trouble installing mac os 9

[Steven1621]

i am new to the mac platform. i have been trying to install a clean copy os 9 to my imac 233 for sometime now but have been unable to.

this is what has happened recently:

-i turn on the imac.
-the mac os folder coes up and flashes a question mark.
-i put in the mac os 9 cd.
-it starts to boot.
-after sometime a functional version of the mac os comes up. it seems like it is running from the cd.
-i try to install mac os from the disk.
-it gives me an error saying that my firmware is out of date and cancels the install.

what should i do? please help!

[MoparShaha]

Look around on the OS 9 CD after it boots up. Apple usually includes firmware updates on the install CD's. If you can't find it, go to Apple's website (http://www.info.apple.com/support/downloads.html) and search for it there.

[strider42]

you need to install firnmware update 1.2. You'll need to be running an earlier OS to do so.

To boot from a CD, hold down the C key, that way you don't have tp wait.

Is there an OS on there right now. You might be getting the flashing ? because you have directory damage. Startup from a CD and run disk first aid. See what errors if any it turns up.