Restored OS 9.2 - but uncertain what else needs upgrading

Question

For reasons I'll get to later, I ran the "Restore OS9" cd on my Sawtooth powermac. Having saved the upgrades necessary to do this (9.1, 9.2.1, 9.2.2)  I am back to OS 9.2.2.
My question is, I am PRESUMING I do not have to also restore the firmware upgrades - but I am correct in that? I have pretty much saved them all to CDs, but am not sure if reinstalling the OS has anything to do with the firmware. If I DO need to do the firmware upgrades, do they need to be done version by version or can I just run the most recent ones?
Another question, I ran the 'restore' by saving the data on a backup file. Are all the applications saved in the backup to their upgraded state or do I also have to go through reinstalling them again? Should I drag the applications from the saved folder into the new OS folder?
Back when this was my everyday computer 12 years ago or so,  I would usually erase the HD every year and resinstall everything - but I so rarely use it now I barely remember the whole process - and as anyone reading this knows, even finding info about OS9 on the web is hard. Even all the documentation on apple.com seems to be gone. I dread having to figure out how to build back up from my early photoshop application through all the upgrades and updates and new versions.
For what its worth, I keep this compouter going to run OS9 graphics programs I cannot afford to replace in their current forms (which is why I'm not running 10.4 on it).
As for how I ''busted' my computer, I hooked up a newish monitor to the computer - had no idea that switching around to unrecognized monitor resolutions could COMPLETELY screw up the OS  - but it does so BEWARE.  After many headaches and troubleshooting techniques that did not work, I came to realize I didn't even HAVE to reinstall the OS - could have just thrown out a bunch of preference files, but oh well.

Answer 1

My question is, I am PRESUMING I do not have to also restore the firmware upgrades - but I am correct in that?
Yes, you are correct.
Firmware updates change the coding on one or more chips on the logic board. These changes are not reversible, and are not undone by restoring the OS from CD, or even by replacing the hard drive.
Another question, I ran the 'restore' by saving the data on a backup file. Are all the applications saved in the backup to their upgraded state or do I also have to go through reinstalling them again? Should I drag the applications from the saved folder into the new OS folder?
The copies in the backupshould be in the same state (same version, etc.) they were in/at prior to the restore.
They should be moved to the same location relative to the restored OS, which is  probably not in the System Folder. Most should probably be in the "Applications (Mac OS 9)" folder or the "Utilities" folder.
Note - you may also need or want to move the spcific Preferences files used by those apps from the preferences folder in the old System Folder to the same location in the new System Folder. A few programs may also need to have extensions moved.
As for how I ''busted' my computer, I hooked up a newish monitor to the computer - had no idea that switching around to unrecognized monitor resolutions could COMPLETELY screw up the OS  - but it does so BEWARE.  After many headaches and troubleshooting techniques that did not work, I came to realize I didn't even HAVE to reinstall the OS - could have just thrown out a bunch of preference files, but oh well.
Yes. Old prefs settings can bollix things up when the OS tries to apply them to a new monitor. The typical major issue is an 'out of range' condition.
The quick solution tor that is to boot the machine to a CD (typically an OS install CD), then go into the System Folder on the hard drive and throw away the two Preferences files named Display Preferences and Monitors Preferences.
In the case of many CRT monitors, it may also be necessary to purge ("zap") the PRAM in the monitor. This is usually accomplished by the following: Power everything down, disconnect the video cable from the Mac. Then turn the monitor on, wait 15 to 20 seconds, then turn it off, wait about 10 seconds, and repeat the cycle 3 or 4 times. Then reconnect the video cable and boot back up.
I don't know if flat-screen (LCD or other) monitors behave the same way.