Loading classic on an OS X machine

[gyroslice]

can I load os 9 onto a system currently running OS X without erasing the HD?

 

[deryk]

can I load os 9 onto a system currently running OS X without erasing the HD?

Yes. Classic should be on one of your system disks that came with your mac. Just place it in your CD drive and follow the installation instructions.

 

[mduser63]

Assuming it's a Mac that can boot OS 9, just install OS 9 as you would normally (don't do an erase and install though), and it will install alongside OS X. You'll then be able to boot OS 9, and also Classic mode in OS X will be enabled (assuming it's 9.2). I did this with my Power Mac G4, and it worked fine.

 

[deryk]

Assuming it's a Mac that can boot OS 9, just install OS 9 as you would normally (don't do an erase and install though), and it will install alongside OS X. You'll then be able to boot OS 9, and also Classic mode in OS X will be enabled (assuming it's 9.2). I did this with my Power Mac G4, and it worked fine.

All computers running any version of Mac OSX can install OS 9; but not all can boot into OS 9.

 

[Dane D.]

No....depends when it was made

All computers running any version of Mac OSX can install OS 9; but not all can boot into OS 9.

I tried to install OS 9 (off OS 9 Install disc) on a mirrored G4/DP 867 at work and got a message that you can't install on this computer. Only way to put OS 9 on was through OS X install disk. I think after the mirrored units were introduced Apple disabled installing OS 9 from OS 9 disk. IMO Apple should of let us install it and be able to boot into OS 9 on any machine including the latest because there is still a large number of OS 9 users out in the REAL world that depend on OS 9 for their incomes. Besides, with G5 speeds now approaching 3GHz it would be interesting to operate an OS 9 machine at those CPU speeds.

 

[deryk]

I tried to install OS 9 (off OS 9 Install disc) on a mirrored G4/DP 867 at work and got a message that you can't install on this computer. Only way to put OS 9 on was through OS X install disk. I think after the mirrored units were introduced Apple disabled installing OS 9 from OS 9 disk. IMO Apple should of let us install it and be able to boot into OS 9 on any machine including the latest because there is still a large number of OS 9 users out in the REAL world that depend on OS 9 for their incomes. Besides, with G5 speeds now approaching 3GHz it would be interesting to operate an OS 9 machine at those CPU speeds.

You are right, you cannot install OS 9 from an OS 9 system disk, but you are able to still load it from an OS X disk. So, I still stand by my statement that any modern mac can have OS 9, but not every modern mac can boot into 9.

 

[Macky-Mac]

I tried to install OS 9 (off OS 9 Install disc) on a mirrored G4/DP 867 at work and got a message that you can't install on this computer. Only way to put OS 9 on was through OS X install disk.....

that could have been because of the CD you were trying to install it from....that's a pretty common message that results from several different situations....examples; when you try to use an install disk that predates the manufacture of the machine, also there are install disks that were shipped that only install on a specific range of hardware

anyway, the specs listed at lowendmac.com seem to indicate that the G4/DP 867 should be able to boot on 9.2 so you might want to check into it further

 

[ldenman]

why would someone want to boot up 9.0?
excuse my ignorance, i have never used 9.0, thats why i'm wondering.

 

[iMeowbot]

why would someone want to boot up 9.0?
excuse my ignorance, i have never used 9.0, thats why i'm wondering.

Some software was never updated to use Carbon, so running it under Classic or "real" 9 is the only way to use it. Some old hardware isn't supported under X either.

 

[ldenman]

ahhhh.ok. that makes sense. 😀