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Question

Which OS Install disks will work on my old PowerBook?

by Oct 14, 2014 5:29AM PDT

I've got an old PowerBook PPC G4 running OS X.5.8 in one partition. I want to run OS 9 in another partition, so I need an OS X.1 - X.4 disk which will install the OS 9 drivers on the hard disk. There are many OS X.1 - X.4 disks for sale on eBay, but how do I figure out if the disk I buy will work on my computer? I know my old eMac 10.2 install disk will not work on the PowerBook. I tried an iMac X.5 disk that would not install on the PowerBook. I can get the Apple part numbers for an install disk I might want to buy, but the Apple support tech. I called said he had no information about which disks will boot up my PowerBook. Anyone have advice?

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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Answer
Difficult to answer give the information posted.
by Forum moderator Oct 14, 2014 8:18AM PDT

Could you be a little more specific with the Tech Specs of that PowerBook?

So far I have located 10 PPC G4 Powerbook specs and they ALL run 10.5.8


The model number would be helpful.

I have seen a number of articles on installing the Classic environment but they want you to install OSX 10.3 and then install System 9 once 10.3 has been installed.

I have not seen anything, yet, about installing System 9 onto a blank partition.

Take a look here: www.powermedic.com

Any disk you purchase on eBay, and the like, must the Apple Grey ones with the name of your PowerBook on it

P

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Model Name, Serial Number, etc.
by Dbar x Oct 15, 2014 7:44AM PDT

This particular PowerBook is Model Name "PowerBook G4 15" ", Model number "PowerBook5,4" serial number W844708KQW2.

The scheme, as I understand it, is to install the OS 9 driver on the hard disk, initialize, and partition. Then I can install my old OS 9 system on one of the partitions. To install the OS 9 driver, requires OS X.1 - X.4. Currently I have no OS X.1-X.4 disk which will install on this PowerBook. So, the question is, how will I know which disk to buy, that will actually install on my computer? Info on setting up OS 9, not just running Classic mode, seems to be available at MacOS9Lives.com.

Any advice?

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Looks like some decent information at
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Oct 15, 2014 10:27AM PDT

macOS9Lives.com

If you have an Apple User Group near you, I would be inclined to approach them for assistance.
You will almost certainly find someone there who still has the original discs with which to boot your PB


P

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Answer
Just in case.
by Forum moderator Oct 15, 2014 11:26AM PDT
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Want to install OS9, not BSD
by Dbar x Oct 18, 2014 5:13AM PDT

What I'd like to do is install OS 9 on my powerbook. I have OS X.5.8 running there now. My understanding is that BSD is a separate operating system, and it would not allow me to install the OS 9 drivers on the hard drive prior to installing OS 9. Is there any alternative, other than buying an OS X.1 - X.4 disk, which will actually work on my computer. Those disks do install the OS 9 driver. Is it true that a "retail" version of OS X.1 - X.4 will actually install on my powerbook?

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Hence my just in case title.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Oct 18, 2014 5:29AM PDT

If there is some reason you can't get OS9 for any reason I wanted to note another exit to get the machine working for Web and more work.
Bob

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