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Hello, everyone.
For a project, I am trying to get my Graphite iMac G3 to run Mac OS 9.2.1. I have a folder with all of the files, but I do not know how to make this into a bootable installer on a USB thumb drive. Is this even possible, and if so, how would I go about doing it?
Thank you!
Earlier displays & monitors
I would suggest you ask in the PowerPC Mac forum:
People with expertise in those old systems will be more likely to notice your question there. I don't recall it being possible to create a bootable USB installer for System 9.x, but it's been a long time since I worked with any of those systems. If it is possible, it's probable that you'd need a working Mac running that same OS to accomplish it. But there may be a way.
Good luck.
I still have my PowerMac 8600/200 upstairs ready to dual-boot to some late System 9 version and some OS X version like maybe 10.2.7 Jaguar (and MacPlus in the basement) but AFAIR I have never booted it via USB, only via SCSI, DVD or (AFAIR via) Iomega ZIP drive.
I don't know if it possible to create a bootable System 9 USB via a current Mac. In the distant past it was possible to write a bootable System floppy even via a PC with mac-ette.exe and some .bin file downloaded from "Internet".
It is my understanding that some of the old PPC systems are able to boot from USB, but I do not know which ones or how it is done. I don't believe it is straight forward since I think it involves issue commands to the Open Firmware. If you search the PPC forum, you may find a few posts about it. If not there, then a general Internet search will give you some information about booting from USB on those PPC Macs.
As far as making a bootable CD, I'm not sure how that would be accomplished. It would be easier to make a bootable Firewire hard drive since all you would need to do is make sure the System folder is blessed (has a happy Mac icon on the System folder). There was a simple trick to do that back in the day, but I don't recall specifics or if it can be done on a non-OS9 system (probably can be achieved with the 'bless' command, but only macOS 10.14 --perhaps 10.15-- or earlier can read the older HFS formatted disks).
Create a Bootable USB Drive for Mac OS 9.2.1
