[Ritzccscad]

Hello all,
I've just installed Panther on a Quicksilver G4 733mhz. The machine was previously running OS 9.2.2, we partitioned the drive to separate the OSes, installed Panther, and ran software update (including firmware updates).
Now we are trying to install OS 9.1 on the separate partition (using a retail 9.1 bootable disk) with no luck. The computer will not boot from the OS 9.1 CD (we tried holding C, switching startup disks, and shutting down completely and restarting holdinc C), and naturally we cannot run classic without updating the files on an unwritable CD.
My first thought is that it is due to the firmware update, and until we can find the restore CDs for the machine, I am at a loss. Any ideas?
Thanks,
R

[Grant_G]

You don't have to be booted from the OS 9 CD to run its installer. Just insert the CD and double click the installer to run it. It will give you a choice of where to put it. Should work ... let us know.
G
P.S. - Why did you partition the drive? There has been no need to separate 9 and X since 10.0 (and it was only "recommended" then, not required).

[Ritzccscad]

"..naturally we cannot run classic without updating the files on an unwritable CD."
Whenever we try to run the installer from Panther, because it is a read only disk, it wont run classic to run the installer.
Personally, I have always separated the OSes just for safety's sake. In this instance, installing Panther on the same disk as 9.2.2 resulted in an unbootable machine without disk 1 (Panther). Hence, we erased and partitioned the disk and it installed Panther without a hitch. Go figure.
I'm still leaning toward the idea that updating the firmware made it unbootable in 9, like the newer systems, unless anyone else has another idea.
Thanks for your feedback!

[Grant_G]

Okay, right now I'm stumped and no one else has jumped into the fray. So lets try some of the routine stuff that we recommend a lot and see if any of it works. Repair permissions (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility). In the left side of the pane, select the partition that contains Panther. Select Repair Permissions. It takes 2-3 minutes, and unless it finds a whole lot of messed up ones will simply report in the end that it is finished. Quit and try the Installer for OS 9 again.
Zap PRAM and NVRAM. Restart the Mac while holding down the Command-Option-P-R keys simultaneously. A stretch but even I can do it with my smallish hands. Keep holding the keys down until you count one -- two -- three startup chimes (the second one zaps PRAM, the third zaps NVRAM). Release the keys and the Mac will boot normally (and if OS 9 were installed that's what it would boot into). When it's booted back up, try the OS 9 CD again.
Check FSCK. Restart the Mac while holding down the Command-S keys. Code will begin to appear on the screen. When it stops and the curser rests, type
fsck -y -f
taking notice of the spaces. Hit either enter or return. More code will appear and the Mac will check itself out, most like reporting "The volume so-and-so appears to be OK." If you get any other report, keep running it until you see the "OK" report. It can just do one thing at a time, so if more than one repair is needed, it has to be run until it's finished. When you get "OK" type
reboot
and hit enter or return again. This will take you back into OS X, and once again you can try the OS 9 CD.
Good luck, and hopefully others will come forth with assistance if none of this works for you.
G

[doggdamac]

That machine originally came with OS 9.2.xx. And unfortunately, most of the "New World" machines (those made after the pci Yikes/G4's) will not boot from an OS CD that is earlier than what it orignally came with......so trying to boot it from a 9.1 CD aint gonna work /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
And 9.1 aint gonna work as Panther classic either....it needs at least 9.2 or later

[Grant_G]

Gol-darnit, why didn't I think of that? He even said that it used to run 9.2.2 yet it didn't occur to me that his machine might actually require it.
G