Installed OSX fine Now cant boot from OS9 CD to load classic

[Whitelighter]

I originally posted in GOAD's thread but wanted to start my own thread in case it was getting missed. I loaded OSX on a fresh formatted and partitioned G4 Dual-533MHz system with the typical CDRW for removable media. Next, I was going to put OS9 on the second partition to handle a needed business application. Now the system won't recognize any boot CD other than the OSX system disk!

So I tried to start over by formatting the drive and repartitioning from the OSX disk utility - since that is the only CD that works. After wiping the drive and rebooting with the OS 9 disk in the system, I get nowhere again. I am stuck! Does installing OSX modify the CD firmware to not recognize any boot CD prior to OSX?? Please help as I am completely stuck.

Scott:confused:

[Phil St. Romain]

Beats me, Scott.

If you're willing to wipe things and start over one more time, try zero-ing your drive when you re-format, then create your partitions. Use HFS + (Extended format) wherever you're asked to choose. Do this using the OS 9 CD and Drive Set-up. Then you should be able to install 9 on one partition and X on another without them interfering with each other, and you should be able to boot from either.
Let us know how it goes.

Phil

[Whitelighter]

What is the process for zeroing a drive? I am willing to try anything as there is no useful data on the system. Right now I can't boot from an OS9 CD so I have to use the OSX disk utility. Is that a problem? Does OSX write to an EEPROM during install or something? I am confused as to why I can't boot from any OS9 CD (9.0 9.1 9.2) at all?

Thank-You for the continuing help!

Scott

[rgray]

I have a similar problem. The original TiBook system 9.? CD will still boot the system but the 9.2 CD that came with my OSX with my OSX will not. This _would_ be a pain if I still did anything in 9/Classic as it would require serial updates in order to get a current system 9. Fortunately everything I do I can do in OSX. Does system 9 have to be loaded at all??

[Phil St. Romain]

Scott, the OS X Disk Utility does not allow for the option of zeroing a drive. You can still erase, format, and partition, as you know. My hunch is that zeroing would not solve the problem you're describing, which I've had on various computers. My Powerbook would not boot with any OS 9 cd but the one that came with the PB. It wouldn't even boot from the one that came with OS X.

Do you have other Mac OS CD's? You might, for example, be able to boot from the OS 8.6 CD, then upgrade that one once you get something actually established.

rgray, no you don't need OS 9 installed for OS X to work. I've got it as a stand-alone on a partition and it works just fine.

[Whitelighter]

I do have an OS8 disk around here somewhere and will give that a shot. Any word as to HOW this could happen. How could loading an OS step in front of a BOOT CD? Does OSX write to an EEPROM or something? What does it matter - what OS is on the hard drive when you are booting from the CD?? *Grin*