Installing OS 9 on PowerMac G4 without original disks

Question

I wish to install Mac OS 9.2.2 on my PowerMac G4 that I recently bought second hand. It did not come with any discs. I have downloaded installation guides from the Apple support site.
I have loaded OS Tiger (10.4.11) using a retail DVD and software updates. Additional information is: Processor - 1.25Ghz dual; Memory - 2 GB; Graphics card - ATI Radeon 9000 Pro; Airport Card; PCI cards have been temporarily removed.
I have followed the instructions on the install disk and get the message:
“This program cannot run on your computer. See the documentation for more information.”
The documentation reads:
“Compatibility information
IMPORTANT
• Mac OS 9.2 supports Mac OS X compatible computers
You can install this version of Mac OS 9.2 on any of the following computers: Power Mac G4, Power Macintosh G3, PowerBook G4, PowerBook G3 (except the original PowerBook G3), iMac, and iBook.” [bold is mine].
The same statement is made on both Mac OS 9.2.2 install discs that I possess – one for eMac and one for PowerBook G4, both 2002 vintage.
I am aware of comments made by Don Archibald, Kenichi Watanabe and Grant Bennet-Alder that specifically contradict the preceding statement and, after my experience, I’m of the same opinion as them.
So . . . . . In the absence of a PowerMac G4 Mac OS 9 install disc, how does his plan sound?
I also have a Mac OS 9 retail disc and, thanks to insert_coin, from Barcelona I managed to find the updates to move from 9.0.4 to 9.2.2.
I create an OS 9.0.4 System on a disc and upgrade this to OS 9.2.2. I can probably do this with my PowerBook G4, which already runs Classic with OS 10.4.11. Another alternative is a PowerCenter Pro M180, but this involves either SCSI discs or large file transfer through the network.
I recollect from older OS that it was possible to custom install and select the machine that the OS was to be run on . . . but I’m probably dreaming about OS 6.0.3.
I then attach the disk to the PowerMac G4 and move the OS 9 System Folder to the PowerMac disk containing OS 10.4.11. Opening an OS 9 application (e.g. Control Panel) will, I hope, start Classic (provided the preferences are O.K.).

Answer 1

Hi, fencerjohn -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
Your plan is feasible, but there are some caveats.
• The install disks for OS 9 that you have, for versions 9.0.4 and both 9.2.2 disks, require that the machine be booted to OS 9. Although this usually means booted to the CD, that is not mandatory - as long as the machine is booted to OS 9 (such as from its hard drive), the installer program will probably work. However, if the version on the CD is too old to support the machine whose OS 9 is running the installer, the installer app will probably refuse to run.
• All default OS 9 installs (including upgrades using download updaters) are tailored to the machine which is running the installer. This means that an install performed on one model will probably not be able to boot a different machine.
There is a solution for this. All retail OS 9 Install CDs, and most OEM ones (the ones labelled Software Install, not the ones named Software Restore), have the ability to perform a Universal (boot any Mac) install of OS 9. Perform a universal install of OS 9.0.4, update it with universal installs of the needed updates, and it should work fine when transferred to the other machine, provided that the final version is one supported by that machine.
• The last sentence brings up a potential problem - that your G4 MDD 1.25GHz model will not be supported by the download update for OS 9.2.2. Apple KBase Article #HT1835 - Mac OS 8, 9: Compatibility With Macs indicates (via note "(3)") that this may be the case.
To do a universal install -
1) Boot the machine to the CD if necessary, then run the installer. Step through the pages in the installer (choosing the correct destination volume in the process) until you get to the "Install Software" page, the page with the "Start" button on it. Don't click that button.
2) Click the "Customize" button at the bottom left of the page.
3) On the new page, click the pulldown menu to the right of "Mac OS 9.x", and select "Customized Installation..." from the list offered.
4) On the next new page, at the top is another pulldown menu labelled "Selection:" - click that menu and select "Universal Installation".
5) OK that page, then click the "Start" button.
These instructions may apply to the OS 9.1 download update, do apply to the OS 9.2.1 download update, but do not apply to the OS 9.2.2 download update.
If all you need OS 9 for is to use it as Classic, then it need not be an install that is boot-compatible with your G4 MDD. If this is the case, then there is no need to do a Universal Install sequence for OS 9 and its updates.