G4 refuses to boot OS 9.1 CD

[avw]

Today I got a G4 466MHz and wanted to do a clean reinstall of OS 9.1. I took my original retail Os 9.1 CD (not an bundled to a machine one) an tried to boot. CD-Rom starts to seek for a system, even the blinking system folder icon seems to wait some seconds like any system is found, but then it doesnt start from CD.

First I thought the CD drive is broken, and changed it to a known working one - same behavieor no booting. The MacOS 9.1 CD is also working verry well normally (as long as no upgrade card requires 9.2.1), and now the big showdown:

Debian is booting without any problems from CD at this G4 466!

Any ideas why I can´t boot 9.1?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

The G4s require the copy of 9.1 that they came with; or later. A 9.2 CD should boot it just fine, though.

 

[avw]

The G4s require the copy of 9.1 that they came with; or later.

That´s the first time I hear this. Always was said the Retail CD is needet for special things and for installing it everywhere. From 6100 up to latest G4.

And now you tell me that in case of G4s the G4s neeed the original CDs and can´t boot from the verry expansive sold MacOS 9.1 , ... ?

Maybe you are right (where to get a working 9.2 from, ...), but what the hell heappened to Apple back than? "No for the langage Kits (etc.) you need the ReatailCD for $150 extra, ups sorry the CD doesn´t work at your computer, even if the original system software is the same 9.1", ...

:-/

 

[coius]

OS 9 came out before that PowerMac though. So it's possible that the G4 either has a specially compiled version of the Finder/System, or there is an enabler (going back to the old days).

I am pretty sure they limited it for a reason. Either that, or apple just wanted to be pr**ks just for the sake of being one.

It depends though. Some G4's shipped with extensions for the graphics cards that didn't have native drivers on the card. Either that, or a special chipset wasn't supported under the current OS 9 that came out, so they amended it just for that.

 

[tmtomh]

I think when Macs shifted to the "New World" ROM-in-RAM, support for machines newer than the OS - i.e. 9.1 on later model G4s - was provided by new Mac OS ROM files. So Trash is basically right - the "Mac OS ROM" file was basically the New World version of a System Enabler.

 

[avw]

For the records:

A 9.2.2 CD bundled with a later G4 worked quite well. It´s still verry strange to me, but the bought 9.1 refuses to boot, but a 9.2.2 works (even if it was made for another G4), and even if the G4 was originally sold with 9.1, …

 

[H3NRY]

Your 9.1 CD is probably a few months older than your G4, and it lacks some driver needed to boot the Mac. Similarly, my new Mini came with Leopard, but it won't boot from a 10.5.0 retail disk, it requires 10.5.6 or later which is on the disk packed with the system.

 

[ClassicHasClass]

For the records:
A 9.2.2 CD bundled with a later G4 worked quite well. It´s still verry strange to me, but the bought 9.1 refuses to boot, but a 9.2.2 works (even if it was made for another G4), and even if the G4 was originally sold with 9.1, …

I have a "boot any" 9.2.2 that will boot any New World Mac that can boot OS 9. It is the eMac G4 9.2.2 boot disk. If you can find this, and they show up on eBay now and again, you should be able to boot any 9.2 compatible Mac.

 

[coius]

For the records:
A 9.2.2 CD bundled with a later G4 worked quite well. It´s still verry strange to me, but the bought 9.1 refuses to boot, but a 9.2.2 works (even if it was made for another G4), and even if the G4 was originally sold with 9.1, …

I have a "boot any" 9.2.2 that will boot any New World Mac that can boot OS 9. It is the eMac G4 9.2.2 boot disk. If you can find this, and they show up on eBay now and again, you should be able to boot any 9.2 compatible Mac.

I have mac test pro. THAT will boot any machine prior to the non-OS 9-booting G4. It's basically a special OS that Apple made just for diagnostics, and it will only work on the CD. I use it to test old G4s/G3s/PowerMac G3> machines

 

[protocol7]

The eMac 9.2.2 disc is a good one. The version I have has Mac OS ROM 10.1.1, which is one of the highest versions. I don't think any bootable, 9.2.2 install discs have the higher 10.2.1 (that was reserved for the "Classic" installers).

 

[macgeek417]

The eMac 9.2.2 disc is a good one. The version I have has Mac OS ROM 10.1.1, which is one of the highest versions. I don't think any bootable, 9.2.2 install discs have the higher 10.2.1 (that was reserved for the "Classic" installers).

IIRC, didn't i send you a link for that?

 

[protocol7]

IIRC, didn't i send you a link for that?

Yep indeedy :approve:

 

[Strimkind]

On the same subject. I have a AGP 400mhz Gigabite that refuses to boot from the retail OS 9 CD. Tried 8.6 but no go. It tried from the CD 10.4 but it kernal panics.

ideas?

 

[Strimkind]

On the same subject. I have a AGP 400mhz Gigabite that refuses to boot from the retail OS 9 CD. Tried 8.6 but no go. It tried from the CD 10.4 but it kernal panics.
ideas?

Well a quick look at the 'correct' model on everymac shows that neither of my classic retail discs will work with that model. Not sure why 10.4 is not working so I will have to try 10.3 or find another copy of 10.4 and convince it to work.