Symptom
1. The computer does not start up from the Mac OS 9 CD included with Mac OS X, and a flashing question mark appears during startup.
2. If you try to install Mac OS 9 while started up from the version of Mac OS 9 already installed on the startup disk, this message appears:
"This program cannot run on your computer. See the documentation for more information."
Note: This document is not relevant to you if your Mac OS X package came with a
later version of Mac OS 9 than the disc included with your computer.
Solution
Install Mac OS 9 using the CD-ROM disc that came with the computer. Do not use the Mac OS 9 disc included in the Mac OS X box. Computer-specific resources may be included on the computer-bundled disc that are not present on the retail disc, despite the version number being the same. These resources are needed to start up from the CD or to install Mac OS 9 successfully on your computer.
Your choice of operating system language may also dictate that you use the disc included with your computer. For example: If you purchased your computer with the German version of Mac OS 9.1 but then while traveling purchased Mac OS X bundled with an English-localized Mac OS 9 disc, you could not use the English Mac OS 9 disc to update a previously-installed German version of Mac OS 9.
Additional troubleshooting
For related information, see these technical documents:
106294: "
Mac OS X: How to Reinstall Mac OS 9 or Recover From a Software Restore"
106526: "
Mac OS 9.2.1: 'can not be installed over the localized version of Mac OS'"
106244: "
Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.0: 'To install this software you must boot with the Mac OS CD' Message"