AboutGeorge Derringer Expertise I know a great deal about Macintosh computers running the older Mac OS 9, considerably less about machines running OS X
Experience I am the town crier in my home town, a newspaper editor by trade and a shortwave radio fan since, oh, about 1959.
Question Bought a used G4 (800mhz,M8493, 768MB, 40GB,CD-RW) to replace a Starmax 3000 running OS8.6. In attempt to save Starmax HD I had it installed in the G4, thinking I could go between both HDs. I was wrong because when I try to open and work on most everything on the Starmax HD I get a message that CLASSIC is not supported and that I must install OS 9.1. I thought 9.1 was a part of OSX, however, it is not in the G4. Also, as far as the G4 is concerned, I don't think all the software is in it - I mean it doesn't even look like it has the word processing things. I have not used a Mac, including the Starmax for years because I am using a Sony VAIO 0n the internet. I wanted the G4 for games my wife can play, however, the G4 won't even look at all the old games I have - keeps saying that CLASSIC isn't supported and I need 9.1. I guess my question is - can I do something with the G4 so it will open and use stuff in the Starmax HD? Should I find a CD of OS 9.1 and install it? Or, is there something better to do? Thanks for ur efforts.
Answer Classic (OS9) runs only on non-Intel computers, which your G4 is. However, you need to install it from the original start-up disk that came with your G4. Once you do that (clearly, it came originally with 9.1 although you should upgrade it to 9.2.2 once you get Classic installed). If you can find a version of 9.1 or 9.2 that comes on a stand-alone disk, it may or may not install as Classic, but if you can find a stand-alone installation disk -- as opposed to one which came with a specific model -- you should also be able to install it there. The problem, in short, is that the previous owner of your Mac didn't install Classic. My wife keeps an old Mac around for just the purpose of playing certain games that don't run on OSX, but her new MacBook is Intel-powered so she can't play them there.
