This document can help if Classic will not start up at all, or if the Classic startup process fails. An alert box with one of these messages appears:
- "To start Classic, you need Mac OS 9.1 or later installed. See your documentation for instructions on installing this software."
- "Classic cannot find a Mac OS 9 System Folder on the startup disk to use."
- "No Classic System Folder. You do not have a version of Mac OS 9 installed that supports Classic."
- "No startup volume. There is no volume with a system folder that supports starting Classic. Please install Mac OS 9.1 or later."
- "You do not have sufficient permissions to run Classic from /System/Library/CoreServices. Please correct permissions and restart Classic."
- "Cannot launch Classic, Classic Boot ROM missing or damaged, reinstall system software."
- "You are running Classic without superuser (root privileges). Ensure that TruBluEnvironment is setuid and owned by root, or reinstall your Mac OS X System Software." Tip: If you see this message, read about superuser (root privileges).
Is Mac OS 9 installed?
Mac OS 9 is not necessary to use Mac OS X. However, to use Mac OS 9-compatible applications in the Classic environment you must have a Mac OS 9 System Folder.
To see if Mac OS 9 is installed:
- From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
- From the View menu, choose Classic.
- If you don't see a Mac OS 9 System Folder, you must install Mac OS 9. If you're sure Mac OS 9 is installed, go to "No 'blessed' Mac OS 9 System Folder" below.
Tip: If you have a Power Mac G5, iBook, or iMac G5 that came with Mac OS X 10.3.4 or 10.3.7, you can install a Mac OS 9 System Folder from your Additional Software & Apple Hardware Test disc. If you have a Mac Mini or PowerBook that came with 10.3.7, you can install a Mac OS 9 System Folder from the disc labeled Mac OS 9 Install Disc. More....
If a System Folder appears in Classic preferences, select it, then try to start Classic. If it still won't start, go to the next section.
No "blessed" Mac OS 9 System Folder
If Classic doesn't start, but Mac OS 9 is installed, the System Folder may not be "blessed".
Open System Preferences and choose Classic from the View menu. You may see an alert box with the message:
It may not be necessary to reinstall Mac OS 9. Try these steps:
- From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
- From the View menu, choose Startup Disk. The Startup Disk pane appears.
- Note the current Startup Disk selection, which is a Mac OS X volume.
- Click the Mac OS 9 System Folder you want to bless.
- From the View menu, choose Show All.
- For Mac OS X 10.2.8 or earlier, a sheet appears to confirm your choice. Click Change.
- From the View menu, choose Startup Disk.
- Reselect the volume you noted in Step 3.
- From the View menu, choose Show All.
- For Mac OS X 10.2.8 or earlier, a sheet appears to confirm your choice. Click Change.
- Quit System Preferences.
For more information see "Mac OS: 'Startup Disk No Longer Has a Valid System Folder'".
Classic should be able to start now. If not, you may need to reinstall Mac OS 9 System Folder as described above. Otherwise, see what else you can do to troubleshoot the Classic Environment.