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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Using os 9 on a imac g4 with tiger

msmurdock86 - Jul 2, 2006 - 9:09 pm

I just bought an imac g4 with tiger. When I tried to transfer data from my old computer to the new one, it was unable to boot os 9 to bring up the old information. I have a installation disk for 9.2.2, but I don't know what to do with it or if it will even work. Please let me know if you can. Thanks alot, Michael.

earthsaver - Jul 3, 2006 - 6:48 am

iMacs G4 originally shipped with OS 9.2.2 so they are capable of booting OS 9 and should handle your installation disc just fine. Confirm: you have a 10" half sphere base with hovering display?

If so, you should be able to insert your disc, restart, and hold C to boot from it.

- Ben

msmurdock86 - Jul 4, 2006 - 8:30 am

Yes I have a 10" half sphere, but is this the only way I can boot nine? In other words, do I have to do that every time I want to revert back to 9 to transfer data? And if so, would the data stay where I transfered it after I go back to tiger? Thanks a lot for your help I really appreciate it.

earthsaver - Jul 4, 2006 - 8:56 am

Why do you have to boot into OS 9 to transfer data? What kind of Mac is your old one? Your data is being transferred to your hard disk, not to an operating system, which simply exists in a System folder on that hard disk. Your data is separate.

So, please elaborate on your circumstances so I can help effectively.

msmurdock86 - Jul 4, 2006 - 9:53 am

For example, my microsoft entourage that has all of my information on it is in os 9. When I transfered it through the network to my imac g4, I was unable to open it on that computer. It said something like it could not find "classic settings". I want to know what to do to get the classic settings ready so when I open a program that's os 9, it starts automatically.

earthsaver - Jul 4, 2006 - 1:12 pm

Are you intending to continue to boot into Classic in OS X and use your old version of Entourage? Or do you have an OS X-compatible version?, namely from Office 2004. Or, are you planning to import your Entourage data into Mail, iCal, and Address Book that come with X?

msmurdock86 - Jul 9, 2006 - 4:25 am

I just need a way to open information from os 9 on the g4. If I have an older version of something, im told with os x you can still read 9. For example, I would just click on it and it would show me the same exact program as anyone else who had os 9 would see, but it would be on my g4 with os x. I have a lot of data on my old computer with os 9 and I can't open up the program its saved under because my new computer is os x.

earthsaver - Jul 9, 2006 - 10:14 am

I understand what you're saying. However, I'm asking you to be more specific about the Classic/OS 9 applications you're using to open the old data. I'm hoping that at the same time as I troubleshoot your installation of OS 9, I can also help you find OS X-native applications to handle the same data.

Now, you said you *can* boot from the OS 9 CD? If that's the case, then you need to use it to install OS 9. You should find the installer at the root of the disc, opened from the Desktop, though it usually opens automatically. Then, you can return to OS X, open the Classic pane of System Preferences, and select your System Folder, containing OS 9.

When you first open Classic, it will update that folder with OS X-compatibility files and then you should be good to go.

Am I missing anything?

msmurdock86 - Jul 9, 2006 - 1:19 pm

In the middle of the installation a screen pops up and says "The system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media, not if copied to another drive." Basically, I can see the install cd icon on the desktop but I can't seem to do anything with it. It doesn't seem to install.

earthsaver - Jul 9, 2006 - 1:26 pm

I don't know the meaning of this error or why it would have anything to do with installing OS 9. I also don't understand what you mean you "can't seem to do anything with" the Install CD on the Desktop. You can open it and open the installer? I thought that's what you did to get as far as the middle of the installation. Please elaborate.

I have another solution, but I want to get to the bottom of this part first.

msmurdock86 - Jul 10, 2006 - 4:16 am

This could be a very simple problem that I am overlooking due to my lack of computer knowledge. If you I've explained it to you the best I could. If you have a theory on what's going on your probably right. Or maybe I'm doing something small that's incorrect and don't even realize it. Maybe you could just give me a basic tutorial on how to run an old program on osx. I honestly never learned how from anyone, I just winged it. Thanks a lot, I hope you can help.

earthsaver - Jul 10, 2006 - 6:57 am

When you have Mac without OS 9 that is capable of booting to OS 9, the process:

1. Boot from OS 9 Install CD.
2. Open CD on Desktop if not already open.
3. Open Install Mac OS 9 application. Follow the prompts to install. Ask if you have any questions.
4. Is this where you get the strange error message?
5. When complete, reboot back in OS X, and set Classic preferences in System Prefs.

I have an OS 9 System Folder available for Classic on my computer. It's only 100MB and I can zip it up (to 40MB) and send it your way if the install doesn't work.

(Email me earthsaver at macosx dot com if you need it.) You should be able to drop the expanded folder next to your OS X System folder—or anywhere else, really; this is just the logical place. At that point, I'll walk you through blessing the folder so OS X will recognize it, if not already.

msmurdock86 - Jul 11, 2006 - 3:26 pm

Ok, I tried everything you said. In system preferences there is a classic system folder, but when I tried to open my quicken, it said in the classic startup screen, "The system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media not if copied to another drive." I tried to get rid of the classic system folder, but it said "The system folder cannot be deleted because it is needed by the system" Where do I go from here?

earthsaver - Jul 11, 2006 - 3:41 pm

Are you an adminstrative user on that computer? You need to be to delete the System Folder, which may ask you to enter your password. Have you repaired permissions lately?

The error you're getting sounds as if you dragged the System Folder from the CD and copied it to your hard disk, instead of running the installer. However, Apple apparently suggests a different route, according to the end of this Macworld Forums thread.
http://www.macworld.com/forums/ubbth...b=5&o=&fpart=1

Try running the install again as a Clean Install. Here's the relevant page at Apple: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106294
Skip to the last bullet just above Preparing for Recovery.

msmurdock86 - Jul 15, 2006 - 2:09 pm

I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to you in a few days. I got hit with a heavy work load and my mother just got surgery. I don't mean to leave you hanging. As soon as I try what you said I will let you know what happened, good or bad. And thanks a lot for your time I appreciate it.