Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How to get OS 9 installed under Tiger

W

Wouter3

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 31, 2017
199
61
Netherlands
I was running Mac OS 10.5 Leopard on my Cube, but that did not allow me to install OS 9. So I installed Mac OS 10.4.6 Tiger. Then I wanted to install Mac OS 9 in order to run games that only work on OS 9.
I have burned Mac OS 9.1 and 9.2.2 on DVD and tried to get it installed. When I run the install from DVD I get the message that it cannot write to the disk. Obviously because it is a DVD, but I cannot indicate that it should write to my harddisk. So I copied the whole dvd to my desktop and tried it again. It starts up but then I get the message that it cannot find an appropriate MAC OS 9 system file. Possibly you should install Mac OS 9.1 or higher on your computer (what does it think I am doing). In order to install 9.1 you should first install 9.1. I apparently need the System file for Mac OS 9 installed on my computer. So I ran the extra disk that came with tiger to do program repairs. This starts some "repairs/installations" and tells me it is done. Then it comes up again to further install please place the CD with the two round circles, with the only option to press the stop button. Eject of the DVD does not work so installation of another DVD does not work either, and besides I do not have that specific disk with the two round circles.

I even downloaded the OS 9 disk for the Cube from Macintosh Garden and burned on CD. When I want to boot from it (pressing the C key) it skips it and boots from harddisk and opens the Tiger desktop.

Who knows a way to get OS 9 installed on a system that does not have the classic environment already on it.
 
Is your hard disk partitioned with "OS 9 Drivers" present? And is it connected directly to the Cube's ATA bus or are you using some card (e.g. SATA)? Are you sure your Cube's optical drive is ok, since it should boot from the restore disc - did you burn the image correctly (to check, insert the burned disc and have a look at its contents; if there's no "System Folder" and other bits, something is wrong).

If you want to use Tiger's Classic environment to run OS 9 games - be prepared for a disappointment.
[automerge]1584453673[/automerge]
Wouter3 said:
I have burned Mac OS 9.1 and 9.2.2 on DVD and tried to get it installed. When I run the install from DVD I get the message that it cannot write to the disk.
Click to expand...

You aren't trying to run the OS 9 Installer from within Tiger, right?
 
My harddisk, in fact SSD is partioned in mac OS extended journalled. No OS 9 drivers present. I formatted the SSD on my iMac using a USB attached device with inserted SATA SSD. The iMac under Mojave does not let you choose to install OS 9 drivers. So yes, I am using a adapter card to attach my SATA SSD to the IDE cable of the Cube. I renewed my optical disc, so that works OK. I run the OS 9 installer from within Tiger. I apparently need the program repair tool to install the Classic environment, but the CD I got together with Tiger is meant for an iMac and not for the Cube. I managed to install Exile but when I try to run it, I get the error message: "unable to obtain default output volume # - 2004. Very clear message :-(.
I ordered a bigger SSD that allows me to create 2 partitions and want to install Tiger and Leopard on it. I assume I then would have to format it from my Cube disk utility with OS 9 drivers. Would that allow me to install OS 9 properly or do i need more magic?
 
Wouter3 said:
My harddisk, in fact SSD is partioned in mac OS extended journalled. No OS 9 drivers present.
Click to expand...

This means you'll be able to install OS 9 on that SSD, but you'll not be able to boot from it. You have to repartition the SSD using OS 9's Drive Setup (that will automatically install the OS 9 Drivers) or Disk Utility in Tiger or Leopard, which offer an option to install these drivers. That option must be selected. However, if you need OS 9 just for the Classic environment, i.e. the Cube will never boot into OS 9 natively, you do not need these drivers.

[automerge]1584455006[/automerge]
Wouter3 said:
I run the OS 9 installer from within Tiger.
Click to expand...

If you're trying to run a "normal" OS 9 Installer, that's not going to work. It must be run from OS 9, after booting from the OS 9 install disc.

Here's how to add the necessary OS 9 bits for Classic to Tiger: https://systemfolder.wordpress.com/2020/02/11/netboot-to-rescue/
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: TheShortTimer and alex_free
Oops, I now see it has the HFS+ structure. As I cannot repartition this disk from Tiger that is running from this disk, I will need to await my new SSD to arrive in order to partition it and install OS 9 drivers. Or I could install the old IDE harddisk and format the SSD as an external attached device in disk utility. Would that allow me to install OS 9 or would the OS 9 drivers be sufficient to run games that require the Classic environment to run?
 
The easiest way to get Classic (OS9) on to a OS X machine is simply to copy the install from an already existing OS9 machine to the OS X Mac. By the time of Tiger, Apple had already had a 'funeral' for OS9 and were not advertising that Classic would still work under Tiger. But they did make it difficult to install it.
 
I have reformatted my SSD with Mac ext journaled and OS 9 drivers inswtalled.

I now have tried several options. First a Cube OS 9 disk from Macintosh Garden which has a .sit extension. Tiger does not know what to do with it nor is it bootable. A disk with an .iso version of OS 9.2.2 is simply not bootable as promised on MG. So I tried a third disk with OS 9.1. It is also not bootable as promised, but when I click on the disk I get an overview of the files on it and one is "install OS 9". When I click on the install icon, it starts but then it tells me it cannot write to the CD. Obviously that it should not do, so I copied the whole disk to the desktop and tried again. It sarts up again, but now I get a Mac OS 9.1 message saying: "the system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media, not if copied to another drive". There you are, it locks itself.

I do not have another machine with Mac OS 9, so I don't know for the moment what to do next. Apple did not only make it difficult to install it, it made it impossible. :-(
 
This [https://systemfolder.wordpress.com/2020/02/11/netboot-to-rescue/] will tell you exactly how to add OS 9 for use with the Classic environment to a Mac that has Tiger installed. This is all there is to it.

[automerge]1584465015[/automerge]
Wouter3 said:
I have reformatted my SSD with Mac ext journaled and OS 9 drivers inswtalled.
Click to expand...

That wasn't necessary. If you just want to use the Classic environment, those drivers aren't needed.

Wouter3 said:
First a Cube OS 9 disk from Macintosh Garden which has a .sit extension. Tiger does not know what to do with it nor is it bootable.
Click to expand...

.sit means it's a StuffIt archive. You need StuffIt Expander to open that.

Wouter3 said:
When I click on the install icon, it starts but then it tells me it cannot write to the CD. Obviously that it should not do, so I copied the whole disk to the desktop and tried again. It sarts up again, but now I get a Mac OS 9.1 message saying: "the system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media, not if copied to another drive". There you are, it locks itself.
Click to expand...

Again - you cannot run the OS 9 Installer from within Tiger. Just follow the link I provided above. I've used that method myself, it works fine.

You need Mac OS 9.2.2 for Classic anyway, so that 9.1 (or the Cube's 9.0.4) disc is useless.
 
Last edited:
Wouter3 said:
I have reformatted my SSD with Mac ext journaled and OS 9 drivers inswtalled.

I now have tried several options. First a Cube OS 9 disk from Macintosh Garden which has a .sit extension. Tiger does not know what to do with it nor is it bootable. A disk with an .iso version of OS 9.2.2 is simply not bootable as promised on MG. So I tried a third disk with OS 9.1. It is also not bootable as promised, but when I click on the disk I get an overview of the files on it and one is "install OS 9". When I click on the install icon, it starts but then it tells me it cannot write to the CD. Obviously that it should not do, so I copied the whole disk to the desktop and tried again. It sarts up again, but now I get a Mac OS 9.1 message saying: "the system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media, not if copied to another drive". There you are, it locks itself.

I do not have another machine with Mac OS 9, so I don't know for the moment what to do next. Apple did not only make it difficult to install it, it made it impossible. :-(
Click to expand...
As said, .sit is a compressed file. You use Stuffit Expander to open it. You don't boot from it. Stuffit is a third-party app, it's not part of a OS X install so if you've never installed it then Tiger would not know what to do with it (as you said).

.iso is a PC compressed disk image. You use Disk Utility under OS X to burn a CD or DVD of the ISO, or you can double click it to mount it just like a disk.
 
Amethyst1 said:
This [https://systemfolder.wordpress.com/2020/02/11/netboot-to-rescue/] will tell you exactly how to add OS 9 for use with the Classic environment to a Mac that has Tiger installed. This is all there is to it.

[automerge]1584465015[/automerge]


That wasn't necessary. If you just want to use the Classic environment, those drivers aren't needed.



.sit means it's a StuffIt archive. You need StuffIt Expander to open that.



Again - you cannot run the OS 9 Installer from within Tiger. Just follow the link I provided above. I've used that method myself, it works fine.

You need Mac OS 9.2.2 for Classic anyway, so that 9.1 (or the Cube's 9.0.4) disc is useless.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. Tenfourfox and now downloading. Let you know how it works,
 
Installation worked fine. Installation of the game Exile worked OK, however, when running it I get message: Unable to obtain default output volume # -2004. But that is probably a different matter.

Thanks
 
Wouter3 said:
Installation worked fine. Installation of the game Exile worked OK, however, when running it I get message: Unable to obtain default output volume # -2004. But that is probably a different matter.

Thanks
Click to expand...

But Classic starts up fine when you launch the game, i.e. you get the window with the progress bar?
 
It did not for the Myst III game, but now I am installing Myst Riven and indeed I see the windows in progress bar from OS 9
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back