[eribas]

I currently have Panther sitting here waiting to be installed, however I would like to start fresh.

My machine hasn't had an overhaul in years and I think it's about time to breathe some new life into it.

1. Upgrade RAM: 512MB to 1GB
2. Upgrade HDs: 2x 30GB to 30+80 (+ 730MB SCSI)
3. Upgrade Video: RADEON 32MB to ???

For the video card, I've heard that ATi is going to be releasing a 9600 Mac version shortly (maybe Friday along with the Apple announcements).

I currently have the original 30GB HD that came with this machine (G4/450DP) and a Maxtor 30GB HD (which is a piece) and is dieing. I also have a Quantum 730MB SCSI drive that I was using for MkLinux/YellowDog on my old 6400.

What I would like to do is replace the Maxtor with a new 80GB Seagate drive, and put the SCSI drive in as well (I already have a SCSI card in the computer). I would use the original 30GB drive to hold a 9.2 partition (very seldom used, but don't want to lose all my pre-OSX data that I've accumulated over the past decade. The new 80GB would be for Panther, and the 730MB drive I could use for a permanent swap drive.

Now for the question:

What is the best way to install Panther? How do I tell the OS to use the SCSI drive for swap space? What tweaks should I make to the sytem before I start installing apps? Is there a website dedicated to (or at least riddled with) installation tips/tricks/etc?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions
--- Sean Denney
sdenney@mac.com

[moonmonkey]

Originally posted by eribas:
I currently have Panther sitting here waiting to be installed, however I would like to start fresh.

My machine hasn't had an overhaul in years and I think it's about time to breathe some new life into it.

1. Upgrade RAM: 512MB to 1GB
2. Upgrade HDs: 2x 30GB to 30+80 (+ 730MB SCSI)
3. Upgrade Video: RADEON 32MB to ???

For the video card, I've heard that ATi is going to be releasing a 9600 Mac version shortly (maybe Friday along with the Apple announcements).

I currently have the original 30GB HD that came with this machine (G4/450DP) and a Maxtor 30GB HD (which is a piece) and is dieing. I also have a Quantum 730MB SCSI drive that I was using for MkLinux/YellowDog on my old 6400.

What I would like to do is replace the Maxtor with a new 80GB Seagate drive, and put the SCSI drive in as well (I already have a SCSI card in the computer). I would use the original 30GB drive to hold a 9.2 partition (very seldom used, but don't want to lose all my pre-OSX data that I've accumulated over the past decade. The new 80GB would be for Panther, and the 730MB drive I could use for a permanent swap drive.

Now for the question:

What is the best way to install Panther? How do I tell the OS to use the SCSI drive for swap space? What tweaks should I make to the sytem before I start installing apps? Is there a website dedicated to (or at least riddled with) installation tips/tricks/etc?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions
--- Sean Denney
sdenney@mac.com

Are you sure that the old SCSI will be faster than the new IDE Seagate?
I dont think it will.

[Simon]

Originally posted by eribas:
What is the best way to install Panther?

Full backup with CCC to another disk. Format. Fresh install. Re-install or copy back apps. Copy back user data.

Some time ago I wrote a little guide how I normally do this. You can find it here.

How do I tell the OS to use the SCSI drive for swap space?

Use Swap Cop X. It worked for me under Jaguar and Panther. I don't know about SCSI however. I use it with an UltraATA disk.

What tweaks should I make to the sytem before I start installing apps?

Set all the system prefs the way you like them. If you want use TinkerTool to set some "hidden" OS X settings.

[JKT]

IMO 730MB will not be large enough for a decent sized Swap disk. Panther altered the way swap files are created - the first created is 64MB, the second 64MB, the third 128MB, the fourth 256GB, the fifth 512MB etc so you can already see that you will experience problems creating more than four swap files on that sized disk. If you aren't going to use the 30GB for anything other than OS 9, you might as well use that as your Swap partition too... if you think it is worth bothering having a separate swap disk anyway.