Will this G4 run OS 9.2.1?

[mrglide]

Hi all,

I've had troubles with getting a refurbished G4 to run OS 9.2.1 in another thread, and before I go back to attempting to get it to work, I was wondering if anyone knew whether this other refurbished one I found on Ebay might work (I'm beginning to suspect that the one I bought might be incompatible entirely): http://tinyurl.com/pwt7ajw

Cheers for any help or advice!

 

[tevion5]

Indeed it will!

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/specs/powermac_g4_800_qs.html

 

[weckart]

It will not. I have that exact same model and it requires a special build of 9.2.2 to boot Classic OS. Retail discs only have 9.2.1 and will not boot.

 

[mrglide]

It will not. I have that exact same model and it requires a special build of 9.2.2 to boot Classic OS. Retail discs only have 9.2.1 and will not boot.

Ok, thanks. I do have the original boot discs. Can you advise me on which models will boot off a 9.2.1 disc?

 

[tevion5]

It will not. I have that exact same model and it requires a special build of 9.2.2 to boot Classic OS. Retail discs only have 9.2.1 and will not boot.

My apologies, I wasn't aware this old a model still required specific discs.

 

[mrglide]

My apologies, I wasn't aware this old a model still required specific discs.

No worries, man! Trying to figure all this stuff out is hardly a walk in the park. It's driving me a bit mad...

 

[bunnspecial]

Ok, thanks. I do have the original boot discs. Can you advise me on which models will boot off a 9.2.1 disc?

I'd look for a "Graphite" cased model...get a Digital Audio if you want the most current or want the most room for PCI cards. Get a "Sawtooth" if you want the most memory capacity, or alternatively a Gigabit Ethernet if you want memory capacity and the ability to use an ADC display.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I'd look for a "Graphite" cased model...get a Digital Audio if you want the most current or want the most room for PCI cards. Get a "Sawtooth" if you want the most memory capacity, or alternatively a Gigabit Ethernet if you want memory capacity and the ability to use an ADC display.

Digital Audio runs ADC displays just fine. Mine came with an ADC-equipped Rage Pro 128, and I upgraded it to an ADC-equipped GeForce 4 4600Ti.

 

[bunnspecial]

Digital Audio runs ADC displays just fine. Mine came with an ADC-equipped Rage Pro 128, and I upgraded it to an ADC-equipped GeForce 4 4600Ti.

Sorry, I wasn't really clear on what I was saying.

The G4 introduction progression went Sawtooth-->Gigabit Ethernet--->Digital Audio

My point in my(admittedly somewhat jumbled post) was that DAs give you 4 PCI slots but give up one memory slot. The Sawtooth and GE have 3 PCI slots and 4 memory slots. Every G4 after the GE can use ADC displays.

When I bought my DA, it too had the AGP Rage 128 with ADC and VGA out(although only able to support one monitor. I initially upgraded mine to a GEForce 4MX with 64mb VRAM(also ADC and VGA, but dual-monitor capable), although when I bought my Quicksilver with the 32mb version of the same card, I traded the two out since I use the Quicksilver a lot more.

My DA has spent a LOT of time connected to an ADC monitor.

 

[mrglide]

Sorry, I wasn't really clear on what I was saying.

The G4 introduction progression went Sawtooth-->Gigabit Ethernet--->Digital Audio

My point in my(admittedly somewhat jumbled post) was that DAs give you 4 PCI slots but give up one memory slot. The Sawtooth and GE have 3 PCI slots and 4 memory slots. Every G4 after the GE can use ADC displays.

When I bought my DA, it too had the AGP Rage 128 with ADC and VGA out(although only able to support one monitor. I initially upgraded mine to a GEForce 4MX with 64mb VRAM(also ADC and VGA, but dual-monitor capable), although when I bought my Quicksilver with the 32mb version of the same card, I traded the two out since I use the Quicksilver a lot more.

My DA has spent a LOT of time connected to an ADC monitor.

Cheers for the recommendation there. I admit that these old Macs are hardly my specialist area, so no doubt I'll have some more uninformed questions to ask!

Speaking of which, seeing as the model I linked to clearly won't run OS9.2.1, I'm a little baffled, as the G4 I once had (I'm trying to recreate an old setup) looked very similar indeed, as you'll see from the photo of the partially-disassembled original below. I imagine that Apple, in their infinite wisdom, released various differently-specced iterations in those cases, but which one could mine be, do you think?

 

[weckart]

The reason that particular Quicksilver will not run 9.2.1 is because it is known as a QS 2002 and came out after 9.2.2 was released. It also had some hardware enhancements not included in the retail 9.2.2 releases hence the machine specific disc. Plenty of other hardware that could boot OS9 also fell into this area of post 9.2.2 requirements: MDD Powermacs, eMacs, iMacs and TiBooks amongst them.


Earlier QS models were released with 9.2 and could in theory boot off retail 9.2.1 disks (I have only the 2002 models so cannot confirm). This page on Everymac has a list of all the Powermac G4 models released and the details on each model include the base OS released with each.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/index-powermac-g4.html

 

[goMac]

IIRC the install procedure is:

1) Install Mac OS X from the original restore disk.
2) Once booted into Mac OS X, launch an OS 9 installer from the restore disk (it's an OS X app).
3) You'll have OS 9, and you can reboot into it.

I'm not sure if you have a firm requirement for 9.2.1, but if you just need a machine to boot into OS 9, that should work.

 

[weckart]

I have a full complement of discs and it is a tad different. There are five restore disks and these will restore Puma and OS9 onto the same volume with all apps as shipped. There are also separate installer discs for OSX and OS9 plus another two for OS9 and OSX applications if you prefer to roll your own.

 

[mrglide]

The reason that particular Quicksilver will not run 9.2.1 is because it is known as a QS 2002 and came out after 9.2.2 was released. It also had some hardware enhancements not included in the retail 9.2.2 releases hence the machine specific disc. Plenty of other hardware that could boot OS9 also fell into this area of post 9.2.2 requirements: MDD Powermacs, eMacs, iMacs and TiBooks amongst them.


Earlier QS models were released with 9.2 and could in theory boot off retail 9.2.1 disks (I have only the 2002 models so cannot confirm). This page on Everymac has a list of all the Powermac G4 models released and the details on each model include the base OS released with each.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/index-powermac-g4.html

Yes, that makes sense, as my original accompanying manual is dated 2001. I seem to have gotten a model that falls between stools...

IIRC the install procedure is:

1) Install Mac OS X from the original restore disk.
2) Once booted into Mac OS X, launch an OS 9 installer from the restore disk (it's an OS X app).
3) You'll have OS 9, and you can reboot into it.

I'm not sure if you have a firm requirement for 9.2.1, but if you just need a machine to boot into OS 9, that should work.

Ah, so you'd make it dual-boot? I do have an original OSX installer disc, but I've had error messages ('the installer has unexpectedly quit')when trying to boot from it on the current refurbished model, of which I've attached a photo. Obviously, I now get that this model is later than the Quicksilver and won't take 9.2.1, but why it won't boot off the OSX disc, I'm not sure.

The (condensed) reason I'm trying to make this happen is to recreate a setup I had with my original G4 with Logic 4.8.1, so that I can get at a full-decade's worth of music ()

Just for reference, this is the original thread I started on the subject (information in the first post is a bit wrong until people correct me): https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1743945/

 

[weckart]

OK, I'm confused now as to what you own and what disks you have.

I thought you had a QS as you linked to one on eBay. It appears you have a MDD. Those had custom install disks. If you want to install OSX you need to ensure that you either have the correct disks for your model or a retail version subsequent to that.

What disks do you have and what version of OSX are you trying to install?

 

[mrglide]

OK, I'm confused now as to what you own and what disks you have.

I thought you had a QS as you linked to one on eBay. It appears you have a MDD. Those had custom install disks. If you want to install OSX you need to ensure that you either have the correct disks for your model or a retail version subsequent to that.

What disks do you have and what version of OSX are you trying to install?

Ah yes, I think I've muddied the waters of what's already been a long-running saga. I'll collect it all together and rewind.

The first photo I've attached is of my (partially disassembled) original G4, which I think dates before the QS models to 2001 (a Digital Audio model, maybe?). I have all 5 software restore discs for it, plus OS 9.2.1 and OS 10.0.4

The second photo is the refurbished MDD, which I bought without understanding the complexities of the range of G4 models. I got no discs with this at all. It also came without an HD, but with everything else inside, including an optical drive.

Just to run down what I've tried so far; I took the HD from my original G4 and put it inside the MDD (I have all the data from that drive backed up in its entirety on an old outboard external HD), with the intention of wiping it, installing 9.2.1 on there and setting back up again. I found I was able to boot into OS9 using the software install disc, but could not get the installer to run (obviously). I couldn't even boot off the OSX disc, getting a 'the installer has unexpectedly quit (error 1)' message. I've also tried downloading an OS9.2.2 DMG and installing from that, but the MDD hasn't recognised either the boot disc I made, or the memory stick with it on.

The ebay link was to a machine which looked a lot like my original G4 and which I hoped would solve all my problems, but as far as OS 9.2.1 goes, it seems not. Logic Audio 4.8.1 (which is the application I need access to) may run under 9.2.2, but I have no discs for that, and the DMG download I haven't managed to make work with the MDD, as I mentioned.

Hope that makes things a bit clearer!

 

[weckart]

OK.

What you have on the left is a Quicksilver. There were several iterations of this as you saw on the Everymac link I gave earlier in this thread. The final versions known as QS 2002 need custom OS9 disks. You can use any retail OSX disc post 10.1.5 to install OSX on any Quicksilver.

As for MDD, you will need to check Everymac for the exact model you have to see what version of OSX shipped with that. Any retail version of OSX higher than what shipped with yours will boot/install. It stands to reason that any version earlier will either not boot or fail to install as it will lack the necessary hardware drivers.

As Quicksilvers predate MDDs, using your previous HD in an MDD is unlikely to work unless you have already updated the OSX on it past the version that shipped with the MDD. Your QS version of OS9 might work in Classic mode but might possibly not boot. Even if it does boot, it may not recognise all the hardware.

This happened with a TiBook I bought. It had Panther installed and OS9 added in Classic mode to support Outlook 2001, which had not yet been ported to OSX. Although the TiBook would happily boot to OS9 I noticed that Firewire was dead and the Superdrive did not appear to have burning capabilities. Only after I tracked down a homebrew version of OS9 derived from an eMac did all the hardware function under OS9.

 

[bunnspecial]

As it so happens, I have a set of "software restore" disks lying here beside me for the FW400 MDD G4. There is no separate OS 9 install disk, at least in the set I have. Rather, I think that to get OS 9, you would need to run the "Software Restore" disk, which installs OS X 10.2 and OS 9.2.2.

The part numbers on the restore disks are as follows

1. 691-3545-A
2. 2Z691-3547-A
3. 2Z691-3548-A
4. 2Z691-3600-A

The part number on the packaging is 603-1918-A

As I said, I'm pretty sure you need these exact disks to install OS 9 on the computer you have.

 

[mrglide]

OK.

What you have on the left is a Quicksilver. There were several iterations of this as you saw on the Everymac link I gave earlier in this thread. The final versions known as QS 2002 need custom OS9 disks. You can use any retail OSX disc post 10.1.5 to install OSX on any Quicksilver.

As for MDD, you will need to check Everymac for the exact model you have to see what version of OSX shipped with that. Any retail version of OSX higher than what shipped with yours will boot/install. It stands to reason that any version earlier will either not boot or fail to install as it will lack the necessary hardware drivers.

As Quicksilvers predate MDDs, using your previous HD in an MDD is unlikely to work unless you have already updated the OSX on it past the version that shipped with the MDD. Your QS version of OS9 might work in Classic mode but might possibly not boot. Even if it does boot, it may not recognise all the hardware.

This happened with a TiBook I bought. It had Panther installed and OS9 added in Classic mode to support Outlook 2001, which had not yet been ported to OSX. Although the TiBook would happily boot to OS9 I noticed that Firewire was dead and the Superdrive did not appear to have burning capabilities. Only after I tracked down a homebrew version of OS9 derived from an eMac did all the hardware function under OS9.

Thanks for the clarifications there, chaps.

I should point out that I wasn't planning to try and simply boot from the HD I transferred from the QS (and curiously, never actually tried...), rather boot from an OS software install CD, wipe the HD and start all over again. This, however, is probably moot now!

I guess I should get on the hunt for some MDD software restore discs - anywhere reliable to purchase them from that you'd recommend?

 

[weckart]

delete

 

[bunnspecial]

Thanks for the clarifications there, chaps.

I should point out that I wasn't planning to try and simply boot from the HD I transferred from the QS (and curiously, never actually tried...), rather boot from an OS software install CD, wipe the HD and start all over again. This, however, is probably moot now!

I guess I should get on the hunt for some MDD software restore discs - anywhere reliable to purchase them from that you'd recommend?

I've bought several sets for various computers on Ebay. Just look for the part numbers I listed above-I copied those directly off the restore disk set that came in the box with my dual 1ghz MDD G4.

 

[mrglide]

I've bought several sets for various computers on Ebay. Just look for the part numbers I listed above-I copied those directly off the restore disk set that came in the box with my dual 1ghz MDD G4.

Cheers, man. That'll help a lot!

Thanks to the both of you - really appreciate the help on this.

 

[mrglide]

I've bought several sets for various computers on Ebay. Just look for the part numbers I listed above-I copied those directly off the restore disk set that came in the box with my dual 1ghz MDD G4.

Hi again folks,

I am really having trouble locating a set of software restore discs with the part numbers mentioned by bunnspecial, and could do with any advice on the subject. I've tried a good few Mac resellers and trawled Ebay a lot, but other than similar eMac sets, nothing that comes close. Pretty much every lead I've followed has lead to a dead end.

These are the part numbers again:

1. 691-3545-A
2. 2Z691-3547-A
3. 2Z691-3548-A
4. 2Z691-3600-A

Any advice gratefully received! Cheers,

Nick

 

[goMac]

Ah yes, I think I've muddied the waters of what's already been a long-running saga. I'll collect it all together and rewind.

The first photo I've attached is of my (partially disassembled) original G4, which I think dates before the QS models to 2001 (a Digital Audio model, maybe?). I have all 5 software restore discs for it, plus OS 9.2.1 and OS 10.0.4

The second photo is the refurbished MDD, which I bought without understanding the complexities of the range of G4 models. I got no discs with this at all. It also came without an HD, but with everything else inside, including an optical drive.

Just to run down what I've tried so far; I took the HD from my original G4 and put it inside the MDD (I have all the data from that drive backed up in its entirety on an old outboard external HD), with the intention of wiping it, installing 9.2.1 on there and setting back up again. I found I was able to boot into OS9 using the software install disc, but could not get the installer to run (obviously). I couldn't even boot off the OSX disc, getting a 'the installer has unexpectedly quit (error 1)' message. I've also tried downloading an OS9.2.2 DMG and installing from that, but the MDD hasn't recognised either the boot disc I made, or the memory stick with it on.

The ebay link was to a machine which looked a lot like my original G4 and which I hoped would solve all my problems, but as far as OS 9.2.1 goes, it seems not. Logic Audio 4.8.1 (which is the application I need access to) may run under 9.2.2, but I have no discs for that, and the DMG download I haven't managed to make work with the MDD, as I mentioned.

Hope that makes things a bit clearer!

I've sometimes seen these boot issues due to faulty logic boards. Maybe one version of the OS will boot, but another is tickling the logic board in just the wrong way. Not saying your logic board is faulty... just... keep an eye on it...

From what I remember of these systems, the only way to re-install OS 9 is to do so through OS X. There is no direct route.

 

[mrglide]

I've sometimes seen these boot issues due to faulty logic boards. Maybe one version of the OS will boot, but another is tickling the logic board in just the wrong way. Not saying your logic board is faulty... just... keep an eye on it...

From what I remember of these systems, the only way to re-install OS 9 is to do so through OS X. There is no direct route.

Thanks for the reply. I'm starting to wonder if, after finding a set of MDD-appropriate restore discs for the rather chunky price of $169.99 (!), and that the refurbished MDD I bought was only £40, whether I should just bite the bullet and seek out a pre-2002 Quicksilver instead. I've had endless troubles trying to get this MDD to work, and if there is a faulty logic board in there, I'm not sure I have the energy or funds to continue with the MDD issue...