[tyssejc]

Hi -

I am trying to upgrade two (beige) Mac 8600s in my office from OS 9.1 to OS 9.2, and ultimately to OS X. One of them has been upgraded with a Sonnet G4 processor upgrade running at 300 mHz. They are both hooked up to a Windows network via Ethernet. Apple's knowledgebase says that the 8600 is unsupported for the upgrade to either 9.2.1 or 9.2.2.

Can someone help me out, or at least point me in the right direction? Please excuse my ignorance

Thanks!

[ddiokno]

Hey tyssejc,
Currently, Apple has designed 9.2 to not be installed on pre-G3 machines (whether upgraded with G3 or G4 card or not), but Sonnet is currently <a href="http://sonnettech.com/news/macos92x_ancment.html" target="_blank">investigating a patch </a>(the installer reads the machine ID and blocks out unsupported machines). They do, however have an <a href="http://sonnettech.com/news/macosx_update.html" target="_blank"> installer patch for X</a>.
good luck!
dave
you should still be able to run OS 9.1 as your classic environment.

<small>[ 06-11-2002, 12:25 AM: Message edited by: ddiokno ]</small>

[Big Mac]

I don't see what it would be worth to install 9.2 on the machine, since, as the mod said, 9.1 will work in Classic just as well. Concerning OS X support, have you checked out OWC's <a href="http://eshop.macsales.com/OSXCenter/XPostFacto/" target="_blank">XPostFacto</a>? People have had good success with that patch. 8600 owners unite!

[Cipher13]

You'll be much better off with 9.1, believe me. Don't even try for 9.2.

[tyssejc]

OK ... I used the XPostFacto utility to install OS X on one of the 8600s which has a Sonnet MaxPowr G3 upgrade in it (I didn't realize this before). The installation went without incident ... until the machine tried to reboot. I get the chime when the computer restarts, but after that nothing happens. The display is in powersave mode. Can anyone shed some light on this dark scene?

Thanks!

[tyssejc]

I also forgot to mention that it has an ATI video card upgrade, I think it's either RAGE or RADEON - nobody tells me anything around here, they just expect me to know how to set it up! And sorry for the multiple messages, I only just now discovered the "EDIT POST" feature.

<img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" />

<small>[ 06-11-2002, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: tyssejc ]</small>

[ddiokno]

Hi tyssejc,
Not too sure about the problems you are having with Xpostfacto, but you might want to try Sonnet's OSX Installer patch, it was written specifically for their cards/supported machines (and since they manufacture it, will also provide support ). Also, for your ATI cards, you'll probably want to install the lates drivers ... <a href="http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/mac/macos-march-2002-update.html" target="_blank">ATI March Update</a>
good luck,
dave

[ddiokno]

Whoops, forgot to start off that you might need to zap your pram --- hold down the &lt;apple&gt;+&lt;option&gt;+&lt;p&gt;+&lt;r&gt ; when you restart, and do this until you hear it chime 3 times (this might be why your computer is just giving you the chime)... also, sonnet's installer might provide a patch that allows your computer to start in X... <a href="http://sonnettech.com/news/macosx_update.html" target="_blank">http://sonnettech.com/news/macosx_update.html</a>
Good luck and keep us updated...
dave
If you can't get it to start, try booting off of a CD, and then try installing the Sonnet OSX patch

[tyssejc]

Sonnet's PCI X installer is $30. Since there isn't enough software around here that would run better in X to make the upgrade worth spending money on it, I think we're just going to hold off. I appreciate all your help!

Updates as they come in ...

-Charlie

[ddiokno]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by tyssejc:
<strong>Sonnet's PCI X installer is $30. Since there isn't enough software around here that would run better in X to make the upgrade worth spending money on it, I think we're just going to hold off. I appreciate all your help!

Updates as they come in ...

-Charlie</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Hey Charlie,
I looked at their page too quickly to miss the caveat about the free Sonnet PCI X Installer only being free to previous purchasers of the software... good luck with your machines!
dave

[tyssejc]

I told you I'd post updates ...

Yesterday, after an hour and a half of overtime, I managed to get one of the two machines (the one with the MAXpowr G4 and Formac display card) to boot into OS X. First, I made sure all my drivers were upgraded to the most current versions. Then I used XPostFacto to install OS X. I experienced a kernel panic, but I followed the instructions on the XPF installation instructions page to work around it - I booted into OS 9 using the CD, then I moved the System and Finder files to the desktop, then back to the System folder, then rebooted, and from OS 9 (on the hard drive) I used XPF to boot into X. Worked like a charm! After using L2CacheConfig, the guinea pig machine works great under OS X, except for a spinning "beach ball" cursor that is eternally embedded in the upper left hand corner of the display - a small casualty of my battle against lack of support.

With that, I'd like to thank Ryan Rempel for the amazing XPF software ... good job! One more thing ... I mentioned earlier that the PCI upgrade installer that Sonnet offers for its Crescendo G4 PCI is 30 clams. Can anyone tell me if XPF/L2CC do the same thing as the software that Sonnet puts out for its upgrades? I'd rather not have to spend 30 bucks on upgrade software ...

[ddiokno]

Hey Charlie,
Congrats! persistence pays off! thanks for the update!
dave

[tyssejc]

Good news!! Someone has just e-mailed me a way to upgrade to 9.2.2 on unsupported machines!

I haven't tried it out yet, but the method is described at <a href="http://www.ralstonweb.com/os9forever/os92x.html" target="_blank">http://www.ralstonweb.com/os9forever/os92x.html</a> .

I plan to work on this Friday!

[Phoible]

That link is dead.