PowerBook G3 PDQ - installing OS without a cd drive?

[ClassicII]

Hey guys I am trying to get an OS on my PDQ with out a cd drive. I have used my TAM to install 8.0 to the he then update it to 8.1 (factory installed PDQ 266 version?)

When I try to start up the PDQ it says "This startup disk will not work on this Macintosh model. Use the lastest Installer to update this disk for this model."

Does that mean that I need a specific PowerBook version of 8.1? I used the retail version of 8.0.

do I need to update the hd drivers?

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[novusgordo]

Given that the PDQs shipped with 8.1, my guess is that a vanilla 8.1 install might not have the drivers to support booting them. Do you have access to an 8.5/8.6 or 9.1 installer? If you can install one of those onto your PDQ, it should be able to boot from that, and a PDQ can run either of those versions without breaking a sweat.

(And if you don't have access to one of those discs, I'm sure that if you post in the Trading Post, there's someone with an extra out there who can send you one. I'm sure I have at least one or two 9.1 installers lying about...)

 

[ClassicII]

Thanks! You are right after doing some more looking it seems 8.1 is the first universal installer for all drivers. Looks like the 8.1 update does not include them.

I am having all kinds of problems trying to burn a 8.1 or 8.6 retail installer. I can't get the machine to recognize the cd as a boot disk. Maybe ill just do like you said and post a message in the trading post.

Thanks again for your help!!!