Comments on: Installing Classic (MacOS 9.2.2) from OS X 10.4

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 22:03:49 +0000

I was able to create the read-only disk image from the system folder from the 9.2.1 install CD but unsure what to do next. How do I boot from the image?

By: neozeed

neozeed — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 15:44:23 +0000

In reply to Krzyś.

This doesn’t let you run OS 9 natively, rather it’s just tricking the ‘classic’ support to updating the system folder from the CD, then making it read-only so it’ll boot, and let you run the installer.

if I had a 9 capable machine, it’d be interesting to see if a installer running under Classic can install to a ‘target’ disk for a classic capable PowerMac.

Normally, with only an install CD, I wouldn’t be able to do anything, instead looking for either a Classic restore image, like the one that came with my 1.6Ghz G5 and the G5 version of 10.2.7 or I imagine there was a classic restore for the Aluminum PowerBook I have, but I didn’t get any media wth the laptop.

By: Krzyś

Krzyś — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 13:58:33 +0000

Frankly I don’t know if you ended with barebone bootable Classic MacOS 9.2.2 installed on physical HW, or it just works inside MacOS X 10.4, but if the latter, then it is also possible to boot MacOS 9 on later (never supported by MacOS 9) G4s & possibly even G5s.

I have two ISOs on my HDD:
Mac OS 9.2.2 Unsupported G4s.iso
Mac OS 9.2.2 Universal Install.iso

Googling for these would bring more info on the topic.

I didn’t tried it myself, however it is said to be working (with caveats, of course).

(I intended to do this one day, however in the meantime I’ve acquired MacOS 9-supported ‘Piano’ G3 Powerbook. Didn’t bothered to get rid of preinstalled MacOS X 10.4 though.)

Pardon me, if you’re perfectly aware of all of this or your method ends up with bootable MacOS 9.