PCI G4 won't boot with original cds

I have an older G4 400mhz model I haven't touched in some time so I gave it to my neighbor's son along with the original disks and I think 10.2. It no longer has any OS9 software on it but the kid got a couple of old games and wants to play them but their for OS9.
Long story short, I can't get OS9 to install because the G4 won't boot from any cd/dvd other than the commercial OSX disk. I've tried booting from the original install disk, the software restore disk, and an OS9 disk (disk with big orange 9 on it) but all I get is a grey screen. No folder with question mark, no giving up and just booting from the HD, nothing but grey screen. Any suggestions?
It's been a looooong time since I dealt with OS9 so I don't remember all the voodoo that had to be done.

Hi, Dave -
Some Macs have exhibited problems where, after their firmware has been updated, the machine won't boot to older versions of OS 9. This does not apply to the G4 in question, since there has been no firmware update applicable to the G4 PCI models.
Whether or not the hard drive has had OS 9 drivers installed should have no effect on the machine's ability to boot to an OS 9 install CD, only on the ability of the OS on such a CD to mount the drive.
RAM is not an issue - if it works for OSX, it works for OS 9.
That leaves few things. Possibilities include -
• an attached device that OS 9 does not support. Try disconnecting everything except monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If the machine was equipped with a wireless mouse or keyboard, replace those with wired ones, ones suitable for use in OS 9.
• an added PCI card that's interfereing. This can also include a replacement graphics card - if that was done, try reverting to the original card.
• a too-weak or dead internal battery. This can happen if the one in it is old, especially if the machine had been left unplugged for a while. Try replacing the battery - you can get a replacement at places like Radio Shack for about US$15, cheaper on line. While replacing the battery, reset the CUDA -
Article #95065 - G4 (PCI) - Resetting Cuda
Article #95066 - G4 (PCI) - Resetting the Logic Board
• a resetting of PRAM may help. In case you no longer remember how to do that - restart or boot; immediately press and hold down the Command-Option-P-R keys, keep them held down until you've heard three additional sets of startup chimes. Then release the keys and let startup resume.

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Please click the white star under my name to give me Kudos as a way to say "Thanks!"
Click the "Accept as Solution" button if I resolve your issue.

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<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>haroldkarl wrote on Sun, 22 January 2006 12:03</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
the little riser are for is for a sound card... the same one that the Sparc 4 uses... hard to find... the others are "Elite3D-m6 assembly <=540-3058-06 is not compatible with the A20." a horizontal version of the Elite3D-M6... also hard to find.
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</td></tr></table>
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Message was edited by: Majordadusma

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squeakmaster, welcome to Apple Discussions.
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117 If an update is required, the update must be installed (using OS 9) BEFORE you install OS X.
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Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
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===================
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PCI G4 won't boot with original cds

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