project, I thought that the knowledge of the Mac I had gained plus over 15 years of Windows experience would be enough to see me through it. I was wrong. It has proven far more complex than I expected. I have purchased a Mac OS 9 manual and started to read it.

I am being very cautious in what I attempt, the more so since I don't have a 9.1 installation CD. I am worried that a mistake might leave with an unbootable Mac. I try to anticipate possible problems.

This has raised a concern. I have downloaded the above and other files to an NTSF-formatted hard drive. I understand that OS 9 can read FAT and FAT32 disks but not NTFS volumes. It would seem that the Mac couldn't read the downloaded files, which are .sit files. If I were to insert a CD created by Windows XP. would the Mac be able to read it?

(I could use Partition Magic to create a FAT32 partition on the PC's hard drive. Could that work?)

Assuming the read matter can be solved, and since the above downloaded files seem to be Stuffit archives, wouldn't I need to install Stuffit before the update files? (I haven't found Stuffit on the hard drive - which surprises me.)

I've flipped through my manual looking for instructions for installing software and haven't found anything. Right now, all I know to do is insert the CD. Can you provide guidance/directions?

BTW: Is there any way to create a rescue facility by copying some or all system files to a USB flash drive and burning them to my PC CD drive?

DeltaMac - Oct 24, 2007 - 2:40 pm

But, why not do as I suggested, and get the easier-to-deal-with updaters from the link that I gave you?
Don't get the multi-image, but the software under the Software column. You will end up with an smi.bin - which will easily open to the .smi file. That, in turn opens (double-click) to a disk image mounted on the desktop. That's the installer file, which you (again) double-click, and complete the install.
The step that is making this wa-y-y-y too difficult for you, is trying to do part of this on your PC.
Is the internet not working on the PowerMac? You can do this all on the Mac in a few simple steps (download, open file, open disk image, run installer from that disk image, and you're done.)
Windows is working against you in this. If you have to download the updaters to the PC, then just download, and don't do anything with the file, except copy to a USB flash drive. Make sure it is formatted as a fat volume, not NTFS.
OS 9 _should_ read that flash drive without any problem. I transfer files all the time that way. You will be better off if the flash drive is 2GB or smaller, and some of the flash drives with the special utilities partitions don't work too well on older Macs, so best to try a basic flash drive. Copy the file(s) to the desktop of the Mac, and you shouldn't have any more difficulty from that point.

alfred_bowman - Oct 26, 2007 - 3:28 pm

I have one last question. I purchased a copy Panther. The site said that it would be installable on different kinds of Mac's. However, the installation CD's say iBook G4. Do I have any chance of installing it on the Power Mac?

DeltaMac - Oct 26, 2007 - 6:15 pm

I would say you have a small chance.
Usually, if you try to install on a different Mac from that listed on the installer disk - you will get the message "this software cannot be installed on this computer" - or something similar to that.
But, you can try it. If it works, you're good. If not, then no surprise.