OS 9 on my powerbook 1.67

[stanislawski]

Here is the deal...
I have a powerbook 1.67 with osx 10.5.7.
I want to run os9 so I can use all the old photoshop plug ins which don't work with osx.

Can I..

A - Wipe the drive and install just os9?

or

B - Wipe the drive and install whatever the last version of osx was (10.3?) that will run os9 in classic mode?

[Case]

15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz (Jan. 2005), requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later
15" PowerBook G4 HR, 1.67 GHz (Oct. 2005), requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later
17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz (Jan. 2005), requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later
17" PowerBook G4 HR, 1.67 GHz (Oct. 2005), requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later

So, B it is.

[rumplestiltskin]

I don't remember if Classic was even included as an optional install with Tiger-based machines.

Tiger (10.4.x) will let you run Classic. However, the trick may be installing Classic if it's not on your PowerBook's original set of System DVDs. You probably will need to find another G4 Mac that already has an OS9 System Folder installed on it, then burn that folder to a CD and, finally, drop that folder onto the PowerBook. At that point, the Classic system pref should show up (it's always there in Tiger and earlier OSX but remains invisible until a valid OS9 System Folder is present.)

Let us know what you find.

[Ai Haibara]

Aren't most people who can no longer run Classic now using SheepShaver, or some other similar method?

[rumplestiltskin]

I think most people who can no longer run Classic have procured software that's less than 9 years old so they can run it in OSX. Of course, there are always the few that either won't abandon OS9 (or can't because there aren't acceptable alternatives.

Frankly, it might be better to simply buy an older Mac that can boot into OS9. You can find these for about $150 on eBay (or just go down to your local Mac User Group and ask; you might someone who will be happy to give you one just so you haul it away.)

[stanislawski]

Thanks everybody