Installing OS X 10.0 on an iMac with OS 9

[RHD99]

Hello!

I recently purchased an OS X 10.1 install disc without realizing that it was an Upgrade CD and required OS X to install. So although the obvious answer would be to find an OS X 10.0 disc, however I would much rather attempt to find a way to install it without needing to order something else. I found an ISO of 10.0 on a website called Winworld and was able to burn my own disc with the files however when I tried to install it on my iMac G3, an error message popped up saying "An error has occurred. Startup disk was unable to select the install CD as startup disk. (-2)" I tried looking up solutions online but have yet to find any so I figured I would make this post. If anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it, thanks.

 

[Dronecatcher]

The ISO from Winworld might not be a retail version, try one from macintoshgarden
Unless you absolutely need 10.0 I'd go with 10.3 (Panther) or 10.4 (Tiger)

 

[zappaesque]

Boot your Mac with the disk in the drive and hold down the C key until you see the Happy Mac. I've noticed that every time I tried to install OS X from within OS 9, I'd get the same error.

 

[RHD99]

Thanks for getting back to me!

The ISO from Winworld might not be a retail version, try one from macintoshgarden
Unless you absolutely need 10.0 I'd go with 10.3 (Panther) or 10.4 (Tiger)

Alright, so I tried that and ended up with the same result, I don't know if I'm just burning the disc incorrectly or something.

Boot your Mac with the disk in the drive and hold down the C key until you see the Happy Mac. I've noticed that every time I tried to install OS X from within OS 9, I'd get the same error.

I tried that already and it just didn't recognize the disc at all and went straight into OS 9.

 

[RHD99]

Nothing seemed to work for me so I just went out and ordered a 10.0 disc which I really wanted to avoid, but it should work so thanks anyways for your help!

 

[AphoticD]

The 2001 iMac G3s appear to have shipped with 10.0.3 and then 10.0.4, so it's possible if your iMac is an '01 variant then a 10.0 disc might not boot. Did you try downloading a 10.1 retail install ISO and booting off that?

 

[RHD99]

Mine is a Summer 2000 that shipped with OS 9, but I have upgraded it to 9.2. And yes, I have tried burning my own 10.1 disc as well. I haven't had any luck creating my own install discs, I think I must be burning them incorrectly.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Versions of OS X prior to 10.3 were very glitchy for me on machines shipped with OS 9.

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2003120216030560

 

[RHD99]

Versions of OS X prior to 10.3 were very glitchy for me on machines shipped with OS 9.

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2003120216030560

That looks like a really great guide, thanks for sharing! I would try that however like I said before I already ordered a disc. Nonetheless I appreciate it!