Is it possible to setup a G4 733 Mhz Tower to dual boot to OS9 and OSX?

[dino8031]

I have a 733 Mhz G4 tower that I would like to setup to boot to both OS9 and OSX. Is this possible? It is currenty running 9.2.2. Do I just partititon the drive and install OSX on that partition? I'm new to Macs, so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

That Mac will dual boot fine. You don't need to do a partition – install OS X and you can choose whether to boot up in OS 9 or X through the Startup Disk Pane in OS X's System Preferences. It's been a while since I've been on an OS 9 machine, but if memory serves then to switch back to OS X, you make your selection under the Startup Disk Control Panel, easily accessed under the Apple Menu (I think that's what the Control Panel is called – as I say it was a while ago so it's all a little hazy).

 

[Sweetfeld28]

yes you can dual booting on that g4 machine.

you could pop that OS X dvd/cd in and install it. Then after it instslled, and all setup, you can switch the Startup Disk to either the OS 9 or OS X system in the System Prefrences [X], or in the Control Panels [9]. Or you could also hold the option button down while starting the computer, after you hear the startup chime.

This will bring up a screen which will allow you to easy switch the startup disk before booting any operating system.

 

[mklos]

If you're only going with one partition, make you install Mac OS 9 FIRST!!! If you don't you'll have to start all over again as you cannot install an older OS overtop of a new one. I would go with 2 partitions only because if something in one of the OS's screws up, it doesn't effect the other OS directly, but its not necessary if you don't want to partition. Just make sure you install OS 9 before OS X if you go with 1 partition.

 

[TLRedhawke]

Actually, installing a bootable copy of 9 into X is pretty easy. You don't have to install 9 first. The problem is that Apple doesn't make it easy. This is understandable, as they want to wean people into using OS X, and rely upon Classic to run any older programs. You really just need to take the OS 9 System Folder, and drop it on to your OS X bootable disk. The Classic controls and the Startup Disk preference pane both look for it in this location. So (Since OS 9 discs are bootable), just pop in the disc, and copy the System Folder straight to your OS X installed hard drive. Don't worry about the OS X folder called "System", as the system has come to expect both "System" and "System Folder" on the same drive.